Healthcare Support Worker in Bristol

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. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognises the value of a healthy work-life balance. 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.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Job overview: Are you looking for a new career working with people and really making a difference? Could this be the role you've been looking for? No previous experience required! Healthcare Support Workers are required to support one of the UK’s largest NHS Hospital Trusts working alongside other practitioners on the front-line providing care directly to our patients. We have vacancies across our Medicine, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Critical Care and Renal and Neurological & Musculoskeletal Divisions.

WHY APPLY? A Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) is a core member of the team delivering personal care to patients and supporting registered practitioners to deliver high quality, compassionate care. You will carry out a range of non-clinical healthcare tasks, under the direct supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner. Your role is to provide compassionate care, to agreed quality standards and in accordance with Trust values. There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, specific to your individual needs. Training will be provided to ensure you have the required core skills set specific to your area of work. You will also be supported to obtain your care certificate if you do not already have this qualification.

Working as a Healthcare Support Worker, you will be involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients. You will be working alongside a Registered Nurse to provide essential nursing care and helping your patients with daily living tasks such as:

• Helping patients feel comfortable and move around
• Monitoring patients and performing basic health checks
• Washing, dressing patients and helping them go to the toilet
• Serving meals and helping to feed patients

Senior Healthcare Support Workers would also be expected to carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal/no supervision, including:

• Blood pressure monitoring
• Oxygen saturation levels
• Body temperature
• Pulse rate and respiration rate
• Glucose monitoring
• Wound swab collection and testing of urine, faecal and sputum samples

Whilst completing these tasks, the underlying aim is to deliver high-quality patient care at all times.

Working for our organisation: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston. With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Develop the skills to obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Under supervision follow individual patient care plans and report any changes immediately to the Registered Nurse/Assistant Practitioner.
• Participate in basic patient assessment whilst providing personal care and feeding back to the registered nurse to ensure high standards of care, in particular relating to skin integrity and the alertness of the patient.
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
• Ensure care is given in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Ensure that the patients bed space is clean, tidy, and accessible and that the person has what they need within easy reach.
• 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.
• Develop the skills to maintain effective record keeping and 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.

Training:

• Undertake the Trust’s corporate and local induction, and maintain your learning and compliance with training requirements for your role.
• Complete mandatory training. This will vary depending on area of work.
• Attend In-service training.
• Successful completion of the 15 Care certificate modules and practical competency assessment, within required timescales.
• Complete and return on time; all written work, reflective logs and assignments as required, if undertaking additional training e.g. Maths/English GCSE.

Professional:

• Demonstrate ability to access Trust policies and procedures and comply with those relevant to role.
• Act, at all times, in a manner which demonstrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
• Embrace the Trust values and work in an inclusive way.
• Act within limits of competence, ensuring actions support care, protection, and wellbeing.
• Develop and maintain skills, knowledge, and competence for the role, with support from supervisor.
• Ensure all mandatory training is undertaken in line with Trust policy.
• Participate in team discussions/meetings as an integral member of the team.

Administration:

• Develop competent in the use of IT systems within the workplace environment.
• Participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners, and other visitors to the department.
• Comply with Trust policy regarding information governance and the care of patient property.

Working conditions: Dependent on work setting you may have frequent exposure to bodily fluids, distressed, or confused patients.

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