Health Care Assistant

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Harrogate is seeking a Health Care Assistant to deliver compassionate care to patients. In this role, you will assist with personal hygiene, meal support, and maintaining patient comfort. NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care is required, along with previous experience in a healthcare setting. The position offers a salary of £24,937 to £26,598 per annum, pro rata. This is a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in patients' lives.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Counselling service

Fast-track Physiotherapy service

Qualifications

• 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 is required.
• Basic Life Support Certificate is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal hygiene needs like bathing and dressing.
• Support patients in meal selection and feeding.
• Encourage fluid intake and record it.
• Maintain a clean and comfortable bed for patients.

Skills

Good standard of literacy

Good standard of numeracy

Compassionate care

Basic Life Support

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Moving and Handling Certificate

Evidence of training in a care setting

Job description

Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 28 December 2025

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

Please Note

• 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.

Job responsibilities

We provide you will 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.

Qualifications/Experience

• 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

• 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.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

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