Health Care Assistant - Spinal Injuries

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Sefton is looking for a compassionate Health Care Assistant to join their team at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre. The successful candidate will provide direct care to patients recovering from spinal cord injuries, assisting with daily living activities. Ideal candidates should possess NVQ level 2 in Healthcare or be willing to undertake it. This role offers a chance to make a significant impact on patients' rehabilitation while working in a supportive multi-professional team environment.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake NVQ level 2 or equivalent.
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Knowledge of personal care.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care on a daily basis to support patients' hygiene, nutrition, and mobility.
• Assist patients with bathing, dressing, and mobility.
• Report changes to the Registered Nurse and document care activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Flexibility and adaptability

Basic IT skills

Education

NVQ level 2 in Healthcare

Care Certificate

Job description

Go back Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Health Care Assistant - Spinal Injuries

The closing date is 03 February 2026

Are you willing to learn & committed to providing 5 Star patient care? If so, we are looking for caring individuals who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in assisting patients with their rehabilitation following a life-altering spinal cord injury.

Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-professional team are critical to the success of the role.

Previous experience of working within an acute hospital setting would be desirable but not essential as training will be provided. You should have completed NVQ Level 2 in Healthcare / Care Certificate or equivalent or be undertaking the course with completion expected within 6 months of taking up post.

Main duties of the job

There is currently an 11.30hr rotational shift pattern with the opportunity for shorter shifts to ensure availability of staff throughout the 24hour period. Staff are expected to be flexible as internal rotation between day and night duty is in operation and weekend working is to be expected.

The AfC Band 2 Health Care Assistant role at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre is a key part of the multi-professional team & vital in supporting the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury.

The role involves providing direct care on a daily basis to ensure patients are able to achieve their goals for personal hygiene, eating & drinking, skin care & mobilising in a wheelchair.

The Centre comprises 43 inpatient beds, including up to 9 acute & respiratory care beds. In addition we have established an outreach service that currently offers 8 beds in a community setting.

We provide acute care and rehabilitation services for individuals who have experienced a spinal cord lesion due to trauma or other mechanism.

There is an extensive rehabilitation service provided by a comprehensive multi-professional team with dedicated rehabilitation & therapy facilities within the department, including a fully equipped gym, hydrotherapy pool, gait orthosis equipment and occupational therapy assessment / treatment area.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals 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.

Job responsibilities

Bed bathing / showering patients.

Assisting with elimination needs including transfer to & from shower chairs.

Assisting patients to dress & undress.

Frequent manual handling procedures such as repositioning in bed, hoisting from bed to chair & back, use of slide boards to transfer from bed to chair & back.

Assisting with meal provision & nutritional / hydration needs.

Reporting any changes to the Registered Nurse & ensuring appropriate documentation is completed in a timely manner i.e. repositioning schedules, food charts, intentional rounding charts.

Please note this vacancy will close early upon receipt of sufficient applications

Do not apply if you do not have the correct right to work in the UK

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS NEED NOT APPLY

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake NVQ level 2 or equivalent
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ level 2 in Healthcare
• Care Certificate

Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge of personal care
• Experience of working in a team
• Previous experience in a care assistant role

Physical effort

• Frequent periods of physical effort e.g. turning, moving, using aids, assisting in personal care

Skills & abilities

• Ability to communicate both verbal & written
• Able to work within a team
• Able to accept direction and guidance
• Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
• Inclusive and non-judgmental
• Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
• Basic IT skills

Working conditions

• Frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions, bodily fluids, smells, vomit, emptying catheter bags

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

£24,465 a year per annum pro rat if part time