Health Care Support Worker - Eye Ward and Eye Day Surgery in Bournemouth

Health Care Support Worker - Eye Ward and Eye Day Surgery

Band 2 or Band 3

Main area Health Care Support Worker, Surgical speciality Grade Band 2 or Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (Long Days) Job ref 153-SU06885

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary pa pr Closing 19/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 30/10/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

As a Healthcare Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality ophthalmic care to patients undergoing a wide range of eye treatments and surgical procedures. Working alongside registered nurses, ophthalmologists, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to providing a safe, welcoming, and efficient patient experience.

Whether you have previous healthcare experience or are looking to develop your career within a specialist clinical area, this role offers excellent opportunities for learning and professional development.

Interview date: 30th October 2026

Main duties of the job

• Assist in delivering high standards of patient-centred care.
• Support patients with their personal care needs while promoting dignity and independence.
• Record and monitor routine observations, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Assist with patient admissions, discharges, and transfers.
• Prepare patients for ophthalmic procedures and surgery.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients and relatives throughout their hospital journey.
• Maintain accurate patient documentation in line with Trust policies.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education including numeracy and literacy
• NVQ Level 2 in care or customer serives

Experience

• Experience of working in a team under appropriate supervision.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of principles of effective customer care.
• Good basic hygiene skills
• Previous experience of working within a care environment/NHS
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of working with the public

Knowledge

• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional.
• Able to listen to advice from colleagues and understanding the importance of promoting health and well-being

Technical skills and competencies

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (to understand and be understood)
• Ability to follow clear instruction and feed back to senior staff. Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative.
• IT literate
• Understanding of basic physiology e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.
• Manual handling of patients using lifting aids

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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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