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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide compassionate patient care and support in a dynamic healthcare environment.
- Company: Join the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, a leading healthcare provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, training opportunities, and NHS discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patients' lives while kickstarting your healthcare career.
- Qualifications: No prior experience needed; just a passion for helping others and a willingness to learn.
- Other info: Flexible working options and clear pathways for career progression await you.
The predicted salary is between 24465 - 26598 £ per year.
Overview
Healthcare Support Worker – Ipswich
The closing date is 15 October 2025
Are you passionate about patient care and looking to start or develop your career in healthcare? We are recruiting Senior/Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) at Bands 2 & 3, offering fantastic opportunities for career progression into nursing, allied health professions, or specialist areas such as theatres.
Our recruitment approach focuses on supporting your professional growth through Apprenticeship programmes that develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality patient care.
We have opportunities across all areas of the Trust, and we welcome applications from individuals with or without prior healthcare experience who are eager to build a career in the NHS.
Our assessment day is designed to establish your skills and experience, and to signpost you to the right pathway. If successful you will be offered one of the following pathways:
- Recruitment to band 3 for those with relevant previous experience and/or qualifications, and the opportunity to complete a level 3 apprenticeship
- Recruitment to band 2 to upskill you into clinical care, and the opportunity to complete either a level 3 apprenticeship, or join our level 2 HCSW Academy
- Recruitment to a band 2 in our HCSW Academy for those new to care or with little prior experience (Please see attached Apprentice Flyer)
Main duties of the job
Applicants must be able to meet & provide the following:
- Attend an Assessment Day at Ipswich – Wednesday 29th October 2025 location TBC
- HCSW Academy Starters will need to commit to a start date of Monday, 5th January 2026
- Have residency status that allows you to work. Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for these roles.
- Meet pre employment requirements including ability to provide references to cover the last three years/satisfactory DBS check & Occupational Health requirement
- As you will be working shifts including nights you must be 18 or older at commencement
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients\’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what\\\’s widely regarded as the world\\\’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Job responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Experience
- Previous experience in a healthcare setting
- Experience within an acute care setting
Knowledge
- Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patient\\\’s relatives and carers.
- Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs
- Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.
Qualifications
- Care certificate achieved or demonstrable relevant skills
- Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
- Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
- Willingness to undertake further study
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
£24,465 to £26,598 a year pro rata, per annum + unsocial hours payments
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Healthcare Support Worker - Ipswich employer: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Healthcare Support Worker - Ipswich
✨Tip Number 1
Get ready for that Assessment Day! Brush up on your skills and knowledge about patient care. We want to see your passion shine through, so practice answering common interview questions and think about how your experiences relate to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current healthcare support workers or professionals in the field. They can give you insider tips and maybe even help you get your foot in the door. Plus, it shows you're serious about your career in healthcare!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your soft skills! Empathy, communication, and teamwork are key in healthcare. Think of examples from your past where you've demonstrated these skills, and be ready to share them during your assessment.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the roles and the amazing opportunities we offer for career progression. Let’s get you started on this journey together!
We think you need these skills to ace Healthcare Support Worker - Ipswich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Patient Care: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for patient care shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about making a difference in people's lives, so share any relevant experiences or motivations that drive you.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of a Healthcare Support Worker. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your understanding of patient needs and teamwork.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there.
How to prepare for a job interview at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Healthcare Support Worker inside out. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and the skills required, especially around patient care and clinical procedures. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Show Your Passion
During the interview, let your passion for patient care shine through. Share personal experiences or stories that highlight your commitment to helping others. This is particularly important in healthcare roles, as employers want to see that you genuinely care about making a difference.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess how you would handle specific situations in a healthcare setting. Think about examples from your past experiences, even if they are not directly related to healthcare, and be ready to explain your thought process and decision-making.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions prepared to ask the interviewer. This could be about the training opportunities available, the team dynamics, or how the Trust supports staff development. It shows you're engaged and serious about the role.