Ward Support Assistant

Calderdale-and-Huddersfield-Nhs-Foundation-Trust; Halifax; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust in Halifax is seeking a Ward Support Assistant on the Acute Floor to assist nurses with nutrition, hydration and patient care. You will work with the MDT to implement care plans, monitor intake and support infection control in a busy hospital ward.

The role includes handling meals, supporting dietary needs, housekeeping duties, and administrative tasks. Flexible working options are considered; DBS checks may apply.

Qualifications

• English and Maths GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
• Competent in cannulation /venepuncture/plaster training and specialist dressings.
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.
• Work with registered nurses and dieticians to implement nutritional care plans.
• Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake; report findings to nursing and dietetic teams.
• Advise patients on suitable food choices, considering cultural preferences.
• Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.
• Encourage prescribed snacks and supplements; document intake as directed.
• Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.
• Promote healthy eating and maintain nutritional information resources on the ward.
• Prepare discharge nutritional reports with dieticians and nursing staff.
• Clean and maintain treatment areas, sluice rooms, linen storage, and patient spaces.
• Ensure linen supplies are replenished and stored appropriately.
• Clean and check returned mobility equipment for reuse.
• Decontaminate equipment according to infection control policies.
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment, including unpacking and storing stock deliveries.
• Follow Health and Safety and Infection Control policies, attending mandatory training updates.
• Answer telephones professionally and relay messages appropriately.
• Support administrative tasks when required.
• Participate in audits and data collection as directed.
• Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Moving and handling

Infection control

Education

GCSE English and Maths

Level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care

Level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

Job description

Employer Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Calderdale Royal Hospital Town Halifax Salary £25,272 pro rata, per annum, Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 12/11/2026

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.

We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.

We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.

We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.

Our Future Plans

The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team on the Acute Floor as a ward support assistant.

Nutrition and hydration are essential for health and quality of life. Adequate food and drink can help people recover from illness, remain independent, reduce their length of stay in hospital and help to avoid re admission to hospital.

You will assist the qualified nurses and contribute to support, assist monitor and educate our patients, their families and carers with their nutrition and hydration needs. You will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and report to the nurse in charge to ensure individual needs are met in a relaxed environment conducive to dining maintaining dignity and respect.

You will assist with cleaning and maintaining the ward environment as well as equipment ensuring that infection control policies are followed.

You will support with administration tasks as required and answer telephones, giving messages to the MDT.

Main duties of the job

• Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.
• Work with the MDT to implement nutritional care plans.Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake.
• Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.Encourage and assist patients to take prescribed snacks, nourishing drinks and supplements and document as directed by the dietician.
• Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.
• Clean and maintain the ward environment as well as equipment ensuring that infection control policies are followed.
• Support administrative tasks and answer telephones
• Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.

Working for our organisation

CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.

Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient Care & Nutrition

• Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.
• Work with registered nurses and dieticians to implement nutritional care plans.
• Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake; report findings to nursing and dietetic teams.
• Advise patients on suitable food choices, considering cultural preferences.
• Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.
• Encourage prescribed snacks and supplements; document intake as directed.
• Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.
• Promote healthy eating and maintain nutritional information resources on the ward.
• Prepare discharge nutritional reports with dieticians and nursing staff.

Housekeeping & Environmental Duties

• Clean and maintain treatment areas, sluice rooms, linen storage, and patient spaces.
• Ensure linen supplies are replenished and stored appropriately.
• Clean and check returned mobility equipment for reuse.
• Decontaminate equipment according to infection control policies.
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment, including unpacking and storing stock deliveries.
• Follow Health and Safety and Infection Control policies, attending mandatory training updates.

General Duties

• Answer telephones professionally and relay messages appropriately.
• Support administrative tasks when required.
• Participate in audits and data collection as directed.
• Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.
• Act as a link to other agencies and services when appropriate.
• Promote self-development through training identified by the team.

Person specification

Qualifications

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
• Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
• Competent in cannulation /venepuncture/plaster training and specialist dressings.
• Moving and Handling
• Infection Control
• Customer Care
• Food hygiene
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

• Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
• Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
• Understand the importance of record keeping
• Medical/Elderly knowledge
• Experience of record keeping

Communication and relationships

• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work in a busy environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
• Good communication Skills
• Ability to ensure the cleanliness, tidiness and efficiency of the department

Our vision is to provide One Culture of Care for one another in order that we can provide compassionate care for the people who use our services. We are passionate about creating a workplace where we work together to get results, encouraging colleagues to have their say, in order to co create the change we want to see. We take pride in the diversity of our workforce that’s why we encourage applications from all. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants.

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.

If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £46.40, Standard £25.40 or Basic £25.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). You will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £15 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.

CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Jodie Spencer Job title Senior Sister Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01422223738

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Workforce and Organisational Development
Acre Mill
Acre Street
Lindley
Huddersfield
HD3 3EB
Telephone [phone]

At Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, we are excited to offer a range of volunteering roles, providing rewarding personal and professional opportunities for people from all backgrounds across a wide age range from our local communities, ensuring our volunteers are representative of our service users.