Healthcare Assistant

Integrated Care System; South Shields; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Healthcare Assistant to support the Hospital Elder Life Practitioners. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality patient care for individuals with delirium and dementia, offering vital support and therapy to enhance patient experiences at two hospital sites.

Benefits

Access to Fitness Centre

High-quality education and training

Flexible working policy

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid).
• Willingness to complete Competency Based Assessments to achieve the Care Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Provide multi-component therapies to cognitively frail patients.
• Assist with mealtimes, feeding support, and mobility needs.
• Maintain patient's privacy and dignity at all times.

Skills

Communication

Customer care

Teamwork

Education

Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A E or equivalent)

NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 18 July 2025

Weare looking for a highly enthusiastic individual to work with the HospitalElder Life Practitioners within our trust. The post offers a challengingopportunity to gain knowledge of delirium and dementia. We are searching for anew band 2/3 who is a dynamic and passionate individual committed to high qualitypatient care within the hospital setting. The Healthcare Assistant will providetherapies and support to cognitively frail patients across the trust. Thesetherapies will be conducted both with the Alexandra Centre at Sunderland andalso within the ward environment at bothSouth Tyneside and Sunderland. These therapies will aid in improving patientsexperience reducing incidence of delirium, reducing falls, providing andenhanced level of care for patients and improving orientation. The team providemulti-component therapies within the inpatient setting in order to reach thesegoals and will act as shining examples of the quality care we provide to thispatient group.

Main duties of the job

The main dutiesof the job will be to provide multicomponent therapies to cognitively frailpatients. These therapies include:

Provide enhanced1:1 care for patients who have an ongoing delirium or dementia. Ensuring thatappropriate stimulation, engagement, reorientation and meeting dietary andfluid intake requirements.

Assisting withdiet and fluid support for patients around the trust. This will includeactivities such as assisting with mealtimes, feeding assistance and ensuringappropriate prompting, documentation and encouragement of dietary and fluidintake.

Carrying out lifestory session and engaging in reminiscence work within our patient group,including life story work and music therapy where appropriate in the Alexandracentre.

Facilitatingcrafts and themed sessions both on wards and within the Alexandra Centre.

Ensuring patientsmobility needs are met and contributing to the PJ Paralysis initiative byensure patients are as mobile as possible during their inpatient stay.

Providingappropriate personal care to maintain patient privacy and dignity at all times.

You will be required to develop the necessary skills to support ourpatients. This will involve training sessions and support by the practitionerswithin the team.

For informal enquiries please contact: Andrea Lawson on [e-mail] orSarah Houston [e-mail] or telephone [phone].

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To assistthe registered practitioner or other healthcare practitioners in providinghigh quality compassionate patient care and assistance to patients / relativesand their carers appropriate to their needs.

Maintainpatients privacy and dignity at all times

Responsiblefor carrying out tasks as delegated by the registered practitioner who hasoverall accountability for delegating care.

Continueto develop and maintain competences to support high quality safe care

Be aneffective part of the multi disciplinary team contributing to the departmentalobjectives

You willbe expected to contribute to house keeping and other ward duties as requirede.g. general tidiness, pre-determined stock levels are met and clinicalequipment is clean, working and stored correctly. Assist with admin & clerical duties asrequired.

To complywith the Trusts vision, values, behavioural compact, as well as policies andprocedures.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrate good customer care skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the patients, carers and visitors.
• Presents self as courteous, respectful and helpful
• Basic keyboard and IT skills.
• Willingness to complete Competency Based Assessments and a Portfolio of evidence, in order to achieve the Care Certificate and any other training related to this role.
• Work effectively under direct supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Experience

• Substantive customer services experience.
• Or
• Experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid)

Physical Skills

• Ability to assist patients to move, as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy

Qualifications

• Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A E or equivalent).
• NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care or equivalent in any subject

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

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

£24,169 to £25,674 a yearPending Pay Award 25/26 £24,465 to £26,598