Health Care Assistant - Intermediate Care (Newton Community Hospital)

NHS; Newton-le-Willows; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A community hospital group is seeking a dedicated Health Care Assistant to join the Intermediate Care Unit in Newton-le-Willows. The role involves providing excellence in patient care and actively participating in a multi-disciplinary team. Ideal candidates should have prior experience in health care or related fields and excellent communication skills. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on patient recovery and well-being.

Qualifications

• Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment.
• Experience in a patient care/health related role.
• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures.

Responsibilities

• Deliver care of the highest standard in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Support qualified Nursing Staff in providing high standards of care.
• Assist with personal care and support activities of daily living.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Teamwork

Basic IT skills

Education

Basic literacy and numeracy skills

NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent

Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Job description

Health Care Assistant - Intermediate Care (Newton Community Hospital)

The closing date is 12 December 2025

An exciting development opportunity has arisen for a dedicated Health Care Assistant to join the Community Intermediate Care Unit.

We are seeking highly enthusiastic and motivated individuals, with a passion for providing excellence within patient care, to join our team of friendly Nursing and Medical Staff at Newton Hospital.

The 30 bedded adult inpatient ward at Newton Community Hospital provides Intermediate Care in a community setting, including Nursing, Medical, Therapy and Social Care interventions for patients who require specialist care and support.

The post holder will be expected to deliver care of the highest standard and work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

The ability to work as part of a team is essential and previous experience of Intermediate Care is required.

An Enhanced DBS Certificate with the checking of both the Children's and Adults' Barred Lists is required for this position.

Interview date to be confirmed

Main duties of the job

• To work as part of the Nursing Team undertaking household support tasks and direct care tasks as delegated by the Nurse in Charge.
• To support the qualified Nursing Staff in the maintenance of high standards of nursing care to patients.
• To assist in providing an environment within the ward that is conductive to patient recovery and pleasant for patients and their families.
• To accept responsibility for specifically delegated functions within the ward which the Nurse in Charge feels are appropriate for untrained staff to undertake.
• To ensure where entries are made in nursing documentation, that these are correct, legible and comprehensive and countersigned by a registered nurse.
• To understand and adhere to all Trust Policies.
• To ensure the Health and Safety of patients, relatives and other staff is considered and not prejudiced by the post-holder at any time.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements

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

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Work as part of a team and duties will be delegated by the registered healthcare professional.
• Act within the scope of your training and competence, knowing who to ask for help and support if you are not sure.
• Work within agreed ways of working, following relevant Trust standards, policies and protocols.
• Communicate compassionately and effectively with individuals and their families, carers and health care practitioners using a range of techniques, maintaining confidentiality and using tact, empathy, persuasion and reassurance.
• Observe, assess and respond to personal care patients needs appropriately, escalating concerns to nursing staff, as required.
• Organises self in general work tasks or when delivering patient care with supervision where needed from Senior Health Care Assistant and/or nursing staff.
• As directed, undertake personal care duties and support activities of daily living, e.g. mouth care, personal hygiene, and toileting needs, demonstrating person centred care.
• Safely deliver care duties including manoeuvring of patient equipment (such as hoists and wheelchairs).
• Under supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner, undertake delegated procedures within the limits of required training and measured competence, where appropriate. For example, patient moving and handling, and providing personal care.
• Support of patients feeding, diet and nutritional needs and accurately record patients nutritional intake and fluid intake and output, noticing and reporting changes to the nursing staff.
• Ensure patient property is managed as per Trust policy.
• Monitor levels of supplies and order supplies for the department as appropriate.
• Demonstrates own duties to new starters, contributing to the learning environment.
• To work in line with Trust policies and procedures.
• Contributes to maintaining a safe, healthy working environment.
• Follow the principles for implementing a duty of care, always acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm.
• Work in partnership with the individual, their carers/ families and the wider healthcare team.
• Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development and learning activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal.
• Participate in team handovers.

Person Specification

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 & 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

• Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention.
• 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