Healthcare Support Worker - Trustwide

University Hospitals Dorset; Lower Blandford St Mary; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) is seeking a Healthcare Support Worker to join our adult inpatient wards. This Band 3 role offers full-time hours with potential progression from Band 2 to Band 3 on completing a Care Certificate. We provide training, support and opportunities within a Trust serving Poole and Bournemouth.

Interviews are held in December 2026. UHD supports flexible working and a diverse, inclusive environment, with a focus on compassionate, high-quality patient care across all

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support patients with personal care such as washing, dressing, eating and mobility.
• Help patients remain as independent as possible.
• Assist the nursing team with delegated care tasks.
• Support patients and families, including during end of life care.
• Provide enhanced therapeutic observation (1:1 or cohort care).
• Keep accurate records and share information with the clinical team.

Skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Communication

Job description

Main area Trustwide Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Fully Flexible, 24hours a day , 7days a week) Job ref 153-ME07075

Department name X. UHD - EOI Short Form Site Trustwide Town Poole and Bournemouth Salary £25,272 - £27,476 per annum / pro rata for part time hours Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

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.

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:

• 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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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

• Ability to exchange factual information accurately

Qualifications

• Good standard of numeracy and literacy

Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Knowledge

• An understanding around basic patient care

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.