Trainee Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Apprenticeship

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

Job summary

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is offering a Trainee Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship. You will start as a Band 2 HCSW and receive comprehensive training, support, and hands-on experience to progress toward a Senior HCSW role.

The two-year programme begins in February 2027 in Ashford, England, with a structured pathway and local training opportunities. Sponsorship is not provided for these roles.

Qualifications

• GCSE grade A-C / 4-9 in Maths and English with evidence of achievement.
• National Care Certificate completed with evidence.
• Willing to complete Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health & Social Care.

Responsibilities

• Complete a 2-year Apprenticeship starting Feb 2027 in partnership with EKC Group.
• Be employed as a Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker during the programme with training and support.
• Meet eligibility rules for Apprenticeship funding and comply with Trust policies.

Skills

Communication

Compassion

Patient-focused

Teamwork

Flexibility

Education

GCSE A-C / Level 2 Maths & English

National Care Certificate

Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health & Social Care

Job description

Band 2-3

Main area Healthcare Support Work Grade Band 2-3 Contract Permanent: Must meet the Apprenticeship eligibility rules to be eligible for this post. Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 344-HCSWB310-Apprentice

Site Trust wide Town Ashford Salary £25,272 - £25,760 per annum (pro rata if applicable) Salary period Yearly Closing 24/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

Please note that we are unable to provide Sponsorship for our Healthcare Support Worker roles.

This is a great opportunity to begin a rewarding career in healthcare and take your first step towards becoming a registered nursing professional.

Our Trainee Senior Healthcare Support Worker (TSHCSW) programme has been specifically designed as an entry point into the nursing apprenticeship career pathway. You'll join us as a Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker , where you'll receive comprehensive training, support, and hands-on experience to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to progress into a Senior Healthcare Support Worker role.

If you're passionate about delivering outstanding patient care, eager to learn, and looking for a clear pathway to advance your healthcare career, we'd love to hear from you. This is an excellent opportunity to build your skills, make a real difference to patients' lives, and take the next step towards a future in nursing.

Main duties of the job

The Apprenticeship will be in partnership with EKC Group, and will last 2 years from the enrolment date onto the programme; this is expected to start in February 2027.

Under the Apprenticeship funding rules set by the ESFA you must meet the minimum eligibility criteria below to access Apprenticeship funding to support your training;

• Have the right to work in England. Study visa’s will not be accepted as you will need to be employed throughout the duration of your Apprenticeship.
• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for three years before the apprenticeship start date.
• Spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.
• Be in relevant employment and work for a minimum of 30 hours per week, with employment contract covering the entire duration of the apprenticeship.

Please note: Any visa would need to be valid at the start of the programme and for the full duration of the programme. If the visa is due to be renewed part-way through the programme, you will not be able to enrol onto the apprenticeship, as per the UK Government Apprenticeship Funding rules.

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people.

Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: ‘People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’.

We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called ‘We care’. It’s about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We’re looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• Holds GCSE grade A-C /4-9 or level 2 functional skills in both Maths and English and can provide evidence of achievement
• Fully Completed the National Care Certificate and can provide evidence of completion
• Willing to complete a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care
• Knowledge of care and related procedures, skill in clinical observations, knowledge of relevant legislation; short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties, completion of a competency-based workbook

Clinical Skills and Experience

• Experience of working with people ideally in front line patient care
• Basic computer/keyboard skills
• Previous experience as an HCSW in an acute hospital

Governance

• Adheres to Trust policies
• Will comply with the Data Protection Act, CNORIS, Caldicott Guidelines and local policies regarding confidentiality and access to medical records.
• Act on the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Personal & Professional Attributes

• Effective communication and organisational skills
• Kind, compassionate and caring
• Ability to deliver high quality care
• Demonstrates patient focused approach
• Professional approach demonstrating: ability to work as part of a team; honesty and integrity; respecting equality and diversity
• Keen to develop knowledge and skills for personal and professional fulfilment

There are lots of great opportunities at East Kent Hospitals, where staff are caring and put patients first, innovation flourishes and you can develop your career. We’re on an exciting journey of transformation. With a local Medical School at the centre of our community, a focus on research, clinical leadership and making our trust a rewarding and friendly place to work,
there’s never been a better time to join us. To find out more about east Kent visit our website . The Trust fully supports the SAS Doctors Charter and is committed to their development through its CPD Framework.

We have a relocation policy for eligible candidates, parking available at Trust sites but we encourage other options, like car sharing or public transport.

The Trust is committed to supporting flexible working to fulfil our pledge as part of The Trust’s People Strategy to help staff to achieve a healthy work/life balance. Please speak with your Recruiting Manager for further information on how this can be managed alongside department expectations and requirements.

The ability to converse easily and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for all customer facing roles.

Most positions require a Disclosure and Barring check and will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Posts working regularly or unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults require an enhanced check.

Applicants for eligible roles requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship must meet UK Visas and Immigration eligibility criteria.

We operate a no-smoking policy on all our sites and grounds.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.