Senior Healthcare Assistant

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A University Teaching Hospital in Milton Keynes is seeking a compassionate Senior Healthcare Assistant to join their Same Day Emergency Care team. The role involves delivering high-quality care to patients in a fast-paced environment, supporting registered staff, and undertaking clinical duties. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in a care setting. A commitment to patient care and effective communication is essential. Competitive salary on offer.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a care setting.
• Knowledge of personal care and activities of daily living.
• Understanding of the importance of safe working practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal care duties including bathing, toileting, and feeding.
• Assess patient condition through clinical observations, reporting concerns.
• Record patient observations and undertake clinical duties as requested.

Skills

Commitment to high standards of care

Ability to work under pressure

Good time management

IT Skills

Education

GCSE level or Functional Skills in Maths & English

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience

NHS CARE Certificate

Job description

Senior Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 11 November 2025.

Department: Same Day Emergency Care, Ward 1, Ward 2 - Acute Medical departments

Band: 3

Hours: 20 per week SDEC; Full time – Ward 1 or 2; all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

We are seeking a compassionate, experienced, and motivated Senior Healthcare Assistant to join our dynamic Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Medical team, or an Acute Medical Team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a fast-paced, patient-focused environment where you will play a key role in delivering high-quality care to patients requiring urgent assessment and treatment without hospital admission. Join us and make a real difference in a service that helps patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Main duties of the job

Note: 73.8% of this team would strongly recommend their organisation as an excellent place to work. (NHS Survey, 2024)

Under the supervision of Registered staff, the Senior Healthcare Assistant is to undertake delegated clinical care duties, assist the nursing team and support Healthcare Assistants in the delivery of safe, effective care to the patient.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium-sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We also offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.

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For further information about Milton Keynes please visit – Visit Milton Keynes

Job responsibilities

• Undertake/assist patients with personal care duties as needed including bathing, toileting, dressing and feeding. Ensure privacy and dignity is maintained.
• Assess patient condition and wellbeing through clinical observations and test results, reporting any concerns with patient condition to a senior member of staff, in accordance with the department's escalation process.
• Assist in meeting patients' nutritional needs, ensuring patients who require assistance at mealtimes have a red tray.
• Assist in skin and pressure area care. Under the supervision of registered nurses, ensure patients are helped to move position to prevent discomfort and/ or pressure damage.
• Undertake clinical duties and record patient observations as requested by a registered professional, including taking blood pressure, blood glucose monitoring, basic wound dressing changes, undertaking venepuncture and removing cannulas, sutures and catheters.
• Complete relevant documentation, including updating patient records with information such as fluid balance, nutrition, height and weight, as necessary.
• Please refer to the job description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• GCSE level or Functional Skills in Maths & English or equivalent knowledge
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience
• NHS CARE Certificate
• Knowledge of personal care and activities of daily living
• Awareness of importance of infection prevention & control
• Understanding of the importance of safe working practices
• Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Assistant
• Studying Nursing or Midwifery or similar at university
• Awareness of NHS policies
• Assessors training/certificate

Experience

• Experience working in a care setting
• Experience of working in a team
• Previous NHS experience
• Experience in supporting junior staff

Skills

• Ability to demonstrate commitment to high standards of care
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to prioritise tasks effectively at short notice
• Caring in a professional manner towards patients and their relatives
• Good time management
• Ability to induct, support, assess and develop junior members of staff
• Ability to undertake clinical observations and tasks including phlebotomy
• IT Skills

Personal and people development

• Commitment to Safeguarding
• Presents a professional appearance
• Ability to work within a team
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Commitment to working in a caring environment with people of all ages

Communication

• Clear spoken and written English
• Able to show care, empathy and respect to patients and their families
• Able to communicate with team members, carry out instructions and feed back information
• Able to record care provided using MKUH documentation and comply with MKUH policies and guidelines
• Able to feedback to staff on safe and effective practice
• Able to feedback on assessments undertaken

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations

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 name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata