Healthcare Support Worker

Healthcare Support Worker

Torquay Full-Time 30000 - 42000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide compassionate care and support to cancer patients in a dynamic healthcare environment.
  • Company: Join Buy A Boat Now, dedicated to making a difference in patient lives.
  • Benefits: Access to training, career development, and a supportive team culture.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on patients' journeys while growing your skills.
  • Qualifications: Caring nature, strong communication skills, and a commitment to excellence.
  • Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for personal growth in a rewarding field.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.

Overview

Job locations: Torbay Hospital

Job Summary: Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of cancer patients? As a Healthcare Support Worker, you will play a crucial role in delivering compassionate, patient-centred care. Based on the Ricky Grant Day Unit and Turner Ward, you\’ll be at the heart of providing essential nursing support, clinical interventions, and emotional care to patients undergoing cancer treatment. Whether assisting with personal care, performing clinical tasks such as venepuncture and ECGs, or advocating for patient safety and wellbeing, you\’ll contribute meaningfully to the patient journey. We’re looking for individuals with a caring nature, strong communication skills, and a commitment to excellence. If you’re flexible, eager to learn new skills, and thrive in a fast-paced yet supportive environment, this role is for you. You’ll join a team that supports your growth with robust training, career development opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact in a rewarding specialty.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide patient-centered care in line with Trust policies, including personal care (e.g., washing, dressing, toileting) while promoting independence. Use effective communication skills to overcome barriers, offering reassurance, empathy, and persuasion.
  • Undertake training to perform clinical interventions (e.g., observations, venepuncture, ECGs, cannula insertion/removal, urinalysis) and remain competent. Assess patients\’ conditions using tools like NEWS2 and pain assessments, and escalate concerns appropriately.
  • Work independently or within a team, prioritizing patient needs, and demonstrate accurate use of equipment for interventions. Support patients at risk (e.g., falls, pressure damage) by following care plans and escalating changes in condition. Promote mobility, independence, and mental stimulation through activities.
  • Ensure adherence to Trust policies and maintain accurate documentation (e.g., care plans, observations, fluid/food charts). Assist with nutrition by supporting mealtimes and recording intake. Act as an advocate for patient safety, safeguarding from harm, and reporting concerns or incidents through the Trust system.
  • Provide guidance to less experienced staff, ensuring safe practices, maintaining clinical environments, and performing quality control checks to uphold standards. Demonstrate Trust values and maintain a professional approach in all aspects of care.

About Us

You will be working with a friendly and dynamic team in a fast-paced environment supporting patients on the Ricky Grant Day Unit and Turner Ward.

Turner Ward

Turner ward provides the in-patient base for cancer medicine. It is an 18-bedded ward, shared with Haematology, with several bays and side rooms. The ward is staffed by specialist staff including dieticians, occupational therapists and palliative care. The junior medical team on Turner Ward includes Core Medical Trainees and Foundation doctors; they assist in covering the oncology day unit alongside SpRs and oncology specialists.

Ricky Grant Day Unit

Ricky Grant Day Unit (RGDU) is located next to Turner Ward and provides outpatient systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) alongside a dedicated PICC line service and paracentesis clinic. It also hosts a 24-hour telephone triage support line for patients on SACT, and has a dedicated chemotherapy CNS team with home delivery. The trust uses the electronic SACT prescribing system ChemoCARE and is supported by an oncology pharmacist team with its own aseptic suite for cytotoxics preparation.

