Ward Host - Kimmeridge Ward

University Hospitals Dorset; Poole; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a Ward Support Assistant/Host for Kimmeridge Ward in the Older People’s Services at UHD-Poole. The role involves supporting meal delivery, drinks rounds and general ward duties to assist our ward teams.

You will need excellent communication and a compassionate manner, with the ability to take instructions from the nursing staff and manage time in a busy environment. The role is Monday–Friday, 07:00–15:00, with base at Poole Hospital and potential move to

Qualifications

• Customer care experience preferred.
• Basic understanding of nutritional needs for patient recovery.
• Flexible across Trust locations to meet service demands.

Responsibilities

• Support meal delivery and drinks rounds.
• Assist with general ward duties and patient care tasks.
• Work under instruction from nursing teams and manage time effectively.
• Ensure infection control requirements are followed.

Skills

Customer Care Experience

Basic understanding of nutritional

Education

Good Standard of General Education

Job description

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Kimmeridge Ward within the Older People’s Services at UHD‑Poole, for the position of Ward Support Assistant/Host

We are looking for a motivated individual to support meal delivery and drinks rounds and general duties to support our ward teams.

If you have excellent communication skills and a compassionate manner and want to make a difference to older people, this position will be well suited.

The successful applicant will need to be able to use their own initiative as well as take instructions from the nursing team.

The wards are busy environments, from which the applicant will need to be able to manage their time effectively as well as work within infection control requirements.

The role would require you to work Monday to Friday, and hours would be 07:00-15:00.

Base Location: Poole Hospital / moving to Bournemouth next year

Interview Date: 30th October 2026

Main duties of the job

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service‑specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

There is a possible move for this service when this role and base of work will relocate to Bournemouth site in 2025. Upon relocation of the role/service, excess mileage allowance / reimbursement will not apply, and any travel between the post holder’s home and work base will be classified as a commute. Any other changes unrelated to this, will be handled in line with Trust/National terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good Standard of General Education

Experience

• Customer Care Experience

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Basic understanding of nutritional needs and requirements for patient recovery

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.

Name Lucy Shutler Job title Clinical Lead Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0300 019 8347 Additional information

Please contact [e-mail] for any information regarding this post