Healthcare Assistant H@H

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Tees Valley is seeking a Healthcare Assistant to join their Frailty Hospital@Home Team. The role involves supporting medical staff in providing high-quality patient care, conducting clinical tasks, and maintaining a clean environment in the hospital setting. Candidates should have a good command of English, either possess or be willing to obtain a Care Certificate, and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. Competitive salary offered based on experience.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in caring for others.
• Ability to learn new skills.
• Understanding of the role of HCSW.

Responsibilities

• Support the Frailty Team with complex discharge planning.
• Assist medical staff and registered nurses in carrying out procedures.
• Keep accurate and timely written records of care delivered.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to work in a busy environment

Willingness to take patient observations

Education

Care Certificate or willingness to complete

GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics

Job description

Healthcare Assistant H@H

The closing date is 30 December 2025

We are looking for enthusiastic and dynamic Health Care Assistants to join an innovative specialist multidisciplinary Frailty Hospital@Home Team. Frailty H@H plays an integral part of the frailty pathway, which involves the identification and management of frail patients.

The HCA will support the Hospital@Home Team with the coordination of patient information gathering, support with clinical tasks and assessments, the expediting of clinical investigations, complex discharge planning, and providing first‑class basic patient care.

The post holder will work as part of a larger multi‑disciplinary team including Consultant Geriatricians, Nurses and Therapists, working out in the community.

Main duties of the job

The job involves working as part of our new H@H team providing high‑quality service in the complex frailty unit. The post holder will undertake a wide range of duties to clinically support the multidisciplinary 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 ensuring the unit is clean and well‑stocked at all times.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham – and a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland. We also provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield, Weardale and over 80 other community‑based settings, including 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.

All certificates stated as essential in the person specification must be produced; otherwise pre‑employment checks cannot be completed.

Full job descriptions can be found in the supporting documents.

From 9 April 2025, Healthcare Assistants must have been employed for a minimum of two years as an HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider sponsorship. Sponsorship will only be considered if you meet this criterion and have a current visa expiring within 3 months.

Job responsibilities

• 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 by liaising with next 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.
• Recognise and act upon deterioration in a patient’s condition, informing a Registered Nurse of actions taken.
• Assess patients’ level of dependence in meeting personal‑care needs and ensure appropriate assistance is given.
• Discuss with patients strategies to maximise independence and manage chronic illness.
• Keep accurate and timely written records of care delivered and patient progression.
• Carry out additional clinical skills relevant to the patient group/specialty.
• Assist medical staff and registered nurses in carrying out invasive procedures.
• Act as team representative where appropriate, reducing demands on Registered Nurse time.
• Assist in resolving conflict and diffusing situations where appropriate.
• Take responsibility for ongoing education and personal development plan.
• Welcome patients to the unit and facilitate patient transport needs to and from hospital.
• Assist in the admitting of patients to the ward, including recording these on clinical systems and recording baseline observations.
• Provide care to patients following instructions within the Care Plan or Pathway.
• Carry out clinical skills relevant to the unit, which may include phlebotomy, recording ECGs, recording blood glucose, performing MRSA screening and monitoring/removal of IV cannulas.
• Assist the clinical team with data entry, filing, documentation of care delivery, including scheduling of planned procedures.
• Ensure the unit area and clinical rooms remain tidy and well‑stocked, including liaison with the supplies team to ensure adequate stock provision.
• Demonstrate competence in accurate recording of clinical observations.
• Recognise abnormal recordings or changes in the patient’s condition and report to the registered nurse.
• Act as chaperone when necessary.
• Serve patient meals/drinks/snacks.
• Provide and support patients with hygiene needs.
• Assist in escorting, transferring and discharging patients, ensuring return of property and preparation of bed space for the next patient.

Person Specification

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.
• Previous experience in caring for others.

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.

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.

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

£24,937 to £26,598 a year, pro rata