Details

Date posted: 05 February 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 per year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Job responsibilities

Provide direct patient centred care in accordance with patient needs and Trust policies, including personal care, oral care and assistance with toileting and continence. Establish and maintain good interpersonal skills, overcome communication barriers using visual prompts, reassurance, empathy and persuasion. Undertake training to perform high quality clinical interventions and remain competent, such as observations, venepuncture, urinalysis, ECG, cannula management, BMI calculation. Assess clinical condition using tools like NEWS2 and pain assessments and escalate as needed. Work independently or in a team to plan workload and prioritise clinical needs. Undertake a range of clinical interventions with accurate use of equipment, including physiological observation monitoring, venepuncture, catheter removal/insertion, urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring, wound swabbing, ECG, spirometry, bladder scanning. Assist patients at risk of harm by following risk assessments and care plans, reporting changes via the incident reporting system. Adhere to policy and procedures, promote independence and mobility, and support return to baseline function. Demonstrate initiative, professional conduct and Trust values. Engage patients to stay active and mentally engaged. Supervise and mentor new or less experienced staff, maintain equipment and environment, and conduct quality checks. Accurately record observations and care documentation, including risk assessments, care plans, and nutrition/fluids charts. Promote nutritional intake and assist with feeding and meal preparation. Act as patient advocate for safeguarding, report concerns via the incident system.

Additional responsibilities include ordering supplies and assisting with equipment use (hoists, trollies, wheelchairs), and maintaining the clinical environment.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications and training: NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/experience

Desirable

Care certificate; English & Mathematics at GCSE level (A-C) or Level 2 functional skills

Knowledge and Experience

Essential: Previous care experience or demonstrable caring nature; understands confidentiality

Desirable: Knowledge of complex care needs, safeguarding, domestic abuse and mental health

Specific skills

Basic computer skills; good interpersonal and communication skills; record keeping competency (handwritten and electronic); flexible, reliable, punctual; fine motor skills for venepuncture and other tasks

Desirable: Healthcare competencies relevant to area of work

Other Information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to DBS checks under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. A Disclosure will be sought.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring skilled worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered. For information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. Since 2017, criminal record checks may be required for overseas applicants.

Employer details: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torbay Hospital, Lowes Bridge, Torquay, TQ2 7AA; Website: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk

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Healthcare Support Worker employer: Buy A Boat Now

At Buy A Boat Now, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of cancer patients. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth through comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring that our Healthcare Support Workers thrive in a dynamic team environment. Located in the beautiful Torquay area, you will enjoy a fulfilling career while contributing to patient-centred care alongside a team of compassionate professionals.
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Contact Detail:

Buy A Boat Now Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Healthcare Support Worker

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Healthcare Support Workers on LinkedIn or at local healthcare events. They can give you the inside scoop on what it’s really like and might even refer you for the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by practising common questions. Think about how your experiences align with patient-centred care and be ready to share specific examples of how you've made a difference in someone's life.

✨Tip Number 3

Show your passion! During interviews, let your enthusiasm for helping cancer patients shine through. Talk about why this role matters to you and how you can contribute to the team’s mission.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Healthcare Support Worker

Compassionate Care
Patient-Centred Care
Effective Communication
Clinical Interventions
Personal Care Assistance
Patient Assessment
Teamwork
Prioritisation of Patient Needs
Advocacy for Patient Safety
Documentation Skills
Training and Development
Quality Control
Flexibility
Empathy

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for making a difference shine through. Talk about why you care about patient-centred care and how you can contribute to the lives of cancer patients.

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Use keywords from the job description, like 'compassionate care' and 'strong communication skills', to show we’re on the same page.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your sentences are easy to read. We want to see your personality, but clarity is key!

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Buy A Boat Now

✨Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Healthcare Support Worker inside out. Familiarise yourself with patient-centred care principles and the specific tasks mentioned in the job description, like personal care and clinical interventions. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.

✨Show Your Compassion

Since this role is all about making a difference in patients' lives, be prepared to share examples of how you've demonstrated compassion and empathy in previous experiences. Whether it's through volunteering or past jobs, having real-life stories ready will highlight your caring nature and commitment to patient wellbeing.

✨Communicate Effectively

Strong communication skills are key in this role. During the interview, practice active listening and respond thoughtfully to questions. You might also want to prepare for scenarios where you need to overcome communication barriers, as this is crucial in providing effective patient care.

✨Ask Smart Questions

At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, training opportunities, and how they support staff growth. This shows that you're not just interested in the job but also in being part of a supportive environment that values development, which aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.

Healthcare Support Worker
Buy A Boat Now
Location: Torquay

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