Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Bures Team

East Suffolk And North Essex Nhs Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

ESNEFT is seeking an experienced Healthcare Support Worker to join the Bures team, supporting adult wards across Colchester and Ipswich hospitals. You’ll contribute to enhanced observation and therapeutic care, working flexibly across areas as needed.

The role requires NHS care experience, a Care Certificate, and a Level 3 qualification, with training provided to develop skills in dementia and mental health settings. A patient‑centred approach is essential.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an acute NHS, mental health or dementia setting.
• Care certificate achieved or demonstrable relevant skills.
• Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• This role supports across adult wards and departments in Colchester or Ipswich hospitals.
• Provide enhanced therapeutic observational care as part of a patient’s plan.
• Be flexible to support multiple areas during shifts and contribute to a positive patient experience.

Skills

NHS experience

Enhanced observations

Adaptable attitude

Education

Care certificate

Level 3 qualification

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced HCSW with a positive, adaptive and enthusiastic outlook looking for an exciting and dynamic role? Do you currently work in a Mental Health setting or dementia unit if so we would really be interested in your application? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join Bures team, a highly skilled and versatile team that works across Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, providing vital support to all adult clinical specialities. 1 full time and 1 part time at Ipswich and 11 full time position at Colchester Bures team Healthcare Support Workers will assist across all adult wards and departments of Colchester or Ipswich hospital, for patients who may require additional support due to their illness, unfamiliar surroundings, medication, mental health or challenging behaviour needs. Enhanced observation is an integral part of a therapeutic plan and ensures the safe and sensitive monitoring of a patient's physical and psychological wellbeing, whilst building therapeutic relationships. Enhanced therapeutic observational care could be supporting 'cohorted' or patients who require 1-1 support. This dynamic team will play a pivotal role in responding to operational demands, ensuring our ward and departments receive the support they need when they need it most.

Previous NHS Experience and NHS Care Certificate is essential for this role.

Main duties of the job

This unique position offers the right candidate a chance to gain experience across a wide variety of specialities, developing your skills and expertise to become a highly versatile and experienced health care support worker. By working across diverse clinical areas, you'll build a wealth of knowledge and adaptability, empowering you to thrive in any situation and provide exceptional care. You will need to be flexible and adaptable as you could be supporting multiple areas during a shift - going where the need is greatest. This role is perfect for someone who is eager to grow, embrace challenges and make a significant impact across the hospital. We are committed to supporting you on this journey, providing the training and development needed to help you become the very best in this role. In addition, we offer team rostering allowing you to request as many or as little of your off duty as you like (typically 70-80% of these will be approved), we want you to thrive in your new role while maintaining a healthy work life balance. Choose your own shifts from available long days and nights. You'll receive 2 day Enhanced Therapeutic Observation and care workshop and a 2 day Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression workshop. You will also be offered supernumerary time in areas you may not have worked in before to build your confidence, knowledge and skills.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you. Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A.

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in an acute NHS, mental health or dementia setting

Desirable

• Experience in enhanced therapeutic observations and care

Qualifications

Essential

• Care certificate achieved or demonstrable relevant skills
• Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
• Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Willingness to undertake further study
• Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patient's relatives and carers
• Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs.
• Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations

Desirable

• Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.

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.