Healthcare Assistant

NHS Jobs; Redditch; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking healthcare assistants to provide direct patient support, welcome and orient patients, and assist clinicians in minor procedures. You will perform essential observations, record data, and assist with preparation of rooms and equipment across wards.

The role emphasizes infection prevention, safeguarding, consent, and maintaining patient comfort and dignity in a busy NHS environment. Bank shifts across sites may be involved.

Qualifications

• Assist patients with care while maintaining privacy and dignity.
• Record observations accurately and escalate concerns promptly.
• Help with basic clinical tasks under supervision and within competency.
• Perform infection prevention and maintain clean clinical areas.
• Support safeguarding and patient welfare procedures.

Responsibilities

• Welcome patients and confirm identity; explain procedures within competence and obtain consent.
• Record care and observations accurately; escalate deteriorations to the clinician.
• Assist clinicians during minor procedures and prepare rooms and equipment.
• Maintain infection control, clean surfaces, and stock equipment; safe handling of specimens.
• Chaperone patients as required and observe boundaries and patient dignity.
• Support bank-wide duties including patient flow, reception, and escalation of concerns.

Skills

Patient care

Vital signs

Patient safety

Communication

Consent

Tools

Blood pressure monitor

ECG recorder

Oximeter

Urinalysis equipment

Job description

Full Job Description attached.

Direct patient support

Welcome patients and introduce the role clearly. Confirm patient identity before undertaking any care or recording information. Explain procedures within the postholders competence and obtain appropriate consent. Support patients to move safely through the service. Maintain patients privacy, dignity and comfort. Assist patients who require reasonable adjustments, mobility support or communication assistance within the roles scope. Observe patients while they are waiting and immediately escalate any concern about deterioration. Record care and observations accurately and contemporaneously. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Escalate any request or concern that falls outside the HCAs competence.

Core clinical-support duties

Subject to local policy, training and competency sign-off, duties may include:

• measuring and recording blood pressure
• measuring pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation
• measuring height, weight and body-mass index
• undertaking basic physiological observations
• completing approved early-warning or observation records
• urinalysis and specimen handling
• blood-glucose or other approved point-of-care testing
• preparing patients and rooms for clinical assessment
• assisting clinicians during minor procedures
• cleaning and preparing reusable clinical equipment in accordance with policy
• supporting mobility and safe positioning within assessed competence
• and escalating abnormal observations promptly to the responsible clinician

The postholder must not independently interpret observations, diagnose a condition, alter treatment, discharge a patient or reassure a patient about abnormal results.

Duties following separate competency sign-off

Depending on service requirements and individual competencies, HCAs may also be asked to undertake:

• phlebotomy
• 12-lead ECG recording
• NHS or locally commissioned health checks
• long-term-condition observations and monitoring
• wound-care support
• removal of sutures or clips
• specimen collection
• smoking-status recording and brief signposting
• blood-pressure or cardiovascular-risk clinics
• vaccination-clinic support
• administration of specified medicines only where legally permitted, appropriately authorised and supported by organisational policy
• spirometry or other diagnostic support where training and quality assurance are in place
• and project-specific screening or prevention activities

Inclusion on the Vertis bank does not automatically authorise the postholder to undertake these duties. Each enhanced competency must be evidenced, current and accepted by the organisation.

Chaperoning

Act as a formal chaperone after completing the required training. Understand the purpose and boundaries of the chaperone role. Maintain an appropriate position during the examination or procedure. Remain attentive throughout and avoid undertaking another task at the same time. Raise concerns immediately if the postholder observes inappropriate behaviour or if the patient indicates discomfort or wishes the examination to stop. Ensure chaperone involvement is documented in accordance with local procedure. Escalate if the postholder cannot safely or appropriately act as chaperone. Formal chaperoning is a core requirement of the HCA role in the example Hillcrest staffing model, alongside observations, patient flow and contingency support.

Recognition and escalation of deterioration

Remain alert to visible or reported changes in a patients condition. Repeat observations when directed and within the approved protocol. Immediately notify the responsible clinician of abnormal observations or deterioration. Activate the site-specific emergency process when instructed or when urgent help is clearly required. Know the location of emergency equipment, oxygen and the automated external defibrillator, where provided. Support emergency care within training and competence. Call emergency services in accordance with local procedures. Document observations, escalation and actions accurately. Participate in emergency exercises and scenario-based training.

Patient flow and operational support

Work with administrators and clinicians to maintain safe patient flow. Help monitor waiting-room occupancy and identify patients who may need clinical review. Prepare patients for assessment when directed. Support the reconciliation of patients expected from another service with those who arrive. Alert the team to delays, non-arrivals or patients who leave before assessment. Support handover between shifts and service locations. Provide limited contingency reception support only where trained, authorised and operationally appropriate. Never allow operational pressures to result in clinical duties being undertaken without appropriate supervision.

Infection prevention and clinical environment

Follow hand-hygiene and infection-prevention procedures. Use personal protective equipment correctly. Clean clinical surfaces and equipment between patients in accordance with local schedules. Maintain appropriate separation of clean and used items. Dispose of sharps, clinical waste and confidential material safely. Check that rooms are appropriately stocked and ready for use. Report concerns about cleanliness, ventilation, water safety, waste, equipment or room condition. Complete assigned cleaning or room-readiness records. Support opening and closing checks for clinical rooms. Follow blood- and body-fluid spill procedures within training.

Equipment, supplies and stock

Complete delegated checks of clinical equipment and emergency supplies. Check expiry dates and packaging integrity. Rotate stock and maintain agreed minimum levels. Report missing, damaged, expired or malfunctioning items. Ensure equipment has the required servicing, calibration or electrical-safety status before use. Store supplies securely and at the correct temperature where applicable. Complete equipment and stock records accurately. Do not use unfamiliar or unapproved equipment without training and authorisation.

Record keeping and clinical systems

Record observations and care accurately on the approved clinical system. Use only the postholders own access credentials. Document escalation, chaperoning and other required activity. Follow downtime procedures if systems are unavailable. Keep paper records secure until they can be entered or transferred through the approved process. Report documentation errors promptly. Only access records required for the current assignment and patient care.

Safeguarding and patient welfare

Recognise indicators of possible abuse, neglect, exploitation or risk. Escalate safeguarding concerns immediately through the appropriate route. Understand that safeguarding responsibility applies to adults and children. Maintain confidentiality while recognising that relevant concerns must be shared with authorised professionals. Support respectful, inclusive and trauma-aware care within the boundaries of the role. Seek advice whenever uncertain.

Bank working requirements

Maintain current mandatory training and competency evidence. Provide accurate information about qualifications, experience and scope of practice. Accept only assignments for which the postholder is competent and appropriately authorised. Review the assignment brief before attending. Complete a local induction for each new site or service. Arrive punctually and remain for the full booked shift unless formally released. Wear the required uniform or clothing and visible identification. Notify the bank promptly of sickness, delay or inability to attend. Work flexibly across locations, service types and operating hours. Participate in supervision, audit and competency review. Immediately report any restriction that affects the postholders ability to practise safely.

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust