L3 Health Care Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bradley Stoke; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekend and night shift enhancements

Job summary

The James Hopkins Trust is recruiting a Health Care Assistant for its children’s respite service at Kites Corner. You will support nurses and the play team to provide safe, high-quality care aligned with each child’s care plan, in a supportive, family‑centred environment.

The role involves rotation shifts including nights and weekends and requires two years’ experience with children and an NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or equivalent.
• NVQ Level 3 in health and social care, child care or equivalent.
• At least two years' experience working with children.
• Proven experience communicating sensitively with patients and families.

Responsibilities

• Support nursing staff in delivering safe, quality care to children, following their care plans.
• Help maintain a clean, safe environment and assist with housekeeping tasks.
• Work with families, recognising their role in meeting the child's needs.
• Provide an age-appropriate, stimulating play environment for children.
• Monitor and review care plans, report changes in a child’s needs.
• Raise safeguarding concerns to lead nurse or nursing management.
• Maintain confidential records and complete incident documentation.
• Follow infection control, risk assessments, and health, safety and fire regs.
• Respect cultural needs while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Guide and supervise volunteers, students and new staff, and participate in training.
• Help organise trust events for families.
• Contribute to quality monitoring, audits and reflective practice.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Communication under pressure

Professional boundaries

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

GCSE Maths & English (Grade C/4)

Job description

A Health Care Assistant post in the Clinical Team at James Hopkins Trust's children's respite service at Kites Corner. The work is to support nurses and the play team in keeping a clean, safe environment that follows each child's care plan. It serves children who are life-limited, life-threatened or have severe disabilities, with a play and family-events element and rotational shifts including nights and weekends. Candidates need an NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and two years' experience with children.

What the job involves

• Support nursing staff in delivering safe, quality care to children, following their care plans
• Help maintain a clean, safe, child and family focused environment, including housekeeping tasks
• Work in partnership with families, recognising their skills in meeting their child's needs
• Provide a stimulating, age-appropriate play environment for children
• Monitor and review care plans, reporting changes in a child's needs and following their routine
• Raise concerns about a child's condition or care with the lead nurse or nursing management, and report safeguarding concerns
• Keep confidential, accurate and timely records and complete incident documentation under a no-blame approach
• Follow infection control, risk assessments, and health, safety and fire regulations
• Meet the cultural needs of children and families while maintaining professional boundaries, dignity and confidentiality
• Guide and supervise volunteers, students and new staff, and take part in training and teaching sessions
• Help organise trust events for families
• Take part in quality monitoring, audits and reflective practice, and carry out reasonable additional duties

What’s required

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English Language at grade C/4 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in health and social care, child care or equivalent

Experience

• At least two years' experience working with children
• Proven experience communicating sensitively in challenging situations with patients and families

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills
• Ability to work under supervision and recognise own limits
• High standards of care, treating children and families with dignity and respect
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Willingness to learn and undertake training
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Other

• Ability to work rotational shifts including nights and weekends
• Reliability, initiative and a flexible approach

Nice to have

• Children and young people safeguarding training
• Communication training such as PECS or Makaton
• Experience of working for a charity, and awareness of related voluntary and statutory organisations
• Experience working with children with complex nursing needs
• Ability to support individuals who express strong emotions
• Holistic approach to all care provided
• Awareness of and support for the trust's Five Year Strategic Business Plan
• Motivation towards personal and professional development

What’s offered

• Shift enhancements for weekend and overnight work