Community Healthcare Assistant

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Farnborough is seeking Health Care Assistants to join their community nursing teams. Full time and part time positions available. The ideal candidate will have experience in a healthcare environment and excellent communication skills. Candidates must have a valid driving licence and be prepared to travel to patients' homes. Flexible shifts are available to meet service needs.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in similar roles, working in hospital.
• Current UK/EU driving licence and access to a vehicle for work use.

Responsibilities

• Undertake clinical procedures as delegated by senior staff.
• Provide clinical support for patients with complex needs.
• Advise patients how to manage care between visits.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Hard working

Use of initiative

Ability to manage workload

Education

Care Certificate

Grade C/Level 4 in English

Grade C/Level 4 in Mathematics

Job description

Job Overview

We have an opportunity to recruit Health Care Assistants (HCAs) into our community nursing teams. We have 1x Full Time and 1x Part Time of 30 hours per week. The community nursing team provides nursing care to patients in their homes who require our services. The ideal candidate will already be working as a Healthcare Assistant with experience of working on a ward or in an intermediate care service. You will be required to be hard working, motivated and have excellent communication skills. You will be able to demonstrate that you use your initiative and have a keen interest in working with this group of patients.

Access to a vehicle for travel to and from patients' homes is necessary when on duty. Mileage is claimable via the Trust expenses system. We have a variety of shifts throughout the 7‑day service that you may be required to work alongside the occasional night shift.

Visits to the team pre‑interview are welcomed.

It is a mandatory requirement for those who do not have a Care Certificate to complete a self‑assessment form attached to this vacancy. Failure to complete and return the document 48 hours prior to your interview will delay the recruitment process or prevent your offer from being issued.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake clinical procedures, as delegated by senior staff, such as wound care, wound assessments, pressure area care, venepuncture (including capillary INR), catheter care and observations, for which you are accountable.
• Receive training for all nursing care tasks delegated by the senior nurse.
• Provide clinical support / personal support for patients with complex needs, under the direction of senior staff.
• Advise carers and/or patients how to manage care between visits, and promote health education on an individual basis as directed by senior staff.
• Keep up to date with statutory and mandatory training requirements.
• Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing an ongoing plan of care/support, emphasising prevention and self‑care.
• Provide safe, evidence‑based, cost‑effective, individualised patient care.
• Work with the multi‑disciplinary team/ICT to promote integrated and seamless pathways of care.
• Contribute to the ICT achieving its quality targets to sustain high standards of patient care and service delivery.
• Help develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing services.

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability‑confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first‑class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• Provide support and deliver care to patients within their own home, under the clinical guidance of trained clinicians supported by Trust policies and procedures.
• Undertake all aspects of a community HCA role once training has been undertaken:
• Catheter insertion, bladder maintenance, teaching catheter care.
• Venepuncture, urgent and routine requests including INR capillary testing.
• Wound care, including surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, leg ulcer management.
• Observations, including NEWS2.
• Participate in the Frimley Excellence programme or changes to practice.
• Some administrative tasks may also be delegated.
• Work as part of a team, facing the future and being committed to excellence.

Important Information for Applicants Requiring Visa Sponsorship

Recent changes to UK immigration rules may affect your eligibility for a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa. Sponsorship may not be possible if the role does not meet the minimum salary threshold set by UKVI, is not included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), or is below RQF Level 6. These restrictions may also apply to graduates on a Graduate Visa seeking to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa. Candidates who do not meet the criteria cannot be progressed.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Current (UK/EU) driving licence and access to a vehicle for work use.
• Previous experience in similar roles, working in hospital.
• Ability to manage and prioritise workload.
• Care Certificate.
• Grade C/Level 4 or above in English and Mathematics.
• Able to use a computer and software.
• Values and behaviours mirroring those of the Trust.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience in similar roles in residential care setting or GP surgery.
• NVQ Level 2 or 3.
• Experience of using digital technology.

Values and Behaviours

We will expect your values and behaviours to mirror those of the Trust, available at: Trust Values.

About Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

FHFT serves a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire. Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. We are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first. We are investing heavily in services and facilities, including a new hospital at Frimley Park and expansion of diagnostics, inpatient capacity and maternity services. We are committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition, embedding digital innovation and quality improvement across all areas of care.

Apply online now.