Health Care Assistant - Emergency Department

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health trust in the United Kingdom is looking for a dedicated Health Care Assistant for their Emergency Department. You will support skilled nursing and medical staff in providing top-tier care to patients while gaining experience in various health care procedures. The role requires immediate availability and relevant UK experience, along with a commitment to complete the Care Certificate qualification within the first months. This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced and patient-centered environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in health care and patient care-related roles is essential.
• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures is required.
• Ability to handle challenging and stressful situations compassionately.

Responsibilities

• Support nursing and medical staff in providing patient care.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and report incidents appropriately.
• Keep patient records up to date and accurate.

Skills

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Flexibility and adaptability

Education

NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent

Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months

Basic literacy and numeracy skills

Job description

Health Care Assistant - Emergency Department

The closing date is 10 December 2025.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Emergency Department Team. The post holder will support our highly-skilled Nursing and Medical Staff in providing 5 star care to all of our patients.

The post holder must be willing to work towards the Care Certificate Qualification.

Accident and Emergency is located on Level 0 at Whiston Hospital and the department remains the busiest in Merseyside, seeing and treating over 105,000 patients every year. It has both Adult and Paediatric state of the art emergency care facilities and is committed to the ongoing development of its service in supporting improvements within its service provision.

Due to current service demands, we are only able to consider applicants who have relevant UK experience. Candidates must also be available to commence employment immediately or within a very short timeframe. We regret that we cannot progress applications that do not meet these essential requirements.

Main duties of the job

Experience in Health Care is essential for this role and Emergency Department experience is desirable. HCA in ED remain patient focused but are also able to develop their skills in venepuncture, cannulation, VBG and blood cultures. Our HCA rotate around the department during the shift as with the demands of our attendances, you may be undertaking observations in the waiting room in the morning and then assisting with supplementary care in the afternoon the demands on your time in ED are unique and depend on the activity flowing through the department.

Please note, this vacancy may close earlier than expected due to sufficient applications being received.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

• CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
• SAFETY that is of the highest standards
• COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
• SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
• PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

• Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that privacy and dignity of patients is paramount and is not compromised.

To ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the Nurse in Charge.

To report any untoward incidents/occurrences.

To ensure that all patient care is delivered with the highest degree of professionalism.

To present an appearance which gives a positive image of the Trust and a manner which is appropriate and which inspires confidence.

To participate in an annual performance review undertaken with the Ward Manager to identify personal development needs.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure patient records are kept up to date and accurate and recording is done in line with Trust policies and procedures.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

To attend specifically fire and lifting and handling lectures annually and ensure appropriate updates are attended once H.C.A. training is complete.

Person Specification

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Qualifications

• Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
• Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
• Experience of working in a team
• Experience of working in a patient care/health related role

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a team
• Able to accept direction and guidance
• Aware of own limitations
• Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
• Reliable and professional
• Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
• Inclusive and non-judgmental
• Punctual, motivated and committed
• Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
• Basic IT skills

Other

• Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
• Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention
• Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
• Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
• Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death
• Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department
• Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids
• Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours

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.

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust