Enhanced Care Health Care Support Worker

NHS; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-respected healthcare organization is looking for Enhanced Care Health Care Support Workers in Maidstone. The role includes delivering personalized care to patients on an individual basis and in groups, ensuring safety and comfort. Successful candidates will possess a Care Certificate and experience in providing care in challenging settings. This opportunity offers a competitive salary between £24,937 and £26,598 per annum, alongside the chance to work in a supportive environment with a strong focus on patient well-being.

Benefits

At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays

NHS Pension Scheme with employer contributions

Blue Light card eligibility

Qualifications

• Experience as a Healthcare Support Worker in challenging environments.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Capacity Act.
• Successful candidates must hold a Care Certificate from a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for patients with enhanced care needs.
• Develop therapeutic relationships and assess patient situations.
• Organise activities tailored to patient needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Support for emotional issues

Engagement in recovery exercises

Education

Care Certificate

NVQ Diploma level 3 in Healthcare

Functional skills English and maths level 2

Job description

Enhanced Care Health Care Support Worker

We are seeking experienced Band 3 Health Care Support Workers who hold a nationally recognised Care Certificate obtained in an acute setting. The ideal candidates will demonstrate a genuine passion for delivering tailored, personalised care to individuals requiring additional support, ensuring that every patient receives safe, compassionate, and high-quality care.

The role of the Enhanced Care Health Care Support Worker is to support recovery and provide care to people with enhanced care needs across the organisation. Enhanced care is provided to patients who require additional support due to dementia, delirium, mental health conditions, challenging behaviour, or physical health needs that may compromise their safety or the safety of others. It is an integral part of therapeutic planning, involving sensitive monitoring of both physical and psychological wellbeing while fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships. Enhanced care may involve supporting groups of patients or providing one-to-one care.

The successful candidate will be expected to treat all patients, relatives, visitors, and colleagues with respect, dignity, and courtesy, in line with the Trust's values.

This role may attract a high volume of applications. Please be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date, so we encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Main duties of the job

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of care and treatment programmes for individuals with enhanced care needs, providing instruction, advice, and guidance to patients, families, and carers.
• Make appropriate adjustments independently (within competence and skill set) and communicate changes effectively to patients and registered health care professionals.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships, adopting a polite, empathetic, and positive approach to communication.
• Assess situations, identify potential issues, and resolve them within the scope of competence.
• Assist in managing verbal or physical aggression using recognised de‑escalation techniques.
• Provide one‑to‑one support and/or supervision to individuals or groups under the direction of registered health care professionals, within a delegated framework.
• Organise and facilitate meaningful activities tailored to patient needs, liaising with the multi‑disciplinary team to coordinate daily plans in line with risk assessments.
• Exercise independence, initiative, and sound judgement, considering different approaches when delivering care and support.

About us

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second‑best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south‑east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day‑care beds, diagnostic services (X‑ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working‑friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro‑rata for part‑time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Healthcare Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full‑time (please contact the CSW Induction Programme Lead if you have any issues: [e-mail]), lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes two supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift), all of the other days are classroom‑based and run from 9am to 5pm.

Please note that we are only able to provide sponsorship for this role if you are in receipt of your Care Certificate.

Person Specification

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience as a Healthcare Support Worker
• Ability to work in an often‑challenging environments
• Previous experience of working with people who require enhanced care
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.

Skills

• Ability to communicate with people and families around sensitive issues
• Skills in supporting people and families with emotional and behavioural issues
• Skills in engaging people in recovery focused, resilience building exercises

Qualifications

• Hold a nationally approved Care Certificate - this must have been obtained in a healthcare setting.
• Hold an NVQ/ Diploma level 3 in Healthcare/ or level 3 Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship or equivalent experience.
• Functional skills English and maths level 2 or GCSE English and maths grades A*/9 - C/4.

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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearper annum pro rata