Senior Healthcare Assistant

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Bristol is seeking a dedicated healthcare professional to provide essential care within a prison setting. The role involves working under registered nurses, supporting health promotion efforts, and ensuring patient safety. Candidates should possess a Foundation Degree or equivalent and have prior care experience. Familiarity with risks in a healthcare environment is critical. This position requires a commitment to equal opportunities and inclusiveness. Applicants must pass National Security Vetting.

Qualifications

• Previous care experience is essential.
• Experience in planning and supporting groups within healthcare is important.
• Familiarity with policy frameworks in a regulated patient care setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care as per care plans.
• Support health promotion activities and national screening programmes.
• Report changes in patient conditions to nurses.

Skills

Care experience

Ability to assess risk

Experience facilitating support groups

Education

Foundation Degree or equivalent

Job description

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To work as directed by a registered nurse. To work within the primary care service, identifying high risk patients to engage in health promotion activities to encourage harm reduction.
• To provide physical care to patients in accordance with their care plan
• To support the delivery of national screening programmes.
• To support and deliver clinics as instructed within the established clinic timetable
• Participate in planning and liaison activities for patients.
• Inform a registered nurse as soon as possible when any change in a patient’s condition is noticed.
• Support patients in change due to admission, discharge, death or personal loss and in adapting to their new environment.
• Report any complaints or requests for information from patients immediately to the senior nurse on duty to enable prompt response.
• Report all risks to the senior nursing staff.
• Assist in the general running of the department by undertaking housekeeping and clerical duties as appropriate.
• Participate in appraisal and training of self to develop a personal development plan and strive to achieve the set objectives.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate to the grade and as requested by the line manager.
• Attend staff meetings, updates and attend mandatory training as required.
• Work closely with Management to ensure that the Prison Health Agenda is supported at all levels in the Practice.
• Actively engage with offenders in the provision of holistic, needs-led care which takes into account the physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs of individuals and groups.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equal opportunities for all people. Responding to the needs of people sensitively with regard for age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and disability, especially regarding privacy and dignity.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the term ‘professional boundaries’ and how to apply this to working with patients, offenders and others.
• Understanding the need for promoting health & well-being and the delivery of health promotion activities and programmes (including self‑help programmes) in support of a registered nurse.
• Contributing appropriately to risk assessment and individualised care planning.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ:

All applicants must be willing to undertake National Security Vetting in order to work in a Prison Setting. This will be completed as part of the pre‑employment checks through Oxleas and the prison vetting team.

You will need to provide:

• Proof of right to work documentation
• Proof of ID, needs to include 1 photographic ID
• Proof of address documentation
• Non-UK passport holders will need to have correct documentation (right to work in the UK) and a Home office Share code.
• Address History: 5 years address history will be needed.
• Applicants that are not UK Passport holders who provide less than 5 years UK address history will need to provide a Police Certificate which must be in English from where they resided previously.
• Applicants who are UK Passport holders who have lived abroad for a period of more than six months during the last three years will need to provide a certificate of good conduct or an overseas police check in English from the countries resided in or visited.

In order to assist you in obtaining a Police Certificate, guidance can be sought from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-o…

If the country you have resided in is not listed here, you can obtain the necessary information by contacting the relevant Embassy or High Commission for that Country. Their contact details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website http://www.fco.gov.uk/en.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Foundation Degree, HNC, vocational qualification level three or equivalent experience to undergraduate Diploma level equivalency

Experience

Essential criteria

• Care experience
• Experience of facilitating /planning /supporting groups in a healthcare setting i.e., health improvement/ smoking cessation/ activities
• Physical skills to support working in a prison setting i.e., providing patient care, carrying out tests/observations
• Experience of being able to work within policy frameworks in a regulated patient care setting

Desirable criteria

• Prison/Secure experience

Skills

Essential criteria

• Participate in any audits, research projects
• Assessing risk

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme – Please ensure you select this on your application form. We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.

We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview, if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.

If you have declared you are part of the armed forces community, you may be asked to provide evidence during the recruitment process. If you misrepresent this information, your offer may be withdrawn. For Armed Forces specific support, see our webpage: https://oxleas.nhs.uk/armed-forces-community/

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it’s essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. AI‑generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 304.4KB)
• HMP Bristol - Useful info (PDF, 199.3KB)
• Important Additional Information For Candidates (please read carefully) (PDF, 160.6KB)
• Privacy Notice for Staff (PDF, 268.6KB)
• Staff Benefits (PDF, 2.5MB)