Health Care Assistant

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

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Harrogate is recruiting for Healthcare Assistants who will provide compassionate care to patients. Candidates must possess NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or an accredited Care Certificate, alongside essential literacy and numeracy skills. This role involves assisting with personal hygiene, meals, and ensuring a safe environment for all patients. Flexible working hours including nights, weekends, and holidays may apply. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to make a difference in patient care.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Counselling service

Physiotherapy service

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social care or equivalent with relevant experience.
• Ability to demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Must have Moving and Handling and Basic Life Support certificates.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under supervision of a Registered Nurse.
• Assist with personal hygiene, meal support, and toileting.
• Ensure dignity and self-respect is maintained for every patient.

Skills

Compassionate care

Good standard of literacy and numeracy

Moving and Handling

Basic Life Support

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social care

Care Certificate (NHS England accredited)

Job description

Job summary

We are recruiting Healthcare Assistants.

We are looking for individuals who are capable of providing compassionate care to patients in a busy, challenging and rewarding environment.

For more information check out our videos to find out what it is like to work as a Healthcare Assistant at HDFT and the training involved -

Training to be a Care Support Worker at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust - YouTube

The role of a Care Support Worker at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust - YouTube

Important Notes

• The salary entry point of this role will not be eligible for sponsorship
• We will only be offering in-person interview
• Interviews will be held on 12th January 2026 (an invite will be sent to you if you are successful at shortlisting stage)
• Due to high levels of interest, this post may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications

Main duties of the job

Our Healthcare Assistants carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse. You will work as an integrated member of the ward team, assisting with nursing procedures according to agreed policies.

You will maintain the patient's dignity and self-respect at all times and achieving a high standard of care.

Our Healthcare Assistants have an allocated base-ward but they are expected to work in different areas within the hospital as required.

You will be accountable for ensuring the highest standard of care is delivered and will constantly promote: patient safety, effective care and a positive patient experience at each stage of the patient's journey.

Our Healthcare Assistants are expected to work a combination of days, nights and weekends including Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

• Early - 07:15 to 15:15
• Late - 12:15 to 20:15hrs
• Night - 19:45hrs to 07:45hrs
• Long Day - 07:15hrs to 20:15h

About us

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.

At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you're looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients’ lives, HDFT could be the place for you!

We offer colleagues

• A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
• Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
• Employee Support and wellbeing - we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.

Please note

• Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications
• Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application.
• Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles.
• All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

Details

Date posted: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 421-LTUCC-3521B

Job location: Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SX

Job responsibilities

We provide you with all the training you need to provide outstanding care to patients.

In your role you will be helping patients with:

• their personal hygiene needs including bathing in the bed and in the bathroom,
• choosing meals from the menu and providing support with feeding,
• encouragement to drink regularly and recording fluid intake,
• dressing and undressing,
• toileting and escorting them to and from the toilet,
• making their beds clean and comfortable.

The role of a Healthcare Assistant is essential on our wards and you will have the privilege to provide compassionate care and reassurance to our patients.

Person specification

Qualifications / Experience Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social care or Care Certificate (NHS England accredited) with relevant experience
• Able to demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy
• Moving and Handling Certificate
• Basic Life Support Certificate
• Evidence of practical training or education in a care setting

Experience Essential

• Previous experience in a health care setting

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SX

Website: https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/