Healthcare Assistant

Southend University Hospital NHS Trust; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider is seeking compassionate individuals for the Healthcare Assistant role in Southend-on-Sea. This position offers the chance to assist patients with personal care, meal preparations, and mobility. No prior experience is necessary as full training will be provided, making it an ideal opportunity for those looking to start a career in healthcare. Employees benefit from a supportive work environment and numerous career progression opportunities within the NHS.

Benefits

NHS salary structure and pension

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pay for unsocial hours

Health service discounts

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Genuine desire to help and support patients and their families.
• No previous experience required; training will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Washing and dressing patients.
• Serving meals and feeding patients.
• Helping patients to move around.
• Monitoring patient condition.

Skills

Caring and kind

Cheerful and friendly

Good listening and communication skills

Able to follow direct instructions

Well organized

Job description

We are looking for individuals with or without experience to work in healthcare, to join the NHS family helping people from your local community. Healthcare Assistant opportunities are available in our Paglesham ward team.

No experience? No problem. We will teach you everything you need to know. To us, it is more important that you are a caring and kind person with a genuine desire to help and support patients and their families. If this sounds like you, then you already have the skills that make a great Health Care Support Worker.

Right from the time you join us, you will have access to learning, development and training opportunities. As you progress in your NHS career you will acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to provide safe and compassionate patient care.

Mid and South Essex is a great place to work, offering a working environment with an inclusive culture that looks after and values our people and creates a sense of belonging. We encourage applications from people who embrace our values and who will enable us to expand our diverse workforce.

The Healthcare Assistant role can also lead to a range of career opportunities. With the right support, those who want to can undertake the necessary training to become our future nurses, nursing associates and midwives.

Key Responsibilities

• Washing and dressing patients
• Serving meals and feeding patients
• Helping patients to move around
• Making beds
• Talking to patients and their families
• Monitoring patient condition

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Caring and kind
• Cheerful and friendly
• Keen to support patients with their personal needs including washing and toileting
• Able to follow direct instructions
• Happy to work in a team but also able to use own initiative
• Have good listening and communication skills
• Be well organised

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

What we Offer

• Range of opportunities for flexible working
• Strong team ethos
• NHS salary structure and pension
• 27 days holiday + days off for bank holidays worked
• Enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Childcare vouchers
• Wide range of LGBTI+ initiatives
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Health and wellbeing supportDiscounts on public transport
• Disability Confident Reasonable adjustments

For full role details and responsibilities please look at the attached job description.

We look forward to your application!

This advert closes on Monday 5 Jan 2026