Healthcare Support Worker - Dart Ward

Overview

At Dart Ward, our 16-bedded, light, and spacious inpatient ward provides vital care to patients undergoing rehabilitation and end-of-life care after acute illnesses. The ward is thoughtfully designed with both patients and staff in mind, featuring a vibrant garden, comfortable breakout rooms, and patient beds offering scenic views of the historic church and castle.

Role

As a Healthcare Support Worker with us, you\\\’ll become part of a warm, friendly, and dynamic team where everyone is valued and supported. We believe our staff are what make us truly special. In our team, we work together, support one another, and keep the atmosphere positive and fun – even on the tough days, we\\\’ve got each other\\\’s backs. You\\\’ll play a key role in helping patients regain their independence and achieve a level of life-enhancing functionality.

Responsibilities

• Supporting a diverse range of patients, providing compassionate care, rehabilitation, and end-of-life support.
• Taking and interpreting vital signs on adults and supporting with cannulation and venepuncture. You will be supported to ensure you can undertake these skills and competencies.
• Assisting in therapy sessions, games, exercise classes, and breakfast clubs designed to support our patients\\\’ recovery.
• Ensuring patients receive the highest level of care, you will work as part of a close-knit team with 3 trained staff and 2 HCSWs on day shifts, and 2 trained for 2 HCSW staff on nights.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this role is building lasting relationships with patients, walking with them on their journey to recovery. As part of a personalised treatment plan, you will play a key role in improving patients\\\’ lives and helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

Requirements

• Due to varying day and night shift patterns not aligning with public transport, a full UK driving licence is required.
• Shift Patterns:
• Early shift: 07:30 – 14:00
• Late shift: 14:00 – 20:30
• Long day shift: 07:30 – 20:30
• Night shift: 20:00 – 08:00

Staff facilities & wellbeing

• Relax and recharge in our staff breakout spaces.
• Access to our multi-purpose rooms for quiet study or wellbeing breaks.
• On-site parking with designated spaces for staff and accessible parking, plus a bike shed for those who prefer to cycle to work.
• Staff changing rooms and locker rooms with separate male and female facilities.

Staff stories

• A member of the team began her journey with us as a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) and has since progressed to become a Trainee Nursing Associate. She is now a qualified Nursing Associate, practising in her role.
• A motivated team member is currently undertaking an apprenticeship with us, supporting her development as she works towards becoming a Level 3 HCSW. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse.

Clinical training & competencies

• Undertake training to perform high quality clinical interventions effectively and remain competent to practice these interventions, such as clinical observations, blood glucose monitoring, urinalysis, venepuncture, removal of urinary catheter, insertion and removal of peripheral cannulas, perform ECG, BMI calculation, all following assessment and completion of clinical competency.
• Assess a person\\\’s clinical condition, within the individual\\\’s scope of competence using tools such as NEWS2 parameters, pain assessment tool, non-verbal signs of deterioration and know how to urgently escalate concerns appropriately.

Other

Full vacancy details can be found on the attached job description and person specification.

Important information

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
• Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
• Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role.
• Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.

The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.