Senior Healthcare Support Worker

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Senior Healthcare Support Worker to join the Southmead Emergency Department. You will deliver direct patient care under supervision, support registered practitioners, and participate in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team environment.

We welcome applicants who can work flexibly to fit around home life. The Trust values diversity and is committed to safeguarding patients and staff wellbeing as part of a forward-looking, patient-centered care

Qualifications

• 12 months recent care experience or more in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to demonstrate best practice and act as a role model.
• Evidence of ability to work as a member of a team.
• Fluent spoken English and good written communication.

Responsibilities

• Obtain consent prior to delivering care in line with Trust policies.
• Duties delegated in line with care plans.
• Carry out clinical and non-clinical healthcare tasks under supervision.
• Monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, pulse and respiration.
• Collect and test urine/fecal/sputum samples and wound swabs.
• Escalate concerns to other clinical staff as needed.
• Maintain infection control and patient safety policies.
• Maintain accurate records and effective communication with the MDT.
• Work effectively as part of a team.

Skills

Effective communication

IT skills

Documentation accuracy

Time management

Education

Level 3 City and Guilds

NVQ 3

BTEC National Diploma

Care Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Word

Email

Job description

Qualifications And Training

Essential criteria

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

“If you’re an experienced band 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker looking to expand your acute care practice, join the Southmead Emergency Department.”

As one of only two Major Trauma Centres for the South West and as regional specialists for services such as stroke, vascular and renal transplantation, you will have the opportunity to work closely with highly specialised multidisciplinary teams providing advanced practice exposure whilst retaining a culture of teamwork. Boasting the best trauma survival rates in England and Wales, our modern, purpose-built Emergency Department offers opportunities to continue developing clinically within a department that actively prioritises staff wellbeing.
The Emergency Department sits within the hospital’s Emergency zone which includes the Acute Medical and Acute Frailty units. The Emergency Depart comprises of 6 resus spaces, 14 majors cubicles and an ambulance offloading area, an ambulatory care unit, and a Minor injury Unit along with a ground level helipad. Our Emergency Zone is proud to hold a regional reputation for high-quality care.
We’re keen to hear from Level 3 qualified Support Workers looking for a new challenge. If you thrive in face-paced environments, work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate excellent communication skills in challenging situations.

Main duties of the job

A Senior Healthcare Support Worker (SHCSW) is a core member of the team delivering direct care to patients and supporting registered practitioners to deliver high quality, compassionate health care to people in accordance with assessed needs and a care plan. You will carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare, or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner, in accordance with the Trust values. There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, specific to your needs. Training will be provided to ensure you have the required core skills and skills set specific to your area of work.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

Nursing Care

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans
• Not all duties are routine, and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
• To carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.
• Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
• Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
• Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.
• Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
• Maintain accurate records relating to communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
• Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty
• Work effectively as part of a team.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• One of the following:
• Level 3 (SCQF – 6): - City and Guilds 3
• NVQ 3
• BTEC National Diploma
• Experience equivalent to the above qualifications
• Level 2 Functional skills in English and Maths, or equivalent
• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker) or; equivalent experience together with Level 2 qualification and working towards Level 3
• Completion of the Care Certificate

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• At least 12 months recent care experience as a support worker
• Ability to demonstrate best practice and act as a role model
• Evidence of ability to work as a member of a team

Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

• Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
• IT skills, basic word, Email, keyboard skills
• Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
• Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting
• Good time management skills and prioritising work

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.