Health Care Support Worker - Alcohol & Drug Recovery Service

NHS National Services Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Learning opportunities / bursary

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking a Health Care Support Worker for the In-Patient Services team at Gartnavel Hospital. The role supports patient recovery, offers therapeutic group/work interventions, and involves observation and clinical duties within an inpatient setting.

Applicants should be motivated, compassionate and committed to person-centred care. The post is permanent and includes 36 hours per week with long-day and night-shift rotation, in a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the Health Care Support Worker role within a multidisciplinary care team.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team while recognising personal limitations and seeking support when required.
• Knowledge of patient-centred and compassionate care practices.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and information governance requirements.
• Awareness of the accountability and supervisory role of Registered Nurses.
• Knowledge of effective communication techniques when working with patients, families, carers and colleagues.
• Understanding of the importance of patient involvement and partnership in care delivery.
• Ability to recognise concerns requiring escalation to the registered nursing team.
• Awareness of health and safety procedures and infection prevention and control practices.
• Experience or willingness to undertake training in clinical observations, specimen collection, urinalysis, basic wound care and psychosocial interventions.

Responsibilities

• Support patients throughout recovery by assisting with personal care and daily living activities.
• Provide therapeutic support through individual and group interventions.
• Assist with monitoring vital signs, specimen collection, testing, and wound dressings.
• Support admissions, appointments and care planning; escort to appointments.
• Liaise with health and social care professionals; maintain accurate records.
• Order supplies and contribute to a safe, supportive environment.

Skills

Teamwork

Compassionate care

Effective communication

Observation skills

Confidentiality

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services for a Health Care Support Worker to join the In-Patient Services team on a permanent basis. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the successful candidate will support the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care for individuals receiving treatment for alcohol and substance use issues. Applicants should be motivated, compassionate and committed to providing person-centred care within an inpatient hospital environment, with effective communication and time management skills.

Candidates should be aware that sponsorship eligibility for some Health Care Support Worker roles will be affected by changes to UK immigration requirements from January 2027. Given the time required to complete recruitment, pre-employment checks and sponsorship processes, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cannot guarantee sponsorship for candidates who may require it to take up this post.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent Role

Gartnavel Hospital

36 Hours per week (Long Day Dayshift & Nightshift Rotation)

Key responsibilities:

As a Health Care Support Worker, you will support patients throughout their recovery journey by assisting with personal care and daily living activities, providing therapeutic support through individual and group interventions, and contributing to the observation and assessment of patients during treatment and detoxification. The role involves undertaking a range of clinical duties including monitoring and recording vital signs, specimen collection and testing, supporting physical examinations, applying basic wound dressings, processing laboratory requests, and reporting observations to registered nursing staff. You will also assist with patient admissions, appointments and care planning, escort patients to clinical and rehabilitation appointments, liaise with health and social care professionals, maintain accurate records, order supplies, and contribute to a safe, supportive and recovery-focused environment. Effective communication with patients, families, carers and colleagues, while maintaining confidentiality and professional standards, is an essential aspect of the role.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Understanding of the Health Care Support Worker role within a multidisciplinary care team.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team while recognising personal limitations and seeking support when required.
• Knowledge of patient-centred and compassionate care practices.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and information governance requirements.
• Awareness of the accountability and supervisory role of Registered Nurses.
• Knowledge of effective communication techniques when working with patients, families, carers and colleagues.
• Understanding of the importance of patient involvement and partnership in care delivery.
• Ability to recognise concerns requiring escalation to the registered nursing team.
• Awareness of health and safety procedures and infection prevention and control practices.
• Experience or willingness to undertake training in clinical observations, specimen collection, urinalysis, basic wound care and psychosocial interventions.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

This post may require a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check.

Tip:

Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as 'various', we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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