West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 2/3 - Healthcare Support Worker, Children's Emergency Department

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are seeking a Healthcare support worker who will play a vital role in supporting the nursing team to provide high-quality, compassionate care to children and their families.

The Children's Emergency Department (CED) is a purpose-built environment for children and young people aged 0-15 years and has approximately 31,000 attendances a year across our Children's Emergency and urgent care pathways.

It has a dedicated 2 bedded resuscitation area within the department and is part of the major trauma network.

CED is co-located with the Paediatric Assessment Unit which provides short stay care for children for 24 hours. There is also an urgent treatment centre on site.

You will be responsible for assisting in the assessment, treatment, and ongoing care of paediatric patients.

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Please note - we are unable to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (Work Permit) for this role.

Main duties of the job

Assist the nursing team in delivering direct patient care to children in the Paediatric Assessment Unit.
Assist in monitoring and recording vital signs Help prepare children for diagnostic tests, treatments and procedures.
Ensure patient comfort and safety, providing emotional support to both children and their families.
Assist with basic care tasks as required.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, ensuring confidentiality and adherence to hospital policies.
Help with stock management and maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards, ensuring all equipment and patient areas are tidy and sanitised.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Date posted

26 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,427 to £26,958 a year inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-F-HCSW-CED25

Job locations

Watford Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a full-time post 37.5 hours per week.

Are you up for the challenge? If so please submit your application as soon as possible, making sure you tell us why you want to work as a Healthcare Support Worker.

Once you have experience in the role, if you are looking to progress, we have fantastic opportunities within the Trust for you to complete a Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship or to go on to complete the Nursing Associate program. These opportunities are fully supported and financed by the Trust. Please ask us for more information if you are interested.

We are recruiting for full time positions covering a 24 hour, 7 day a week shift pattern (rotational shifts, with enhanced pay for weekends and nights).

Posts involve working 3 long days/nights per week with 1 week in 4 working a 4 day/night week.

Shifts are 12.5 hours long (this includes an hour allocated for breaks). Shifts start at 7:15am - 7:45pm or 7:15pm - 7:45am. Shifts will cover 7 days per week, days, nights and Bank Holidays.

We cannot accommodate set shift patterns, day or night only shifts. If you are unable to commit to the working pattern, as detailed above, we would suggest that you apply to join NHS Professionals.

We offer an excellent pension scheme, annual leave allowance and family friendly policies, NHS Staff Discounts and salary sacrifice schemes.

You will be required to complete the Care Certificate qualification as part of your on-going training. The Care Certificate is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. The qualification is made up of the 15 minimum standards that should be covered if you are 'new to care' and will form part of a robust induction programme.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a full-time post 37.5 hours per week.

Are you up for the challenge? If so please submit your application as soon as possible, making sure you tell us why you want to work as a Healthcare Support Worker.

We are recruiting for full time positions covering a 24 hour, 7 day a week shift pattern (rotational shifts, with enhanced pay for weekends and nights).

Posts involve working 3 long days/nights per week with 1 week in 4 working a 4 day/night week.

Shifts are 12.5 hours long (this includes an hour allocated for breaks). Shifts start at 7:15am - 7:45pm or 7:15pm - 7:45am. Shifts will cover 7 days per week, days, nights and Bank Holidays.

We offer an excellent pension scheme, annual leave allowance and family friendly policies, NHS Staff Discounts and salary sacrifice schemes.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications:

Essential

Good general education.
Good standard of written and spoken English.
Willingness to undertake The Care Certificate, Skills for Care & Skills for Health.

Desirable

Completion of the Care Certificate.
NVQ Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
English GCSE A*- C, 4-9 or Functional skills level 2.
Maths GCSE A*-C, 4-9 or Functional skills level 2

Knowledge

Essential

Understands the role of a Healthcare Assistant.

Desirable

Previous training in First Aid.
IT skills.

Experience

Essential

Broad general experience.
Team working.

Desirable

Previous experience in a health setting.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications:

Essential

Good general education.
Good standard of written and spoken English.
Willingness to undertake The Care Certificate, Skills for Care & Skills for Health.

Desirable

Completion of the Care Certificate.
NVQ Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
English GCSE A*- C, 4-9 or Functional skills level 2.
Maths GCSE A*-C, 4-9 or Functional skills level 2

Knowledge

Essential

Understands the role of a Healthcare Assistant.

Desirable

Previous training in First Aid.
IT skills.

Experience

Essential

Broad general experience.
Team working.

Desirable

Previous experience in a health setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB

Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB

Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)