Healthcare Support Worker - September 2026 (Eastern Services)

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter, North Devon; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Occupational health services

NHS Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Staff discounts

Job summary

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is expanding its Healthcare Support Worker roles across acute hospitals and community settings. This entry-level opportunity invites individuals with a passion for patient care to join a supportive NHS team, with extensive training and a clear salary progression path.

Roles include flexible working patterns across wards and community locations, with a commitment to learning, development, and generous NHS benefits.

Qualifications

• No previous experience or qualifications are required.
• Desire to deliver excellent patient care with support and guidance from colleagues.
• Comprehensive training and induction programme will develop your skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care to patients and support nutritional needs.
• Assist in preparation, recovery and recuperation steps for patients.
• Support patients and colleagues to enable smooth ward and community hospital care.

Job description

Role Summary

Are you passionate about people and looking to start a career in Healthcare on one of our wards or community hospitals? Or maybe you have some Healthcare experience and are keen to join an innovative and dynamic NHS Trust that's really going places? Join us as a Healthcare (HCSW), get paid while you learn and develop your career with the Royal Devon.

Every day, you will make a huge difference to the lives of the people we care for, delivering a high standard of care alongside your colleagues. Providing personal care, promoting nutritional needs, and assisting in the preparation, recovery and recuperation of patients on their journey to better health are just some aspects of this essential role.

More detail about the role

Our Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) form an essential and well-respected part of our Healthcare teams across a number of dynamic settings; out in the Community, in our acute Hospitals or within our Theatre teams to name just a few.

No previous experience or qualifications are required, just a desire to deliver excellent patient care with the support and guidance of your colleagues. You will quickly become a valued member of the team through our comprehensive training and induction programme and our commitment to learning and development will satisfy even the most ambitious person. Once you have completed your training, and gained the necessary experience you will progress along the salary scale.

If you have previous, related experience and can demonstrate the ability to meet the competencies of the role then you will join further up the salary scale and we will continue to invest in your development as you progress your career with us.

We are recruiting to both fixed term and substantive vacancies, for a minimum of 15 hours per week, up to 37.5 hours per week. If you are not fully flexible with the days/shifts that you are able to work, unfortunately, we will not be able to consider your application at this time.

Our teams are caring, compassionate and inclusive, so whatever your background, you will be made to feel very welcome. More information about the role, training and development and the experiences of our HCSWs is included in the attached document. Read it now and find out for yourself why we are regularly voted as one of the best NHS Trusts to work for.

At Royal Devon, we believe in compassion, integrity, teamwork, and striving for excellence in everything we do. We would love to hear about your experiences - whether in care or elsewhere - what inspires you to support others - and if there are particular wards or areas you are passionate about.

In your supporting information please include the following;

• Why you would like to become a Healthcare Support Worker
• Highlight any relevant qualifications or experience
• Detail any wards or areas that you would like to work in, or if you are happy to work anywhere.

It is recommended that you use at least 300 words as the detail you provide will be used for shortlisting purposes.

Share your story and help us match you to a role where you will thrive and make a real difference

Working patterns

We care for our patients around the clock so we will need you to work a range of shift patterns. These range from short shifts, day shifts between 7:30 and 20:00 and 12.5 hour day and night shifts with an hour break in the ward areas. Please do check this at your interview.

Interview date

Interviews will be arranged throughout September.

Working locations

We are recruiting across our services covering the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, our Community Hospitals, and in our community locations in East and West Devon.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people's own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the‑art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world‑class care to our local communities.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Benefits

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available - if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.