Health Care Support Worker

NHS; Wales; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Health Wales is seeking a Healthcare Support Worker (Retinal Photographer) to deliver retinal screening clinics across South and West Wales. You will transport equipment, capture high-quality retina images, and support patient-centred care in a busy screening environment.

The role requires a full UK driving licence, willingness to travel, and commitment to training as a retinal screener. Welsh language skills are desirable and Welsh applications are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Experience in health or social care
• Commitment to continuous learning / CPD
• Good general education
• Diploma in Health Screening obtained or in progress
• Ability to travel across Wales and operate driving duties

Responsibilities

• Guide participants through screening appointments, ensuring accurate record-keeping.
• Administer eye drops and check pupil dilation within specified timeframes.
• Capture high-quality digital images of the retina using specialised cameras.
• Strictly adhere to DESW protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Drive the Trust's Light Goods Vehicle to clinic venues across Wales, with overnight stays as needed

Skills

Team Worker

Full UK driving licence

Welsh language (desirable)

Education

Diploma in Health Screening

GCSE English & Maths (desirable)

Job description

BETA This is a new website - your feedback is welcomed to help us improve it.

Main area Screening Services Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Hours worked will be on a rota basis, between 07:00 and 20:00, occasional weekend working. Frequent overnight stays will be required.) Job ref 028-ACS023-0826-A

Site Fairway Court Town Treforest Salary £28,819 - £31,626 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 02/11/2026 23:59

Welcome to Public Health Wales, the national public health organisation for Wales

Our vision is Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales

Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

Important Note for vacancies offered on a fixed-term or secondment basis.
Individuals who hold permanent (substantive) employment within the NHS may only be appointed via secondment. Approval for a secondment must be obtained from your current line manager prior to submitting an application.

Job overview

There is an exciting opportunity to join our busy South Wales team as a Healthcare Support Worker (Retinal Photographer), directly delivering screening clinics to participants primarily in the area. The ability to travel between sites is essential for this role to transport equipment in Diabetic Eye Screening vehicles.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our team and train as a retinal screener.

If you are…

• Experienced in a patient or customer-facing role in a Health or Social Care setting,
• Passionate about providing high-quality, patient-centred care,
• Dedicated to continuous service improvement,
• Committed to attaining a retinal screening Diploma,

…and hold a full UK driving licence , we would love to hear from you!

About DESW

Our service provides screening to detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. The screening process involves taking high-quality digital images of the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) to identify any damage to the small blood vessels caused by diabetes.

• Guide participants through screening appointments, ensuring accurate record-keeping.
• Administer eye drops and accurately check pupil dilation within specified timeframes.
• Capture high-quality digital images of the retina using specialised cameras.
• Strictly adhere to DESW protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Drive the Trust's Light Goods Vehicle to clinic venues primarily across West Wales and occasionally other regions within Wales.

Working for our organisation

We are Public Health Wales – the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is ‘Working together for a healthier Wales’. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.

Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.

We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply

Person specification

Qualifications

• GSCE (English Language and Mathematics are desirable) or HND or Level 2 NVQ (literacy and numeracy desirable) or equivalent education in relevant Healthcare subject or photography, or relevant equivalent experience.
• Commitment to continuous learning / evidence of CPD
• A good standard of general education
• Diploma in Health Screening

Experience & Knowledge

• Health or social care experience
• Multi-disciplinary team working
• Direct patient contact / customer facing role
• Understanding of importance of following processes / guidelines
• Interest in photography and / or screening services
• Practical photography
• Ophthalmology experience
• Experience of quality systems and process.
• Understanding of diabetic eye disease
• Anatomy of the eye
• Understanding of diabetes

Skills and Attributes

• Team Worker
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good level of manual dexterity
• Ability to work methodically and demonstrate good attention to detail.
• Sympathetic attitude towards patients
• Responsible attitude towards patient confidentiality
• Awareness of manual handling guidelines
• Understanding of importing/exporting data via networks

Other

• Normal colour vision to complete assessments involving the use of software to review retina images in specific colours.
• Full driving licence essential as there will be a requirement to drive a light goods vehicle daily, provided by PHW Trust.
• Flexible approach to hours of work Ability to travel throughout Wales with overnight stays
• Experience in driving Light goods vehicles (LGV)
• Welsh language speaker

Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.

Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.

If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [e-mail]

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job.

Using a generic application or automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, does not usually provide enough personal evidence of your skills and experience relevant to the role. This can make it difficult for us to assess your suitability and will reduce your chances of being shortlisted.

To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert, providing clear evidence and examples to demonstrate how you meet each requirement.

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

• If you require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Visa routes, please ensure youself‑assess your eligibility for sponsorship for this role before applying.

If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.

We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds. We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.

The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.

In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy . An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Paul Murphy Job title Senior Retinal Screener Email address [e-mail] Additional information

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Paul Murphy via email.