Health Care Support Worker

NHS; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Bournemouth is seeking a Health Care Support Worker to join a compassionate team. The ideal candidate will provide dignified, compassionate care, work under the supervision of registered professionals, and maintain high documentation standards. Qualifications include GCSE in English and numeracy and experience working in a care environment. This role contributes to key developments in individual patient care, ensuring the promotion of health and well-being.

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy.
• Experience of working within a care environment/NHS.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.

Responsibilities

• Provide dignified, compassionate, and safe care for patients.
• Practice in a holistic, non-judgemental manner.
• Contribute to practice development within clinical care setting.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Basic patient care

Compassion

Time management

Education

GCSE (or equivalent) English and numeracy

Completion of competency‑based workbook/Care Certificate

Equivalent relevant experience to vocational level 3

Job description

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Health Care Support Worker

The closing date is 04 January 2026

We are hiring Healthcare Support Workers to join our incredible team in Medicine based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate candidate, with the ability to effectively support individuals with a wide range of needs during their hospital stay.

Applicants should be able to provide non‑judgmental, empathetic and effective care to patients, be organised and manage their time well, as well as becoming a part of a strong team and building relationships with colleagues.

We are in the process of some exciting transformation and in Summer 2026, patients will be moving across to UHD's new COAST Building, also based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. This is a brand new, purpose built inpatient area and marks an exciting new step forward for Respiratory Medicine in Dorset. There is ongoing work to decide which wards individual staff members will be based, so please be aware of this when applying.

PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS POSITION.

Interview date TBC - subject to passing maths and literacy assessments

Main duties of the job

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

About us

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service‑specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active staff network groups including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We are proud to be part of the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We understand some candidates may use AI tools to prepare applications. While not discouraged, we ask that applications remain an honest reflection of your own skills and experience. Integrity is an important part of our recruitment process.

Job responsibilities

To work as an effective member of the team under the supervision and direction of a registered health care professional, providing dignified, compassionate, and safe care for patients and ensuring high standards of documentation are maintained.

The post holder is responsible for assessment of care needs of patients with direct supervision.

The post holder will practice in a holistic, non‑judgemental, caring, and compassionate manner that avoids assumptions, supports social inclusion and recognises and respects individual choice and acknowledges diversity.

They will work together with other health and social care professionals, students, trainees, and agencies. They will also work in partnership with service users, their carers and families.

The post holder will contribute to the practice development within their clinical care setting and work in accordance with Trust Policies, Procedures and Guidelines and will be responsible for completing any work‑based training associated with the role. To undertake all duties for our patients that are 16+ including venepuncture, cannulation, ECGs. No duties should be undertaken unless appropriate training or induction has taken place in accordance with trust policies.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working in a team under appropriate supervision
• Experience of working with customers and a range of different people
• Basic Food handling
• Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy
• Completion of competency‑based workbook/Care Certificate
• Equivalent relevant experience to vocational level 3
• GCSE (or equivalent) English and numeracy
• Short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties
• IT literate
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (to understand and be understood)
• Ability to follow clear instruction and feed back to senior staff.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative.
• Venepuncture and cannulation
• Understanding of basic physiology e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc
• ECG
• Bladder scanning

Knowledge

• An understanding around basic patient care
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well‑being
• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation;
• Experience in admitting patients

Other requirements specific to the role

• Ability to adapt and learn in a health care environment
• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
• Patient and calm
• Kind and compassionate

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.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust