Community Healthcare Assistant

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust; Cirencester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits as a Health Care Assistant in a dedicated community nursing team. This role is integral to delivering high-quality clinical care in patients' homes, supporting their health needs and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. You will work collaboratively within a dynamic team, ensuring compassionate and safe care while adhering to professional standards. This position offers a chance to grow your skills in a supportive environment, with opportunities for further training and development. Join a forward-thinking organization that values its staff and is committed to making a positive impact on the community.

Benefits

Free car parking

27 days leave plus bank holidays

Broad range of training opportunities

Generous NHS pension

Flexible working opportunities

Recognition and long service awards

Fast Track physiotherapy

Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in a health care setting is essential.
• NVQ Level 3 in Health or Social Care or equivalent knowledge required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering care/services to patients as part of a health service.
• Follow the Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants to provide high standard care.

Skills

Team working abilities

Communication skills

Ability to work unsupervised

Education

Level 1 / GCSE English and Maths

Minimum of 5 GCSEs including English, Mathematics, and a Science

NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care

Job description

Main area Integrated Community Team Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Shift 8-4 or 10-6. Work 1 weekend in 4) Job ref 327-25-083

Site Cotswold ICT - Cirencester Hospital Town Cirencester Salary £24,071 - £25,674 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 19/02/2025 23:59

We love what we do and we think you will, too!

At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county.

We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.

Our application process aims to understand each candidate's knowledge, skills and experience. We have found that candidates that use AI to generate their answers can lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.

It is really important to personalise your application to convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively and for us to understand why you are applying for this role with GHC. We discourage over reliance on AI-generated applications as it will lessen your chances of success in securing an interview with us.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Assistant to work as part of the Cotswolds Locality Community Nursing Team.

The successful candidate will be working within the community nursing service delivering a range of clinical care for people within their own homes.

The community nursing teams form an integral part of the Integrated Community Teams (ICTs) and are key to the exciting and dynamic developments underway to strengthen ICTs in delivering timely, high intensity acute and routine patient centred clinical interventions to support people in their own homes and prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.

To work as part of the team you will need to have some experience of working in a health care setting and a good general standard of education to include NVQ level 3 in a Health or Social Care related subject or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through work experience. Good written and oral communication skills are essential as is an ability to work without direct supervision. Additional training and development will be provided within a work-based competency framework.

Main duties of the job

As a Health Care Assistant/ Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care/services to patients and service users as part of a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. Health Care Assistants, Social Care Workers and other Healthcare Support Workers employed by the Trust are required to follow the guidance set out in the Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants/ Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.

Working for our organisation

We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.

The annual NHS Staff Survey gives our people the opportunity to tell us about their experience working at the Trust. For the 2023 survey just over 2800 colleagues gave us their views (58.5%). It was great to see from the results that colleagues are saying that:

• 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
• 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
• 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisation's priority;
• 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative.

Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a Health Care Assistant/Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care/services to patients and service users as part of a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. Health Care Assistants, Social Care Workers and other Healthcare Support Workers employed by the Trust are required to follow the guidance set out in the Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants/Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.

You will receive direct supervision and partake in reflective practice/training on a regular basis and be required to meet the Care Certificate standards. All successful applicants will also have the opportunity to discuss the prospect of undertaking a Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship alongside their substantive post. This apprenticeship would include the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Level 1 /GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent Adult Literacy and Numeracy)
• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent) including English, Mathematics and a Science or Health and social care-based subject
• NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care or Care certificate

Experience

• Experience of direct adult patient care in a Health/social care setting
• Evidence of Team working abilities
• Proven ability to work unsupervised
• Relevant clinical competencies e.g. Venepuncture, catheter care, personal care

When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:

• Free car parking at many of our sites
• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
• A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay if you work unsocial hours
• Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities
• Recognition and long service awards
• Fast Track physiotherapy
• Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.

For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.