Healthcare Support Worker - Centralised Advert - Oxford, Oxfordshire

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS teaching trust is seeking enthusiastic and compassionate Healthcare Support Workers to join their team. The role involves providing personal care to patients and assisting registered staff in delivering high-quality care. No prior experience is required, with full training provided. Join a motivated team committed to compassionate excellence in patient care.

Qualifications

• No previous experience as a Nursing Assistant / Healthcare Support Worker required.
• Ability to work in a team and under supervision.
• Commitment to the Oxford University Hospitals vision and values.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care for our patients, including washing, dressing, and feeding.
• Assist registered members of staff in delivering a high standard of care.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for patients.

Skills

Compassion

Communication

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Healthcare Support Worker (previously known as Nursing Assistant).

We operate a centralised approach to Healthcare Support Worker Recruitment. This means that as a candidate you only need to apply once but can be considered for multiple roles across our Trust.

We have multiple job opportunities available at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH). This is a great time to join and be part of a team that is motivated and works together to deliver high-quality care to make a difference to the health and well-being of our patients. We have full-time opportunities for both experienced and aspiring Health Care Support Workers (HCSW), to work in safe and supportive environments under the guidance of healthcare professionals. We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and hard-working individuals to join our teams across our NOTSSCaN (Neurosciences Orthopaedics Trauma Specialist Surgery Children and Neonates) and SUWON divisions (Surgery, Women and Oncology).

We are particularly looking to recruit into the following areas: Trauma; Neuroscience; Neuro ICU; Endoscopy; Theatres. If you have a particular interest, please add this to your supporting statement. Please note that we cannot provide sponsorship for this post. Full training is provided; no previous experience as a Nursing Assistant / Healthcare Support Worker is required.

As the Healthcare Support Worker you will:

• Provide personal care for our patients, including washing, dressing, toileting and assisting with mobilising and feeding.
• Assist registered members of staff to deliver a high standard of care to patients in the ward/clinical area demonstrating compassion, kindness, and sensitivity.
• Demonstrate the ability to put patients at the heart of what you do and recognise different needs by encouraging a spirit of support, integrity, respect and teamwork.
• Work as part of the team, under the supervision of trained nurses, assisting with delivery of planned health care to meet physical, psychological, and social needs of the patients.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for patients, staff and visitors.
• Show pride in the quality of care provided and learn from successes and setbacks.
• Evidence commitment to the Oxford University Hospitals vision and values.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Please refer to the full job and person specification for full details. The Healthcare Support Worker will be expected to undertake the following duties under the supervision of a registered practitioner:

Patient Care

• Assist all patients with their personal care needs, empowering patients or families/carers and actively encouraging participation. This includes maintaining hygiene needs, helping patients to wash and dress themselves and assisting with toileting needs, while maintaining privacy and dignity.
• Perform clinical observations (following appropriate assessment of proficiency and under the direction of a registered practitioner) and accurately record using agreed electronic national early warning signals; report and escalate concerns to the registered practitioner immediately.
• Prepare patients, families/carers and the environment for clinical activities, supporting patients and families/carers and preparing specific equipment as necessary.
• Participate in the initial assessment of patients’ needs, under the direct supervision of a registered practitioner.
• Observe and report the patient’s condition to a registered practitioner as required.
• Monitor closely patients having undergone a clinical activity, ensuring their safety and wellbeing and reporting to a registered practitioner as required.
• Assess and monitor the patient’s skin integrity and report and document any changes or concerns in their condition.
• Assist patients to meet their food and fluid intake, considering special diets, supplements and cultural requirements. Ensure nutrition assessment is undertaken; record all food, nutritional supplements and fluid intake as required.
• Encourage patients, families/carers to share responsibility for health and promote healthy living as identified in the care plan.
• Assist patients to mobilise safely using equipment and techniques as prescribed and recorded in the plan of care; undertake patient transfer and escort duties between departments as appropriate and per policy.
• Recognise when a patient’s condition changes and seek advice from a registered practitioner in accordance with Trust policy.
• Assist in the care of a patient requiring end of life care in accordance with their spiritual and cultural needs; support families/carers of patients receiving end of life care.
• Assist with the collection of specimens as requested (e.g., mid-stream urine, stool, sputum, urine analysis) and ensure accurate labelling and transportation as per trust policy and training provided.

Communication

• Contribute during handover to ensure continuity of care and accurately feedback to a registered practitioner on the care given and any changes in the patient’s condition.
• Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, patients and carers using all methods of communication; arrange access to information, support and other services where there are barriers to understanding.
• Greet patients and visitors with courtesy and respect, being mindful of age-specific body language and tone of voice; demonstrate sensitivity and empathy.
• Orientate patients and visitors to their surroundings when admitted, providing written and verbal information as required.
• Answer telephone calls and bleeps appropriately and efficiently, relaying messages to colleagues and patients using SBARR where appropriate.
• Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patient information in line with Trust documentation standards; ensure information is accurate and securely maintained.
• Apply information governance and patient confidentiality principles to all aspects of the role.
• Obtain age/capacity appropriate consent before any clinical intervention; report if not given to a registered practitioner.
• Participate in ward/departmental meetings; seek support from a registered practitioner if concerns or complaints arise.
• Maintain professional boundaries and keep patients, families and carers informed of delays with treatment, investigations and clinic times as known.

This advert closes on Sunday 21 Sep 2025