Healthcare Assistant

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health Care Assistant to support patients in their own homes within the Urgent Care Services team. You will work with nurses and therapists to deliver short-term health, therapy and care support tailored to individual needs.

The role involves following delegated care plans, monitoring patient progress, and helping patients regain independence after illness or hospital discharge.

Qualifications

• You will have either a QCF Level 3 in healthcare or equivalent experience.
• Functional Skills at Level 2 in English and Maths (or GCSE A-C).
• Recent healthcare experience as a health care assistant or similar role.
• Full UK/EU driving licence and a customer-focused approach.
• Ability to use IT systems and databases.
• Knowledge of evidence-based clinical practice and safe patient care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, person-centred care under supervision.
• Support delegated care plans and clinical interventions you are trained to perform.
• Monitor patient progress and record vital signs and observations.
• Assist with glucose monitoring, urinalysis, wound care and falls prevention.
• Provide equipment and mobility support and help patients regain independence.
• Contribute to therapy programs and support group activities as needed.

Skills

QCF Level 3 / NVQ / BTEC in healthcare

English & Maths Level 2

Healthcare experience

Customer-focused

IT systems literacy

Signposting to services

Attention to detail

Education

QCF Level 3 NVQ / BTEC or equivalent

Tools

Driving licence

Job description

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare or working on the Staff Bank within these organisations. Nursing and AHP vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses/AHPs. Are you passionate about helping people remain safe, independent and well in their own homes? Join our Urgent Care Services team and play a vital role in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting timely hospital discharges. Working alongside nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals, you'll provide short-term health, therapy and care support to people in the community. Every day is different, with opportunities to support individuals who are recovering from illness, managing long‑term conditions or regaining their independence following a hospital stay. This is a rewarding role where you'll build meaningful relationships with patients and their families, helping them achieve the best possible outcomes while receiving care in the comfort of their own home.

Main duties of the job

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship. Therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom. As part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you'll deliver high‑quality, person‑centred care under the guidance of registered nurses and therapists. Your responsibilities will include supporting delegated care plans, undertaking clinical interventions you've been trained and assessed as competent to perform, and monitoring patient progress. This may involve recording vital signs, glucose monitoring, routine urinalysis, wound care, falls prevention support, equipment provision and helping individuals regain independence with everyday activities. You'll contribute to therapy programmes, support both individual and group sessions, and provide valuable feedback to clinicians to help evaluate progress and inform ongoing care planning. Following established procedures and best practice, you'll help ensure patients receive safe, effective care while maintaining dignity, choice and independence throughout their recovery journey.

About us

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is currently undertaking a significant programme of transformation to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have. Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high‑quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent. We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme. We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients. Explore KCHFTcareer pathways, As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non‑EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via [e-mail], quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further. We strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non‑clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Qualifications and experience

• You will have either: A Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3. This could be an NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship, BTEC or equivalent international qualification in healthcare. Or you will have to be able to demonstrate the equivalent level of experience.
• In addition, you will also have Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C/ 4-9 or equivalent in English and Maths)
• You'll need to have recent experience of healthcare/ working as a health care assistant gained through education, work experience or previous employment.
• Full UK/EU driving licence, You will need to have a customer focussed approach
• Provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience
• You will need to be able to be able to use IT systems and databases
• You will have knowledge of up to date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks. You will fully understand the role and remit of a health care worker.
• You will understand where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health.
• You will have the skill to focus on the details with the ability to spot problems. You will know when you are within your own limits and when to escape.

Desirable

• Having an awareness of developments within the NHS would be an advantage