Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Healthcare Assistant - Gastroenterology Ward 11B

The closing date is 20 April 2026

Job summary

To work as part of the Nursing Team undertaking household support tasks and direct care tasks as delegated by the Nurse in Charge.

To support the qualified Nursing Staff in the maintenance of high standards of nursing care to patients.

To assist in providing an environment within the ward that is conductive to patient recovery and pleasant for patients and their families.

To accept responsibility for specifically delegated functions within the ward which the Nurse in Charge feels are appropriate for untrained staff to undertake.

To ensure where entries are made in nursing documentation, that these are correct, legible and comprehensive and countersigned by a registered nurse.

To understand and adhere to all Trust Policies.

To ensure the Health and Safety of patients, relatives and other staff is considered and not prejudiced by the post-holder at any time

Main duties of the job

To provide the patients with assistance to maintain their hygiene and provide all personal care as required. Assist with feeding and mobilising as per therapy guidelines. To complete patients' individual paperwork, such as body-maps, skin bundles and fluid balance charts.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1stJuly we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

  • CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
  • SAFETY that is of the highest standards
  • COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
  • SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
  • PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

  • Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,272 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-7899777

Job locations

Southport DGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR86PN


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as part of the Nursing Team undertaking household support tasks and direct care tasks as delegated by the Nurse in Charge.

To support the qualified Nursing Staff in the maintenance of high standards of nursing care to patients.

To assist in providing an environment within the ward that is conductive to patient recovery and pleasant for patients and their families.

To accept responsibility for specifically delegated functions within the ward which the Nurse in Charge feels are appropriate for untrained staff to undertake.

To ensure where entries are made in nursing documentation, that these are correct, legible and comprehensive and countersigned by a registered nurse.

To understand and adhere to all Trust Policies.

To ensure the Health and Safety of patients, relatives and other staff is considered and not prejudiced by the post-holder at any time

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as part of the Nursing Team undertaking household support tasks and direct care tasks as delegated by the Nurse in Charge.

To support the qualified Nursing Staff in the maintenance of high standards of nursing care to patients.

To assist in providing an environment within the ward that is conductive to patient recovery and pleasant for patients and their families.

To accept responsibility for specifically delegated functions within the ward which the Nurse in Charge feels are appropriate for untrained staff to undertake.

To ensure where entries are made in nursing documentation, that these are correct, legible and comprehensive and countersigned by a registered nurse.

To understand and adhere to all Trust Policies.

To ensure the Health and Safety of patients, relatives and other staff is considered and not prejudiced by the post-holder at any time

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
  • Basic literacy and numeracy skills

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
  • Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a patient care/health related role

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Able to work within a team
  • Able to accept direction and guidance
  • Aware of own limitations
  • Flexible in working hours
  • Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
  • Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
  • Reliable and professional
  • Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
  • Inclusive and non-judgmental
  • Punctual, motivated and committed
  • Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
  • Basic IT skills

Other

Essential

  • Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
  • Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention
  • Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
  • Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
  • Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death
  • Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department
  • Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
  • Basic literacy and numeracy skills

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
  • Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a patient care/health related role

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Able to work within a team
  • Able to accept direction and guidance
  • Aware of own limitations
  • Flexible in working hours
  • Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
  • Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
  • Reliable and professional
  • Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
  • Inclusive and non-judgmental
  • Punctual, motivated and committed
  • Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
  • Basic IT skills

Other

Essential

  • Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
  • Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention
  • Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
  • Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
  • Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death
  • Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department
  • Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport DGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR86PN


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport DGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR86PN


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward manager

Laura Watson

laura.watson@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

01704704245

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,272 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-7899777

Job locations

Southport DGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR86PN


Supporting documents

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