Healthcare Assistant

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Southend-on-Sea seeks a caring and compassionate Healthcare Assistant to join its Ophthalmology team. This role involves maintaining communication with patients, assisting with personal care, supporting clinical procedures under supervision, and documenting patient care accurately. Candidates should have experience in a healthcare setting and demonstrate excellent communication and compassion. Opportunities for development and support through the HCA Academy are provided.

Benefits

Access to HCA Academy resources

Development opportunities

Pastoral support

Staff rewards

Qualifications

• Experience in a healthcare setting is preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate care and compassion in patient interactions.
• Competent in IT systems for patient documentation.

Responsibilities

• Maintain communication with patients and informed relatives.
• Assist patients with personal hygiene and dietary needs.
• Support patients during clinical procedures under nurse supervision.
• Measure and record vital signs such as weight and BMI.
• Provide pressure area care and recognize signs of discomfort.

Skills

Communication skills

Compassion

Patient care documentation

Basic medical procedures (venepuncture, cannulation)

Teamwork

Tools

DCIQ

Job description

Healthcare Assistant – Ophthalmology

We are seeking a caring and compassionate Healthcare Assistant to join our Ophthalmology team at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust.

Responsibilities

• Maintain excellent communication with patients, relatives, and members of the MDT regarding all aspects of care, demonstrating a variety of communication skills in accordance with the client group.
• Assist and maintain accurate patient care documentation utilizing different IT systems such as DCIQ and electronic observations.
• Demonstrate care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to ensure high‑quality patient‑centred care is delivered at all times.
• Orientate patients to the ward or department.
• Escort patients to theatre.
• Under the supervision of a qualified nurse, support patients undergoing clinical procedures ensuring their dignity, respect, comfort and safety.
• Measure and record a patient’s weight, height and BMI in preparation for assessment.
• Help patients with personal and oral hygiene.
• Assist patients with eating and drinking, monitor and record dietary and fluid intake, reporting any abnormalities to the registered nurse.
• Complete the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and refer to a registered nurse as necessary.
• Identify the physical signs and symptoms of pressure damage during a skin assessment and escalated to a registered nurse.
• Provide pressure area care to patients, recognising abnormal skin appearance.
• Recognise and assess patients who are in pain using a simple pain score and escalated to the registered nurse where appropriate.
• Record ECGs as instructed by a registered nurse.
• Undertake venepuncture and/or cannulation if required within the clinical area.
• Perform neurological observations if required within the clinical area.
• Obtain blood gas samples if required within the clinical area.
• Continue the safe delivery of oxygen via a range of oxygen delivery devices following administration by a registered nurse.
• Remove peripheral cannulae from patients following instruction from the registered nurse.

Working for our organisation

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area.

Successful candidates will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT, including development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as the HCA App.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System.

We collaborate with other partners, including Healthwatch organisations, voluntary and community sector organisations, local authorities and universities.

Please note the selection processes are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values. The use of AI in applications is monitored; applicants must declare if AI has been used before submitting the application.