health care assistant

EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Lancashire is seeking a health care assistant for the Children’s Observation and Assessment Unit. The ideal candidate will assist Registered Nurses, provide personal care, and support families. Experience with children and families is essential, alongside strong communication and teamwork skills. Shift work is required with flexibility across family care areas. Competitive salary based on hours worked, pro-rata for part-time.

Qualifications

• Experience dealing with children and families is required.
• Previous hospital experience is preferred.
• Care certificate; GCSE English and Maths Grade D/level 3 or equivalent; Level 1 qualification are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Registered Nurses in implementing and evaluating care.
• Provide personal care to each patient.
• Participate in all mandatory training.
• Take part in ward hand-overs.
• Assist families in caring for their child’s hygiene and nutrition needs.

Job description

A unique opportunity for a health care assistant to work on the Children’s Observation and Assessment Unit (COAU). COAU is an 11‑bed, 11‑waiting‑seats unit that operates 24 hours a day and sees on average 40 children in a 24‑hour period, providing fast turnover with an average stay of 4 hours. The role requires a caring professional approach, excellent communication, teamwork and the ability to maintain calm and effective responses in challenging situations. Shift work includes long days, twilight and night shifts, covering weekends and bank holidays, with flexibility for other areas of family care and ELHT.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Registered Nurses in implementing and evaluating care in partnership with children and their families.
• Accompany children and families to other departments for appointments or investigations.
• Assist families in caring for their child’s hygiene and nutrition needs.
• Take an active role in the multidisciplinary team of Nurses, Doctors, Dietitians, Physiotherapists and the play Team, attending ward meetings and weekly Share‑to‑Care updates.
• Provide housekeeping duties and ensure the ward is kept clean and tidy.
• Participate in all mandatory training.
• Work alongside the rest of the team to keep the ward fully stocked.

Clinical Duties

1. Provide personal care to each patient, e.g., assist with hygiene needs and toileting.
2. Manoeuvre patients as required, using mechanical aids as appropriate following training.
3. Acquire urine and stool specimens; follow procedure for sending/taking specimens to the pathology laboratory.
4. Ensure proper precautions when exposed to body fluids to minimise cross‑infection risk, including safe disposal of blood products.
5. Present food and drink and assist patients as required.
6. Maintain a clean and tidy environment for patients.
7. Escort children and parents to and from investigations/theatre.
8. Clear and clean trolleys and equipment with support.
9. Responsible for cleaning beds/cots, preparing them and disposing of soiled linen.
10. Display a flexible approach to working across the unit, including out‑patient clinics as required.
11. Takes prescriptions to and collects medicines from pharmacy.
12. Organises own work with support from trained staff.
13. Understands and participates in ordering supplies, including online ordering.
14. Safely stores supplies.
15. In the absence of a ward clerk, participates in filing notes and collecting/delivering notes to and from other departments.
16. Supports families and ensures parent facilities are in order.

Communication and Coordination

1. Take part in ward hand‑overs, reporting any changes to qualified staff.
2. Liaise with other departments (linen, catering, stores) as required.
3. Inform patients/relatives of general housekeeping rules (e.g., meal times, parent facilities).
4. Liaise with patients/families across multicultural backgrounds.

Education and Training

1. Participate in an annual appraisal/development review, identifying training required.
2. Attend in‑service training as appropriate.
3. Participate in staff meetings on a regular basis.
4. Participate in annual mandatory training.

Research and Audit

• Assist with research/audit activities as appropriate.

Health and Safety

• Adhere to the uniform policy, ensuring clear identification on duty.
• Safeguard the welfare and safety of patients, visitors and staff, in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
• Ensure all health and safety policies are adhered to.

Experience and Desirable Criteria

• Experience dealing with children and families.
• Previous hospital experience (desirable).
• Care certificate; GCSE English and Maths Grade D/level 3 or equivalent; Level 1 qualification (desirable).
• Ability to work in a team (desirable).
• Evidence of previous teamwork (desirable).
• Good communication skills (desirable).

Salary and Working Hours

• The salary advertised is for full‑time hours. If the post is less than 37.5 hours per week, salary will be pro‑rata.
• For posts on the Agenda for Change pay‑scales, new entrants to the NHS normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received.

Equal Opportunities

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of staff. We operate a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from BAME communities to help reflect the diverse communities we serve. Appointments will be made on merit.