Job summary
Employer heading
Healthcare Assistant- Ward 24
Band 2
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
Are you looking for a new role where every day is different?
Whatever your age, experience or background Blackpool Teaching Hospitals (BTHT) are thrilled to be welcoming people from all different walks of life to join our trust. Health Care Assistants touch the lives of thousands, providing expertise, care, and compassion when it matters most.
You will become part of each patient’s story whether these moments are big, small, joyful, or sad, seeing life from all angles.
We will provide comprehensive training, We are very proud of our team at BTHT. ‘Amazing, fantastic, caring, helpful’.
These are just some of the words used by our patients to describe our Health Care Assistants.
You may have little or no formal experience or knowledge, but do you have some great transferrable skills like being able to connect with people, putting people at ease or being able to listen?
If the answer is yes, you could make the ideal Health Care Assistant.
At BTHT you will work with our experienced dedicated teams who are as motivated as you are to make a real difference to our patients.
Main duties of the job
- Providing hands on personal care using infection prevention principles
- Attending to comfort and safety of patients
- Helping patients move safely
- Assisting patients to eat and drink
- Listening and talking to patients and relatives
- Taking and recording clinical observations such as temperature, blood pressure and pulse
- Checking and monitoring skin integrity
- Maintaining privacy and dignity for patients with their personal hygiene/toileting needs
- Working in a team to meet the care needs of patients
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a large, integrated provider of acute and community services to the 445,000 population of the Fylde coast health economy and the estimated 11 million visitors to the seaside town of Blackpool. With patients and families at the heart of all we do, we are committed to creating a culture that empowers our staff and inspires us all to deliver first class clinical care. We form a central part of the Healthier Fylde Coast Integrated Care Partnership and our progressive approach to partnership working in the area provides an enviable opportunity to redesign and deliver services that meet the challenges of today’s health system.
We are not underestimating the challenges facing today’s health system but believe there are the foundations here in Blackpool to deliver truly excellent, integrated services that can make a major impact on the lives of the thousands of people we serve.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description & Person Specification
Training we provide:
We have a dedicated HCA induction and training package, where you will start your Care Certificate which you will then take onto the ward/department to demonstrate and complete the competencies and skills to fulfil your role.
Click on this link for more information about the care certificate: https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/info-hub/category/the-care-certificate/
Our HCA Pastoral Lead will support you throughout your journey to equip, inspire, and care for your wellbeing, and will help you identify any career progression opportunities when you are ready.
Career Progression:
The Trust is committed to supporting the ongoing development and career progression of all our staff. Once in a permanent post, you will receive regular clinical supervision, support, and personal development through annual appraisal.
If you need to complete Maths and English GSCE you can be supported to access a Level 2 Maths and English Functional skills qualification and paid to complete this training. Click on the link for more information: https://www.blackpool.ac.uk/course/gb00002
Opportunities to complete the Level 3 healthcare apprenticeship qualification are available to you once in a permanent post, and this can lead to other apprenticeships - also funded by the Trust. Assistant Practitioner, Nursing Associate, Operating Department Practitioner and Theatre Support Worker are just some of the opportunities we offer which all lead to our degree-level apprenticeships.
Pay and benefits:
- As a healthcare assistant, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, typically starting on Band 2.
- Shifts available can vary and could be a mix of early starts, long days, nights, weekends, and across varied clinical areas.
- Have access our generous NHS pension scheme and certain health service discounts.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Willingness & ability to undertake NVQ Level 2 in care if required
- Basic level of general education
- Excellent command of English – particularly in verbal communication
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 2 in care
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience of working within a team
- Experience of working with people
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in an acute hospital trust
- Experience as a Healthcare Assistant
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria
- Understanding of quality and change in the clinical setting.
- Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
- Able to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate.
- Able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
- Basic I.T. skills in E mail.
- Basic understanding of NHS issues.
- Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationship with colleagues in the health care setting.
- Carry out clinical interventions as delegated by a RN or Doctor as agreed by local protocols.
- Good attendance record
- Able to perform a wide range of duties
Desirable criteria
- Ability to perform ECGs
- Ability to undertake venepuncture
- Ability to monitor basic observations (Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Oxygen Saturations etc)
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Carmen Watkinson
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01253953424
List jobs with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors