Healthcare Assistant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in England is seeking Healthcare Assistants for the Acute Frailty Unit. This role involves working alongside a multi-disciplinary team to provide high-quality services in patient care, including assisting with clinical tasks and ensuring patient comfort. Ideal candidates will hold relevant qualifications and be motivated to support the health of frailty patients, ensuring essential patient care and administrative tasks are performed efficiently.

Qualifications

• Must complete Care Certificate within six months.
• GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics required.
• Short courses relevant for patient and clinical care duties.

Responsibilities

• Support the multi-disciplinary team in patient care.
• Gather and inform patient information.
• Assist with patient hygiene needs.
• Facilitate patient transfers and discharges.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to work as part of a team

Knowledge of care and related procedures

Ability to engage and build effective relationships

Education

Care Certificate or willingness to complete

GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 05 February 2026

We are looking for enthusiastic and dynamic Health Care Assistants to join an innovative specialist multidisciplinary, Acute Frailty Unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Ward 52 plays an integral part of the frailty pathway which involves the identification and management of frailty patients.

The HCA will support the ward Team with the co‑ordination of patient information gathering, you will support with clinical tasks and assessments, the expediting of clinical investigations and complex discharge planning, along side providing first class basic patient care.

The post holder will be part of a larger multi‑disciplinary team including Consultant Geriatricians, Nurses and Therapists.

Main duties of the job

The job involves working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team providing a high‑quality service in the complex frailty unit. The post holder will undertake a wide range of duties to clinically support the multi‑disciplinary team which include welcoming patients to the unit, recording observations and ECGs, phlebotomy, providing patients with refreshments, assisting with patients’ hygiene needs, helping facilitate patient hospital transfers and patient discharge and supporting the unit by helping ensure the unit is clean and well‑stocked at all times.

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.

Over reliance on AI‑generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 – Healthcare assistants – You must have been employed for a minimum of two years as an HCA within the NHS 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

To contribute to the care planning process involving and informing patients and where appropriate their carers.

Support the Frailty Team in gathering patient information and collateral history on the patient by liaising with next the of kin, carers and external agencies.

Support the Frailty Team with complex discharge planning.

Support the Frailty Team with administrative duties and referrals to support services.

Organise, prioritise and adjust own workload in relation to patient care.

Liaise with members of the multi‑disciplinary team in the delivery of care programmes.

To recognise and act upon deterioration in a patient's condition informing a Registered Nurse of action taken.

To assess patients level of dependence in meeting personalcare needs and ensure appropriate assistance is given.

To discuss with patients strategies to maximise independence and manage chronic illness.

To keep accurate and timely written records of caredelivered and patient progression.

To carry out additional clinical skills relevant to the patient group/speciality.

To assist medical staff and registered nurses in carrying out invasive procedures.

To act as team representative where appropriate reducing demands on Registered Nurse time.

To assist in resolving conflict and diffusing situations where appropriate.

To take responsibility for ongoing education and their personal development plan.

To welcome patients to the unit, and facilitate patient transport needs to and from hospital.

To assist in the admitting of patients to the ward, including recording these on clinical systems, recording base‑line observations.

To provide care to patients following instructions within the Care Plan or Pathway.

To carry out clinical skills relevant to the unit which may include phlebotomy, recording ECGs, recording blood glucose, performing MRSAscreening and monitoring/removal of IV cannulas.

To assist the clinical team with data entry, filing, documentation of care delivery, including scheduling of planned procedures.

To ensure the unit area and clinical rooms remain tidy and well stocked, including liaison with supplies team to ensure adequate stock provision.

To demonstrate competence in accurate recording of clinical observations.

To recognise abnormal recordings or changes with the patient's condition and report to registered nurse.

To act as chaperone when necessary.

Serving of patient meals/drinks/snacks.

Provide and support patients with hygiene needs.

To assist in escorting, transferring and discharging patients ensuring return of property and preparation of bed space for next patient.

Person Specification

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.

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.

Experience

• Ability to learn new skills.
• Previous experience in caring for others.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good verbal and written command of
• 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.

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.

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