Senior Healthcare Support Worker

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

NHS discounts

35 days annual leave (pro rata)

NHS pension scheme

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is offering a permanent Senior Healthcare Assistant position on a Band 2/3 development pathway. The role is based on one of our busy child wards and involves high standards of personal care under supervision of a Registered Nurse.

The post is suitable for those with NHS HCSW experience, with opportunities to progress to Band 3 and an enhanced pay banding upon successful completion. Flexible working is considered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a caring role (essential).
• Numeracy and literacy levels 1–2 (or equivalent).
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people.
• Ability to work as a team and use initiative to prioritise workload.

Responsibilities

• Experience of working with children and young people with neurodiverse needs.
• Demonstrates compassion, empathy, and commitment to high‑quality, person‑centred care.
• Able to adapt approach to meet individual needs of each child and young person.

Skills

Compassion

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Prioritisation

Working under pressure

Tools

Keyboard skills

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Senior Healthcare Assistance

Contract Type: Permanent

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

If joining as a Band 2, this role requires a 9‑month training period, so applicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the full duration. If your current visa does not provide at least 9 months of remaining permission to work from the start date, we are unable to progress the application.

If you are joining as a band 2 this position is part of a development programme that supports you to grow into a band 3 role, with a pay increase upon successful completion.

If you have experience of working as a Band 3 HCSW within the NHS, we will assess your experience and responsibilities against the competencies required for this position. Where these competencies are met, we will match your current pay and banding.

This role requires acute hospital experience as a Healthcare Support Worker. It is most likely the successful candidate will already be working as a Band 3 HCSW.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

As a Healthcare Support Worker, you’ll work under the guidance of a Registered Nurse or healthcare professional on one of our busy child wards. You will help our nurses and doctors at UHS, by offering the highest standards of personal care and support to our patients.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

Benefits

• We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service.
• UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Location and Lifestyle

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Recruitment & Application Advice

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• Experience of working with children and young people with neurodiverse needs.
• Demonstrates compassion, empathy, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
• Able to think flexibly and adapt their approach to meet the individual needs of each child and young person.

Person specification

Trust Values

• Patients First
• Working Together
• Always Improving

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Qualifications, knowledge and experience
• Numeracy skills and Literacy skills at level 1 or 2 (or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a caring role.
• Understanding of acute hospital environment and the role of SHCA.
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Ability to communicate with wide range of people
• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work under own initiative and prioritise workload Application and Interview
• Ability to adjust to pressures of job
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to undertake further training
• Patience, dependability and motivation shown
• Be able to take instruction / directions
• Aware of personal limitations

Desirable criteria

• Keyboard skills
• Experienced and competent in additional clinical skills, as per job description
• Previous HCA experience
• Previous experience of working with the general public
• Experience of using a computer
• Able to question appropriately