Health care support worker - A29L

Transformation Unit; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in Bournemouth seeks Band 3 Healthcare Assistant to join the Regional Vascular Unit on Ward A28 Right. You will provide compassionate patient care with strong communication, working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Applicants who do not meet care certificate competencies may start at Band 2, with Band 3 for those holding care certificate accreditation. Shifts include weekdays, weekends, nights, and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy.
• Completion of a Care certificate.
• Short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties.
• Short course to undertake Enhanced Therapeutic Care.

Responsibilities

• Work as an effective team member under supervision to provide dignified, safe care.
• Maintain high standards of documentation and patient records.
• Undertake Enhanced Therapeutic Observation Care as required.
• Adapt to duties across specialities with appropriate training.

Skills

Good numeracy and literacy

Venepuncture

Cannulation

Teamwork

Education

Care certificate

Short courses in patient care

Job description

Main area Vascular Surgery Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent: Full time or part time Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Hours will cover a range of shifts including week days, weekends, nights, bank holidays) Job ref 153-SU06949

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Ward A28 Right Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary £25,760 - £27,476 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 24/11/2026

Health care support worker - A29L

NHS AfC: Band 3

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

We are looking for band 3 HCAs to join our nursing team at UHD on ward A28 Right - The Regional Vascular Unit for the whole of Dorset, part of Wiltshire and Jersey. The candidate would ideally have experience in caring for vulnerable individuals with a passion for providing person-centred care with excellent communication skills and experience of working as an effective member of a team or a willingness to learn.

This post is being advertised as a Band 3, however applicants that do not meet the required care certificate competencies will initially be employed as a Band 2. Applicants who hold a care certificate accreditation will start in post at Band 3

Main duties of the job

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. To undertake all duties listed however these duties will vary from speciality to speciality in some cases this could include working with children and young people right through to older people. To undertake the Enhanced Therapeutic Observation Care such as 1:1 arm’s length or cohort/Baywatch requirements. No duties should be undertaken unless appropriate training or induction has taken place in accordance with trust policies

Working for our organisation

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 networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

For UHD employees, this fixed-term post will be offered as a secondment in line with the Trust’s Secondment Policy. Please speak with your line manager before applying.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Good standard of numeracy and literacy

Completion of a Care certificate (or willingness to undertake)

Short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties

Short course to undertake Enhanced Therapeutic Care

Experience

Ability to adapt and learn in a health care environment

Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS

Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Experience of working with the public

Previous experience of working with patients that require Enhanced Care i.e. challenging behaviour, high falls risk, Dementia and Delirium

Understanding of basic physiology e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.

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.

IT literate

Venepuncture and Cannulation

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy
• Completion of a Care certificate.
• Short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties

Experience

• Ability to adapt and learn in a health care environment
• Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS
• Understanding of basic physiology e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative.
• Venepuncture and cannulation

Knowledge

• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well-being
• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation

Other requirements specific to the role

• Kind and compassionate
• Ability to deal with sensitive situations
• Patient and calm

Personal Attributes

• Motivated
• Positive and flexible approach
• Understands limits of own responsibility

Language requirement

• Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.