Healthcare Assistant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider seeks a Healthcare Assistant to support the District Nursing Team in Darlington. Responsibilities include providing nursing care, administering insulin, and performing clinical observations in patients' homes. Ideal candidates should possess interpersonal skills, a Care Certificate (or willingness to obtain), and experience in caring roles. Full training will be provided; applications from disabled and BAME candidates are especially encouraged.

Qualifications

• Willingness to learn and complete the Care Certificate.
• Experience in caring for others.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to patients in their homes.
• Administer insulin and perform basic wound care.
• Carry out clinical observations and patient support.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to engage and build relationships

Understanding of the role of HCSW

Ability to work as part of a team

Knowledge of confidentiality

Education

Care Certificate or willingness to complete

GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 02 October 2025

We are looking for health care support workers to join our District Nursing Team based in Darlington.

Main duties of the job

Successful applicants will be required to provide nursing care to a variety of patients within their own home or living environment, which will include insulin administration, wound care, sample collection (e.g., venepuncture), recording observations and many other aspects of patient care. This job entails lone working.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).

Job responsibilities

The successful applicant will be required to carry out basic wound care, clinical observations, administer insulin and provide general care and support to patients and their families. Full training can be given and care scheduled by a registrant.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Able to engage and build effective relationships at all levels.
• Understanding of the role of HCSW.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Knowledge and understanding of the need for confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Care Certificate or willingness to complete within first 6 months of commencement in post.
• GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics.
• Short courses relevant to undertake patient and clinical care duties.

Special Requirements

• Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
• Skills.
• Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change.
• Be able to offer pastoral care to mentors and students when providing feedback on performance.

Experience

• Ability to learn new skills. Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of working with adults.
• Previous experience in caring for others.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good verbal and written command of English.
• Ability to act upon own initiative.
• Able to work under some pressure.
• Ability to show leadership.
• Ability to plan own work.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Willing to take and record patient observations.
• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation.

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust