Healthcare Support Worker - Trustwide

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Healthcare Support Worker to join adult inpatient wards. The role is hands-on, supporting patients with personal care, mobility and comfort, and working alongside nurses to deliver safe, compassionate care.

Band 3 progression from Care Certificate; webinars provide overview; interviews in December 2026; full-time and part-time hours; flexible shifts across days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Ability to exchange factual information accurately.
• Good standard of numeracy and literacy.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• supporting patients with personal care such as washing, dressing, eating and mobility
• helping patients to remain as independent as possible
• assisting the nursing team with delegated care tasks
• supporting patients and their families, including during end of life care
• providing enhanced therapeutic observation, such as 1:1 or cohort care where required
• keeping accurate records and sharing important information with the clinical team

Skills

Ability to exchange information

Communication clearly

Numeracy and literacy

Job description

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Support Worker - Trustwide

The closing date is 15 November 2026

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference every day, a Healthcare Support Worker role at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) could be the perfect next step.

We are recruiting Healthcare Support Workers to join our adult inpatient wards, caring for patients with medical and surgical needs. Full-time and part-time opportunities are available. This is a great opportunity whether you are new to care, building on experience. At UHD, you will be part of a supportive team with access to training, development and progression opportunities. This advert is for a Band 3 role. If you hold a recognised Care Certificate, you may start at Band 3. If not, you will join at Band 2 and progress to Band 3 on completion of your Care Certificate.

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference every day, a Healthcare Support Worker role at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) could be the perfect next step.

The webinars will provide an overview of the role, including responsibilities, working patterns, training and other important information. Candidates who attend a webinar and wish to continue will be invited to submit a full application.

Interviews will be held on 1st, 2nd and 3rd December 2026.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Main duties of the job

As a Healthcare Support Worker at UHD, you will be at the centre of patient care, supporting people through some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives. Working alongside registered nurses and other healthcare professionals, you will help to deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality care on our wards. Your day-to-day duties will include the following:

• supporting patients with personal care such as washing, dressing, eating and mobility
• helping patients to remain as independent as possible
• assisting the nursing team with delegated care tasks
• supporting patients and their families, including during end of life care
• providing enhanced therapeutic observation, such as 1:1 or cohort care where required
• keeping accurate records and sharing important information with the clinical team

This is a hands-on role in a busy environment, where no two days are the same. You do not need to have all the skills to start - we are looking for people who are compassionate, reliable, willing to learn, and able to work well as part of a team. Every shift, you will demonstrate the UHD values through the care and support you provide. As our inpatient services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, successful candidates must be able to work flexibly across a range of shifts, including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Further information about shift patterns and working arrangements will be provided during the information webinar.

About us

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a vital patient-facing role where you will work as part of a supportive ward team, helping to deliver day-to-day care under the guidance of registered healthcare professionals. You will support patients with a range of needs, which may include personal care, mobility, nutrition and comfort, as well as helping to maintain a safe and welcoming ward environment. You will also play an important role in observing patients and reporting any changes in their condition, ensuring the wider clinical team has the information they need to provide safe care. The role is varied and you may work with patients who require different levels of support. This can include providing enhanced observation for patients who need closer monitoring to keep them safe. Full training will be provided, including Enhanced Therapeutic Observation care such as 1:1 support and cohort care. We welcome applications from people at all stages in their career, including those new to care, those with previous experience, and current UHD staff. If you do not currently hold a Care Certificate, you will be supported to achieve this as part of your development and progression within the role.

Person Specification

other requirements

Essential

• Ability to exchange factual information accurately

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Knowledge

Essential

• An understanding around basic patient care

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 details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Poole and Bournemouth

BH7 7DW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

£25,272 to £27,476 a yearper annum / pro rata for part time hours