Health Care Assistant - Peter Bruff Unit, Colchester

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester is seeking a Band 3 Health Care Assistant for the adult in-patient service. You'll work alongside qualified staff to deliver patient care, monitor vital signs, and assist with therapeutic activities. The role requires participation in flexible shifts and mandatory training. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals to join a supportive healthcare environment. Apply by 11th September 2025.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent Training facilities

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Ability to assist with patient care under supervision.
• Experience in monitoring vital signs after appropriate training.
• Willingness to complete mandatory training.

Responsibilities

• Assist the professional team in providing care for patients.
• Implement and assist with evaluation of care plans.
• Report changes in patient condition to professionals.

Skills

Patient care

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

No specific educational requirement stated

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Health Care Assistant to join the adult in-patient service at the Peter Bruff Assessment Unit.

The role will be to assist the professional team in providing care for patients in an in-patient assessment environment. Under supervision of qualified team member you will also implement and assist with the evaluation of individual plans of care.

It is a requirement of this position to participate in a flexible rostering arrangement to provide 24-hour care.

Please note this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received

Please note this vacancy requires a face to face interview with the Recruiting Manager. Applicants that are unable to attend a face to face interview need not apply.

• To fulfill the role of Co-Worker under the supervision of a qualified nurse/clinician.
• To deliver planned care to service users identified by the nominated professional.
• Assist qualified staff in the physical monitoring of a patient’s health, including monitoring of blood pressure, pulse , temperature, respiration, weight, drug and alcohol screening ( after appropriate training).
• Assist senior staff in the planning and delivery of therapeutic and social activities for patients in the clinical area.
• To participate, where appropriate, in the initial assessment of the service user’s problems, planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions, as required, ensuring that the service users physical, psychological and social needs are taken into account at all times.
• To deliver effective individualised care in response to service user’s needs under the supervision of the nominated professional, providing a range of supportive interventions
• To ensure clear and concise documentation of individual service user care in all service user’s files and that these are stored according to local policy.
• Observe and report changes in the service user’s physical condition or mental health to the nominated professional.
• Contribute to the management and support of patient who exhibit challenging behaviour.

Please see job description for full duties for this role.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

In addition to the above duties you will also be expected to perform the below key activities in line with your job role;

• Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedures
• To participate in the staff appraisal scheme for any staff you manage
• To keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy
• To provide management supervision where appropriate
• You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team in delivering services; providing a 7-day a week, 24-hours a day service for 365 days a year working shifts, where appropriate and operationally required.

The above Job Description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the post change.

Previous applicants need not apply. If you have previously applied for this role and your application was not successful you will not be considered during the shortlisting stage.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all of our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form be rejected from the process.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our population’s health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a ‘one workforce’ cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

To support this ‘one workforce model’ the successful candidate for this post will be required to attend our 5 day (Monday to Friday) face to face Induction Programme at our MSE ICS Education Hub at Brentwood Community Hospital. Your start date will therefore fall on one of two of the HCA Academy induction dates across the month, which will be discussed and agreed during the recruitment process.

Our HCA Academy Induction programme has been designed to train and support the successful candidate through the early stages of their employment at EPUT and will provide opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge and experience.

Further information will be provided post interview.

This will be followed by an additional 5 day (Monday to Friday) EPUT corporate / mandatory training welcome. (EPUT Welcome will be varied between face to face and virtual delivery).

This advert closes on Thursday 11 Sep 2025