Healthcare Support Worker - (NMSK Division)

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking caring Healthcare Support Workers to join the Neurological and Musculoskeletal Division at Southmead Hospital. Positions available at Band 3 with potential Band 2 consideration for a suitable applicant.

You will work alongside Registered Nurses to provide compassionate, high-quality care on busy surgical and specialist wards, supporting patients with daily living activities and core nursing tasks in a patient-centered environment.

Qualifications

• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (or equivalent Level 3 qualification/experience)
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths, or equivalent
• Demonstrates the ability to work with minimal supervision and act as a role model to others
• Evidence of strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Responsibilities

• Working as a Healthcare Support Worker on an NMSK Ward, you will be involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients.
• You will be working alongside a Registered Nurse to provide essential nursing care and helping your patients with daily living tasks such as:
• helping patients feel comfortable and move around
• monitoring patients and performing basic health checks
• washing, dressing patients and helping them go to the toilet
• serving meals and helping to feed patients
• Every aspect of the role contributes to helping patients feel safe, supported and cared for during their time in hospital.

Job description

NHS AfC: Band 2 and Band 3

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

We are looking for caring, motivated and proactive Healthcare Support Workers to join the Neurological and MusculoSkeletal (NMSK) Division at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust based at Southmead Hospital.

These opportunities are based across a variety of busy and rewarding inpatient surgical and specialist wards, including Neurosurgery, Stroke, Major Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery.

Working alongside registered nurses and the multidisciplinary team, you will play a vital role in delivering compassionate, high-quality care, helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes during their hospital stay.

We are recruiting Healthcare Support Workers at a Band 3 level. Applicants must meet all the essential criteria outlined in the Job Description to be appointed at Band 3. Candidates who demonstrate the values, aptitude and potential to succeed may be considered for a Band 2 HCSW.

We welcome applications from:

• Experienced Healthcare Support Workers looking for a new challenge
• Individuals with previous care experience in health or social care settings
• Above all, we are looking for people who are enthusiastic, caring, respectful, reliable and committed to providing outstanding care.

As this is a patient facing role, interviews will be conducted face to face. If you are unable to attend the interview day we will attempt to rearrange to another day but online interviews will not be offered.

Main duties of the job

Working as a Healthcare Support Worker on an NMSK Ward, you will be involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients. You will be working alongside a Registered Nurse to provide essential nursing care and helping your patients with daily living tasks such as:

• helping patients feel comfortable and move around
• monitoring patients and performing basic health checks
• washing, dressing patients and helping them go to the toilet
• serving meals and helping to feed patients

Every aspect of the role contributes to helping patients feel safe, supported and cared for during their time in hospital.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the job description attached for a full list of role responsibilities.

Nursing Care (under indirect supervision, once deemed competent)

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans
• Not all duties are routine, and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
• To carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.
• Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
• Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
• Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.
• Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
• Maintain accurate records relating to communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communicationskills.
• Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty
• Work effectively as part of a team.

Qualifications and Training

• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (or equivalent Level 3 qualification/experience)
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths, or equivalent
• Demonstrates the ability to work with minimal supervision and act as a role model to others
• Evidence of strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Work Experience

• Be able to work as a member of a team
• Experience of time management and prioritising work
• Experience of working in a health or social care setting

Skills and Abilities

• Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to work with minimum supervision to a high standard

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Name [e-mail] Job title Senior Sister Email address [e-mail] Additional information

Neurosurgery (7A) - [e-mail]

Neurosurgery (6B) - [e-mail] and [e-mail]

Major Trauma (25A) - [e-mail]

Orthopaedic Surgery (25B) - [e-mail]

Elective Orthopaedic Surgery (Rowan Ward) - [e-mail]

Stroke (34A and 34B) - [e-mail] and [e-mail]