DAIRS Heath Care Support Worker - Respiratory

Transformation Unit; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a DAIRS Health Care Support Worker - Respiratory (Band 3). The role is primarily at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and involves supporting patients with chronic respiratory conditions, including home visits and outpatient clinics.

You will collaborate with respiratory nurses and physiotherapists across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. A full UK driving licence is essential; sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• Numeracy and Literacy – GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English
• NVQ Health and Social Care/Care Certificate
• Please note: Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations.

Responsibilities

• Support the specialist respiratory team in the care of patients with chronic respiratory conditions
• Assist in outpatient oxygen clinics and conduct home visits for patients on home oxygen therapy
• Provide patient education, supporting self-management and understanding of respiratory conditions
• Carry out basic inpatient reviews and report findings back to specialist nurses and physiotherapists
• Signpost patients to appropriate services and elevate concerns appropriately within the team
• Participate in clinical audits and input patient-related data accurately
• Monitor and maintain stock levels to support smooth service delivery
• Work flexibly across Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital and within the community as required

Skills

Basic patient care

Communication skills

Teamwork

IT literacy

Driving licence

Education

GCSE Maths

GCSE English

NVQ Health and Social Care/Care Certificate

Job description

Main area Medical Care Group Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Mon-Fri daytimes. Full time and Part time considered.) Job ref 153-ME07010

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital - UHD Town Bournemouth Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pro rata/ per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 25/11/2026

DAIRS Heath Care Support Worker - Respiratory

Band 3

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the DAIRS (Dorset Adult Respiratory Service) team, supporting patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD and those requiring home oxygen therapy.

Based primarily at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, this varied role includes working across inpatient settings, supporting outpatient clinics, and visiting patients in their own homes.

You will work alongside a team of specialist respiratory nurses and physiotherapists, with close collaboration across the wider multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have previous healthcare experience with a keen interest in respiratory care.A full UK driving licence is essential, as travel to patients own homes is required.

Please note we can't offer sponsorship for this role.

Interview Date: 25th November 2026

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job include:

• Supporting the specialist respiratory team in the care of patients with chronic respiratory conditions
• Assist in outpatient oxygen clinics and conduct home visits for patients on home oxygen therapy
• Provide patient education, supporting self-management and understanding of respiratory conditions
• Carry out basic inpatient reviews and report findings back to specialist nurses and physiotherapists
• Signpost patients to appropriate services and elevate concerns appropriately within the team
• Participate in clinical audits and input patient-related data accurately
• Monitor and maintain stock levels to support smooth service delivery
• Work flexibly across Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital and within the community as required

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Knowledge

• An understanding around basic patient care
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing.
• Excellent communication skills - including telephone
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative.
• Valid UK driving license
• IT literate

Experience

• Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS
• Previous experience of working with patients with respiratory illness
• Experience of caring for patients receiving oxygen

Qualifications

• Numeracy and Literacy – GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English
• NVQ Health and Social Care/Care Certificate

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.