Healthcare Support Worker

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking compassionate individuals to join as Healthcare Support Workers. The role involves providing essential care to patients and requires flexibility across all shift patterns. No previous experience is required as comprehensive training and mentorship will be provided. Applicants should have a good standard of education, with an understanding of basic physiology and excellent communication skills. Opportunities for career progression within the Trust are available.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a team under supervision.
• Experience within a care environment is desirable.
• Ability to follow clear instructions and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-class care to patients under supervision.
• Assist in basic medical tasks as instructed.
• Participate in the assessment process during hiring.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Basic physiology understanding

IT literacy

Venepuncture and cannulation

Education

Good standard of general education

Good standard of numeracy and literacy

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Support Worker

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Are you passionate about caring for others?

Why not join the NHS in a rewarding career as a Healthcare Support Worker?

We can offer fully supported training for the role as well as support and guidance to career progression.

No previous experience is necessary, as we provide the training you will need to succeed in this role. We offer a bespoke full induction, support you through the care certificate and beyond, with mentors on the wards to help you reach your potential and deliver first‑class care to our patients.

This post is being advertised as a Band 3, however applicants that do not meet the required care certificate competencies will initially be employed as a Band 2. Applicants who hold a care certificate accreditation will start in post at Band 3.

Our HCSWs are invaluable to the trust and play an integral role in the wards and departmental teams. The role of a HCSW can be challenging but overall rewarding. Working alongside likeminded people, our teams are caring, compassionate and inclusive. We believe in "growing our own" and support progression pathways to staff nurse training applications.

Main duties of the job

Currently there are full‑time and part‑time hours on offer. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – therefore we require everyone to be fully flexible across all shift patterns, including weekdays, weekends, nights and bank holidays.

We are recruiting for inpatient wards at Royal Bournemouth Hospital; these are permanent positions on Ward 14, Endocrine and Ward 3 within the Medical Specialities Directorate.

As part of the selection process you will be required to complete a numeracy and literacy assessment alongside an interview.

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS POSITION

Base Location: Vacancy available in Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

PLEASE NOTE: Numeracy and Literacy assessments will be carried out as a requirement for this role. If you are successful in these you will be invited for interviews taking place on the week commencing 19th January 2026

Assessment Date: w/c 12th January 2026

If you have any queries please email us at [e-mail] or call us on 0300 019 4426.

We look forward to hearing from you.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education
• Good standard of numeracy and literacy

Experience

• Experience of working in a team under appropriate supervision
• Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS
• Experience of working with the public
• Understanding of basic physiology (e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements, etc.)
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (to understand and be understood)
• Ability to follow clear instruction and feed back to senior staff
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative
• IT literate
• Venepuncture and cannulation

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

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust