Healthcare Assistant

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare facility in Milton Keynes is looking for a Healthcare Assistant to provide quality care in a cancer center. The role involves supporting nurses, performing clinical tasks, and administrative duties. Candidates should have an NVQ Level 3 qualification and experience in an acute setting, along with strong communication skills and the ability to manage time effectively. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to develop their careers in a supportive and growing environment.

Qualifications

• GCSE level in Maths & English or equivalent knowledge is essential.
• NVQ Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience required.
• Experience working as a Healthcare Assistant in an acute setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist nursing team with both nursing and non-nursing duties.
• Administrative support including appointment confirmation calls.
• Perform clinical tasks such as phlebotomy and observations.

Skills

Customer care

Time management

Phlebotomy

Teamwork

IT Skills

Education

GCSE level or Functional Skills in Maths & English

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience

NHS CARE Certificate

Job description

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 25 January 2026

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a band 3 Health Care Assistant to join our cancer Centre at Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will work within the Cancer centre mainly within the Macmillan suite and outpatient department alongside registered Nurses and the multidisciplinary team members to help provide high‑quality care for all our patients.

The main elements of the post are to assist and support the nursing team with both nursing and non‑nursing duties, to enable them to care for Haematology and Oncology Day cases and Outpatients. We are looking for dedicated and passionate individuals who not only strive to meet all the needs of patients in our care but will work as part of the team to achieve this. As part of the post, you may be required to work shifts and flexibility is required.

There will be training given to develop skills and knowledge within cancer nursing. This rapidly expanding modern and busy centre offers many training opportunities for their staff, recent developments have led to the opening of the Cancer centre onsite.

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Main duties of the job

94% of respondents in the NHS Survey 2024 feel that their role makes a difference to patients and service users.

To ensure smooth running of the Cancer centre and Haematology Outpatient Clinics.

To assist and support nursing team with both nursing and non‑nursing duties, to enable them to care for Haematology and Oncology Day cases and Outpatients.

To support the receptionists with clerical and reception duties.

We firmly believe in holistic care, complementary therapy, clinical psychology and Citizen Advice Bureau all have clinics in the unit. We also offer carers and patient support groups.

Opportunities to develop both clinical & managerial skills & for further study.

This developing service is supported by a forward thinking & supportive Management Team, Nurse Practitioners, Palliative Care Team & Macmillan Information and Support Centre. This unit is recognised for its high standard of environment & patient care having been awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark in 2021.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting‑edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state‑of‑the‑art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24‑bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.

Job responsibilities

• Participating in the set up and organisation of the cancer centre and Haematology outpatient clinic work to ensure smooth and efficient running of the clinics. To be able to work independently within the clinic setting with supervision available from MDT members.
• Understand and assist in the scheduling and ringing of patients to confirm appointment times providing additional administration support to reception as required.
• Covering outpatient reception as required, taking all reception administration tasks, checking in and out of patient appointments, scheduling and taking calls, liaising with outpatient and day case area on patient appointments.
• To work within Cancer centre and Oncology Suite when there are cancelled clinics within the Haematology Outpatients.
• Welcoming patients and relatives to the clinic/units and facilitate their progress through the system with clear communication and information giving both verbal and written as required, acting with empathy and support throughout.
• Performing phlebotomy, blood pressures, pulse, temperature, respirations, and Oxygen saturations.
• Act as a chaperone when requested, recognising patients and family’s needs through verbal and non‑verbal cues. Supporting patients with both physical and mental disabilities adapting to meet requirements, providing clear communication needs to the team as required.
• To maintain the safety of patients and visitors while in the department, providing reassurance and communication skills as appropriate to manage different situations.
• To help provide and promote a professional and caring environment for patients and visitors attending the department acting with empathy throughout.

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• GCSE level or Functional Skills in Maths & English or equivalent knowledge
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience
• NHS CARE Certificate
• Knowledge of personal care and activities of daily living
• Understanding of the importance of safe working practices
• Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Assistant
• Awareness of NHS policies
• Awareness of importance of infection prevention & control
• Assessors training/certificate

Experience

• Experience working as a Healthcare assistant in an acute setting
• Experience of working in a team
• Previous NHS experience
• Experience in supporting junior staff
• Previous experience of working in an outpatient setting

Skills

• Ability to demonstrate commitment to high standards of care
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to prioritise tasks effectively at short notice
• Caring in a professional manner towards patients and their relatives.
• Good time management
• Ability to induct, support, assess and develop junior members of staff.
• Ability to undertake clinical observations and tasks including phlebotomy
• IT Skills

Personal and people development

• Commitment to Safeguarding
• Presents a professional appearance
• Ability to work within a team
• Self‑motivated and enthusiastic
• Commitment to working in a caring environment with people of all ages

Communication

• Clear spoken and written English
• Able to show care, empathy and respect to patients and their families
• Able to communicate with team members, carrying out instructions and feeding back information.
• Able to record care provided using MKUH documentation and complying with MKUH policies and guidelines.
• Able to feedback to staff on safe and effective practice.
• Able to feedback on assessments undertaken.

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.

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

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust