Clinical Support Worker - Ophthalmology

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A Healthcare Organization in Whitehaven is looking for a Clinical Support Worker in Ophthalmology. This full-time position demands strong interpersonal skills and a caregiving mentality. The role involves assisting registered nurses in patient care, maintaining privacy, and being part of a multi-disciplinary team. Candidates should possess a Level 3 vocational qualification and demonstrate commitment to providing high-quality care. Benefits include 27 days of holiday and NHS Discounts.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• The successful individual must demonstrate compassionate values needed for dignified care.
• Experience of working in health or social care is essential.
• Willingness to work flexible hours is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist the registered nurses in providing high-quality patient care.
• Maintain patients' privacy and dignity while providing care.
• Support effective patient flows and management of resources.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Basic IT skills

Caring and empathetic

Time-keeping and planning skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Level 3 vocational qualification

National Care certificate or commitment to complete

Numeracy and Literacy Level 2

Job description

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Support Worker - Ophthalmology

The closing date is 22 December 2025

Band 3 Health Care Assistant - Ophthalmology 36.0 hours available

Ensure that the organisation and leadership of nursing and midwifery services supports the delivery of the highest standards of patient care in the pursuance of the Trust's objectives. The core nursing team is responsible for ensuring that effective systems of work are in place to ensure the safe delivery of evidence based patient care. Support effective patient flows and management of resources in the allocated clinical area in the Trust.

Main duties of the job

To assist the registered nurses (or other healthcare practitioners) in providing high quality patient care.

Maintain patients' privacy and dignity at all times and provide care in a compassionate and sensitive manner.

Be an effective part of the multi-disciplinary team contributing to the departmental objectives.

Continue to develop and maintain competencies in nursing tasks to maintain high quality safe care.

Post holder will be expected to contribute to housekeeping and other ward / department duties as required, e.g. general tidiness, re-determined stock levels are met and clinical equipment is clean, working and stored correctly.

Contributes to the work of the department by working under direct or indirect supervision of registered practitioners or assistant practitioners.

The successful individual needs to be approachable, flexible & keen to learn. Have an understanding of the Trust's values & expectations & present themselves in a professional manner at all times.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

The essential criteria for this role includes the requirement to have a care certificate or the willingness and ability to undertake this. For further information please see the attached Care Certificate document attached.

Disclosure and Barring Service

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Benefits

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Level 3 vocational qualification or Short courses and completion of competency workbook equivalent to Level 3 in a range of patient and clinical care duties
• National Care certificate or commitment to complete within 12 weeks of commencing employment
• Numeracy and Literacy Level 2
• Or Equivalent knowledge and experience in a range of clinical care duties equivalent to Level 3; - Theoretical knowledge - Experience of a range of care and related procedures - clinical observations knowledge of data protection legislation and health and safety at work legislation
• Undertake relevant additional training for Clinical Support Workers

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working in health or social care.
• Experience of undertaking and recording clinical observations and escalating changes or findings
• Insight into behaviours and skills of a carer and the need for effective team work.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding.
• Understanding work-related boundaries.
• Awareness of GDPR and the need for confidentiality
• Familiarity with current NHS and social care policies.
• Clinical policies and procedures
• Evidence of understanding of Trust Business
• Experience of working in the Trust previously

Skills and Aptitudes

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills. Ability to adopt appropriate styles and methods of communication.
• Time-keeping, planning and prioritisation skills.
• Basic IT skills to use electronic patient records and other Trust systems.
• Ability to demonstrate the importance of holistic person centred care and related procedures
• Ability to demonstrate the compassionate values and behaviours needed for dignified care
• Ability to deal with a wide range of people at all levels, including clients, carers, family, health and social care colleagues and other professionals.
• Caring and empathetic
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Committed to providing high quality patient care.
• Willingness to undertake job related training and multi-disciplinary competencies for more effective patient care.
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure
• Presents self as courteous, respectful and helpful and understands importance of professional image. Reliable, adaptable and dependable.
• Venepuncture

Personal Circumstances

• Willing to work flexible hours including nights, weekends and bank holidays
• Flexible and versatile approach to meet the needs of the service.
• Ability to travel between the sites from which the Trust undertakes its business, or attend meetings or training off-site.

Other Requirments

• Promote equality and value diversity
• Adhere to Trust Values and professional 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 name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust