Healthcare Support Worker

Main area Frailty Grade Band 2/3 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Cover maternity leave - Secondments considered) Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week Job ref 339-MED1706-GB

Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £25,272 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata for part time roles Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st 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 recognise 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.

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Job overview

Are you an experienced Healthcare Support Worker with a background in Care of the Elderly?

We're looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to join one of our Frailty Wards - 9A

Working in frailty is a challenging and rewarding role where the HCSW is an essential part of the multidisciplinary team. You will be working in a state-of-the-art hospital and will participate in providing excellent care.

We're looking to recruit HCSW's who have passion for caring for frail older patients and are able to demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and development. You will be a high performing individual who is flexible and driven by the exciting challenges that lie ahead while demonstrating that you can live the Trusts values.

You will need to be flexible to accommodate the various shift times and patterns within the department including a full range of long days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.

We are looking to recruit experienced healthcare support workers however, we would also be happy to support newcomers (at Band 2) and offer full support to train to a band 3.

Please note, this role does not currently meet the salary requirement for visa sponsorship. From the 9th April 2025, the minimum salary required for a Skilled Worker visa became £25,000 per year. While this role may be offered at a higher point on the pay scale depending on relevant NHS experience, most new starters are appointed at the bottom of the band, which does not meet the salary threshold.

Main duties of the job

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

Upon successful completion of clinical skills training, as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker, you will also be expected to carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including:

• blood pressure monitoring
• 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 underlining 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,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand 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 theSouth Westhas 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. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

• 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. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

Nursing Care:

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans
• Not all duties are routine, and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
• To carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.
• Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
• Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
• 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.
• Maintain accurate records relating to 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.

Qualifications and Training

• One of the following: Level 3 RQF, SCQF City and Guilds 3 NVQ 3 BTEC National Diploma (any subject) OR Equivalent experience (minimum of 12 months)
• GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
• GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker) OR Equivalent experience
• Completion of Care Certificate
• Completion of venepuncture and physiological measurements competencies

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
• Prior experience as a support worker
• Evidence of ability to work as a member of a team
• Good time management skills and prioritising work
• Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
• Evidence of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of working with frailty patients

Skills and Abilities

• Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
• Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
• Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames

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

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

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.

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