Healthcare Assistant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is looking for a Healthcare Assistant to join their team at Chester le Street Community Hospital. The role involves assisting qualified staff in delivering direct patient care, ensuring hygiene and nutritional needs are met, and maintaining effective communication with patients and the multidisciplinary team. Candidates should possess good interpersonal skills and a GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics, along with a Care Certificate. The position requires shift work, including nights and weekends.

Qualifications

• Ability to learn new skills.
• Previous experience in caring for others.
• Willingness to complete required training.

Responsibilities

• Assist qualified staff in providing direct patient care.
• Deliver personal care to ensure hygiene needs are met.
• Communicate with patients and multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Good verbal and written command

Ability to act upon own initiative

Ability to work under some pressure

Ability to show leadership

Good interpersonal skills

Education

Care Certificate or willingness to complete

GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 22 January 2026

Are you friendly, keen to learn, and a team player? If you keep reading, this could be your opportunity to join our well established team here on Ward 1 at Chester le Street Community Hospital. We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic health care assistant to join our team.

As a team we strive towards delivering a high standard of care and this is reflected in the feedback we receive from the patients and relatives who have had experience of being on our ward.

Main duties of the job

As a healthcare assistant on the ward you will be required to assist the qualified staff in providing direct patient care. You must be able to work effectively as part of a team as well as being able to use your initiative when required. This role is shift working, both days and nights including weekends.

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. You will possess good organisational skills and be able to contribute to the development of flexible working arrangements within the team.

We are an elderly rehabilitation ward, promoting independence is paramount in order to get the optimum outcome for the patient.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce all certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 – Healthcare assistants – you must have been employed for a minimum of two years as an HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).

Job responsibilities

• Taking instructions from the qualified nurse
• Delivering personal care to ensure hygiene needs are met
• Ensuring nutritional needs are met
• Assisting with toileting
• Carrying out vital observations
• Assisting with mobilising patients
• Ensuring necessary documentation is kept up to date and recorded accurately
• Communicating with patients, relatives and other members of the multi-disciplinary team

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good verbal and written command of
• Ability to act upon own initiative.
• Able to work under some pressure.
• Ability to show leadership
• Ability to plan own work.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Willing to take and record patient observations.
• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation

Qualifications

• Care Certificate or willingness to complete within first 6 months of commencement in post.
• GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics.
• Short courses relevant to undertake patient and clinical care duties.

Special Requirements

• Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
• skills.
• Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change
• Be able to offer pastoral care to mentors and students when providing feedback on performance

Experience

• Ability to learn new skills.
• Previous experience in caring for others.

Personal Attributes

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Able to engage and build effective relationships at all levels.
• Understanding of the role of HCSW.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Knowledge and understanding of the need for confidentiality.

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.

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust