Health Care Assistant - Theatre Admissions Unit

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Liverpool is seeking an experienced Band 3 HCA to join the Theatre Admissions Unit at The Royal Liverpool Hospital. The role requires participating in pre-operative and post-operative care, completing clinical observations, and supporting patient needs throughout their hospital stay. Ideal candidates will have NVQ Level 3 qualification, experience in patient care, and the ability to collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team. This position offers a supportive work environment and opportunities for development.

Benefits

Excellent developmental opportunities

Supportive work environment

Positive team culture

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a hospital setting, working at NVQ Level 3.
• Signed off on the Care Certificate.
• Ability to participate in the assessment and planning of nursing care.

Responsibilities

• Assist with pre-operative and post-operative care for patients.
• Perform general and clinical observations of patients.
• Prepare and maintain environment for clinical treatments.

Skills

Experience in a hospital setting

Care Certificate

Basic Life Support techniques

Patient care

Education

NVQ Level 3

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 3 HCA to join the team in the Theatre Admissions Unit in The Royal Liverpool Hospital.

The Theatre Admissions Unit (TAU) is a large ward area made up of 18 side rooms and 4 bays that hold 7 patients. It is a fast paced and dynamic ward/unit that admits all TCI's for the hospital for varying specialities, including but not limited to Urology, Colorectal, HPB, General Surgery, Interventional Radiology and Ophthalmology. TAU prepares the patients for theatre and provides post operative care to day case patients who do not need an overnight stay. The post holder is expected to assist the Ward/Unit team in providing the highest possible standard of pre and post operative care for patients and their families/carers.

You must be able to demonstrate experience in a hospital setting working at NVQ L3 and must be signed off on the Care Certificate. The role will involve participating in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care, and participating in all aspects of patient care with particular attention to pressure ulcer care, personal hygiene, toileting and feeding. You will report progress and raise any concerns to the Registered Nurse (RN) and work collaboratively with others to meet patient needs. You will undertake a range of skilled tasks with support from the Registered Nurse and will proactively lead in delivering basic patient care from admission to discharge. You will take a leading role in supporting and developing more junior staff and the development of the ward.

In return, the Trust can offer excellent developmental opportunities within a fully supportive, positive and friendly environment.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital. It is part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group aims to improve care for patients and is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West. Aintree University Hospital is the main site for adult major trauma in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital provides elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services with specialist rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 births annually. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital focuses on complex planned care and specialist services and is the largest hospital in the country with 100% single bedrooms for inpatients.

For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page.

Clinical responsibilities

• Participates in all aspects of patient care with particular attention to pre-operative and post-operative care.
• Completes pre-operative checks.
• General and clinical observations of patients and reporting any untoward findings to Registered Nursing Staff, including: recording blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturations and respiration rate.
• Prepare and maintain environment for clinical treatments and investigations; prepare patients for treatments or procedures including offering support and answering questions relevant to own knowledge/experience, and assisting in recovery.
• Chaperoning and escorting patients to clinical departments within the hospital and to other hospitals for investigations.
• Removal of cannula post-surgery.
• Provision of patients’ toileting needs, ensuring privacy and dignity.
• Preparation and serving of patients’ meals, drinks and snacks.
• Undertake blood glucose monitoring, venepuncture and/or cannulation as directed by the registered nurse.
• Documentation in patients’ nursing records with countersignature by the Registered Nurse responsible for the patient at the time.
• Enable patients to maintain/improve mobility using exercise and mobility appliances.
• Assist in the prevention of pressure sore development as directed by the Registered nurse in conjunction with the patient’s plan of care.
• Carry out movement and handling within safe practice guidelines and the patient’s manual handling plan.
• Obtain specimens from patients for ward or laboratory testing; collection of blood products from laboratory as requested.
• Initiate Basic Life Support techniques as appropriate and provide assistance to the registered nurse in prolonged resuscitation situations.
• Contribute to the development of Essence of Care and benchmarking.
• Provide a verbal handover of the patient’s care under the direct supervision of the registered nurse.
• Ensure regard for customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and carers.

General duties

• Promotes effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team and takes measures to overcome communication difficulties.
• Contributes to the management of aggressive and abusive behaviour.
• General bed making and preparing clean beds for admissions and operations; maintain a clean and safe ward environment.
• Clear and clean vacated bed spaces; prepare ready for use according to ward/unit protocol.
• Prepare used linen bags for collection by Porters and maintain adequate supply of linen bags/skips.
• Assist in maintaining a clean and safe environment; safe disposal of clinical waste and sharps per Trust policy.
• Be familiar with Trust policies for reporting incidents and attend to the needs of visitors and distressed or bereaved patients.
• Care for patients’ property and obtain demographic details and social history to assist in admission.
• Provide support to new and junior staff.

Clerical duties

• Undertake a range of clerical duties in support of the Ward Clerk, including reception/telephone duties, basic computer skills, obtaining case notes/x-rays, and filing.
• Act as messenger to other wards, laboratory, Medical Engineering, etc.; complete maintenance repair forms.
• Monitor and maintain stock levels of stationery, ward provisions, and clean linen; prepare requisition forms as necessary.
• Provide cover for absent colleagues and follow all organisational policies and procedures.

Education and training development

• Attend induction and orientation to achieve core competencies if new to the Trust; participate in training and development as identified in PDP.
• Assist in the orientation and instruction of less experienced staff; attend mandatory in-service training as per Trust policy.
• Comply with all Trust and Unit policies; act to uphold the reputation of the Trust and safeguard patients and relatives.
• Undertake allocated workload under the supervision of a Registered Nurse; identify objectives within a PDP to support high standards of care.
• Acknowledge limitations and seek appropriate advice and support.

Equality and diversity

It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and to:

• Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognises everyone’s rights; treat people with dignity and respect.
• Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality; be aware of own behaviour and encourage high standards among colleagues.
• Acknowledge diverse perspectives and needs; develop an equality and diversity objective through the PDP with management support.

This advert closes on Wednesday 10 Dec 2025