Healthcare Assistant

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Manchester is seeking a motivated Band 2 healthcare assistant to join their core oncology team. This role involves delivering essential bedside nursing care, supporting patients undergoing cancer treatments while ensuring their comfort and safety. Successful candidates will demonstrate high standards of patient care with empathy and professionalism. The position is permanent and part-time, with a salary of £24,465 pro rata.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer service environment.
• Ability to follow instructions.
• Empathetic and caring attitude.

Responsibilities

• Assist nursing staff in basic patient care and procedures.
• Ensure a clean environment for patients.
• Monitor fluid balance and nutrition.

Skills

Basic IT skills

Communication

Customer service

Teamwork

Education

Vocational healthcare qualification at level 2

Job description

Job Summary

The Christie is an internationally and nationally recognised Centre for the treatment of cancer and leading experts in cancer care, research and education, based in Manchester. We are looking for a well‑organised, motivated, enthusiastic Band 2 to take up a fundamental role as healthcare assistant within our core oncology team. The healthcare assistant will deliver all aspects of bedside nursing care for inpatients. Ward 11 is a 28‑bedded ward caring for a range of patients who are undergoing cancer treatments, experiencing side effects from their treatment, receiving palliative care or end‑of‑life care. Ward 11 has a strong teamwork ethos and is looking for someone to join our team of dedicated, compassionate and caring staff who hold patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Main duties of the job

Where required, assist nursing staff if they are conducting procedures or investigations. Assist patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording bodily waste/fluid balance accurately. Ensure a clean and safe environment for patients and raise any concerns. Monitor fluid balance. Handle patients’ personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely. Perform enhanced observations, one‑to‑one as appropriate. Ensure patients receive adequate nutrition and hydration. Ensure accurate documentation. Assist patients to reposition. Work within the team to deliver outstanding care.

About Us

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15 % of patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world‑first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Details

Date posted: 05 January 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £24,465 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part‑time
Reference number: 413‑101793‑CSSS‑DA
Job locations: Ward 11 – E00006, Manchester, M20 4BX

Job Description

Clinical

• Assists with the care of patients by participating in basic nursing care and procedures, providing personal care to patients, responding to nurse calls as required. Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording bodily waste and fluid balance accurately. Ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and escalating any concerns. Monitoring fluid balance. Handling patients’ personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely. Performing enhanced observations – one‑to‑one as appropriate. Ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition and hydration. Ensuring accurate documentation. Assisting patients to reposition. Support the team in ensuring that patients receive basic cardio‑pulmonary resuscitation as required.
• Complete all appropriate documentation relevant to care provided and update patients' named nurse or shift coordinator where required.
• Assist patients in maintaining personal hygiene (including skin assessments), grooming and dressing needs with specific concern for their religious, cultural and personal preference, ensuring privacy and dignity at all times. Undertake oral hygiene procedures for patients as per trust protocol.
• Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise physical comfort utilising equipment as directed by the multidisciplinary team. Assist in the care of patients' pressure areas and prevention of pressure ulcers.
• Assist in meal service as required in line with Trust hygiene and food handling policy, covering hostess role as required. Transfer the patient/client from one care area to another, i.e. other ward or department, at the delegation of the Registered Nurse. Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.
• Welcome and orientate patients, visitors and others to the ward/department and ensure that all communications result in effective customer care.
• Assist in the proper procedure of duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered with.
• Communicate well within the team at all times. Demonstrate a pleasant and approachable manner and help create and promote a good team working relationship. Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in care delivery.

Clinical Support

• Assist with the admission of patients, and during their stay, by undertaking screening swabs, taking and labelling of pathology samples, excluding bloods.
• Assist the Registered Nurse in the process of undertaking clinical risk assessments e.g. recording height and weight, updating the nurse on any changes to a patients condition or circumstances. Responsibility for undertaking the risk assessments lies with the Registered Nurse.
• Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake.
• Assist in providing conditions to meet the patients need for rest and sleep.
• Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences.
• Record patients' items of property in the ward property and valuables book, ensuring valuables are correctly placed into safekeeping.
• Prepare trolleys for specific clinical procedures in line with trust policy utilising aseptic non‑touch technique practices.
• Recognise and report abusive or inappropriate behaviour to an appropriate member of staff, documenting the same.

Environment Support

• Be responsible for self and others through identifying risks and undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
• Maintain cleanliness in the work environment, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients, adhering to infection prevention control policies and guidance in line with Trust health and safety policies.
• Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures.
• Undertake cleaning of equipment/environment as per Trust policy, including drip stands and suction points.
• Participate in maintaining overall cleanliness of ward areas and follow schedules and procedures for the ward around room cleaning.
• Check ward linen stock is adequate until the next due delivery, in the absence of a housekeeper. Contribute to the supply and maintenance of materials and equipment to ensure the efficient running of the clinical environment.
• Ensure patient beds linen is changed daily as a minimum. Participate in ensuring that the bed space and associated equipment is cleaned and checked upon patient discharge. Ensure patients receive clean towels daily. Collect soiled linen and move to collection points.
• Assist with checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.
• Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested, including the maintenance of equipment as appropriate.
• Report faults on the ward as necessary.
• Report accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy to shift coordinator or senior staff.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of services.
• Undertake all training required to perform duties effectively to the requirements of the post, including but not limited to attending all required mandatory training courses.
• Maintain own professional portfolio in accordance with personal development plans.
• Demonstrate the agreed set of values and be accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Administration

• Assist in preparing patients’ notes, relevant charts, nursing documentation and identity bracelets prior to, and on admission.
• Undertake clerical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse in relation to all verbal, digital and written communications, ensuring messages and communications are passed to other team members, storage of patient information and retrieval of such information, in line with the Trust Information Governance policy.

These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and staff may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the band. Skills development is encouraged and you may wish to consider additional skills/duties as part of your appraisal/PDR process.

Person Specification

Essential

• Vocational healthcare qualification at level 2 or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working with people in a customer service environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of people.
• Able to follow instructions.
• Basic IT skills.
• Evidence of understanding of the healthcare support worker role.
• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.
• Committed to delivering high standards of patient/customer care.
• Empathetic and caring.
• Professional outlook and positive attitude.
• Available to work unsociable hours, weekends and nights.

Desirable

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience of working in a health or social care setting.
• Competent in routine observations and tests.
• Evidence of recent training.

Knowledge

• Evidence of understanding of the healthcare support worker role.
• Participate in personal Development.

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Personal Attributes

• Committed to delivering high standards of patient/customer care.
• Empathetic and caring.
• Professional outlook and positive attitude.
• Available to work unsociable hours, weekends and nights.

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 Details

Employer name: The Christie NHS FT
Address: Ward 11 – E00006, Manchester, M20 4BX
Employer's website: https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)