Welcome
Our health care support workers have an essential role within our nursing teams to provide high quality, compassionate care and support to patients and their families. This is an opportunity to make a difference whether you are looking for a change in career or at the start of your career.
In this dedicated website you can find out more information about the Health Care Support Worker role, and about the Trust.
The COVID Pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us, but it has also given us some moments of great reflection. Here at Ashford and St Peter's we are all really proud to be part of the NHS and to be part of a Trust that aims to provide a high quality patient experience and to be an excellent place to work for all staff.
Our Health Care Support Workers are an invaluable part of the Nursing and Midwifery Teams across all sites of the Trust, St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Ashford Hospital in Ashford Surrey and the Bradley Unit at Woking Community Hospital.
There are also opportunities to register with our Trust's Bank Service as a Health Care Support Worker - previous experience is essential. When you are ready to apply, you will find the links to the current vacancies on NHS Jobs further down this page.
|
 |
Once we receive your application we will be in touch to invite you to our next assessment day where you will meet some of Team ASPH. At the assessment day you will take a basic numeracy and literacy assessment and have an interview with members of the Nursing or midwifery Team - most events will take place in person on the Ashford Hospital Site.
After you have been offered a role the next stage is the completion of recruitment clearances and onboarding. This includes occupational health clearance and an enhanced disclosure (DBS) clearance which are paid for by the Trust.
Upon commencing your employment with the Trust you will begin your induction training with the Learning and Development team to complete Trust induction and mandatary training and the Nursing Education team will facilitate your HCSW training and introduction to the care certificate. The Training will be over two weeks and will be a mix of virtual training, online training modules and face to face sessions.
If you have any queries please contact us.
We hope to welcome you to Team ASPH very soon!
|
|
Introduction to the Health Care Support Worker Role
Health Care Support Worker is the umbrella term for all unregistered workers, who are at the heart of patient care at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, whether this is as a Health Care Assistant in a ward or outpatient environment, as a theatre assistant or as a Maternity Support Worker.
HCSWs work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife or Registered Nursing Associate. The role itself will vary depending on where you are based within the Trust and can include tasks such as:
Helping patients to wash and dress
Managing incontinence
Making beds
Keeping the department clean and tidy and following infection prevention and control
Helping to serve meals, assist patient feeding and keeping patients hydrated
Assist people to mobilise
Monitor patients' conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and blood pressure, and oxygen levels, as well as other vital signs and recording these on our electronic patient record system
Helping to make patients feel comfortable, respected and dignified
Whilst there are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare support worker, good literacy and numeracy skills are essential, alongside basic computer skills. Senior HCSW posts require a applicants to hold a valid Care Certificate, awarded in acute care.
Experience of healthcare or care work is often desirable, this could be from paid or voluntary work. However the Trust also welcomes applications from people new to care.
|
Skills and personal characteristics needed
To be a HCSW, you will need to be:
Caring and compassionate
Have excellent communication skills
Willing to be hands-on with patients and undertake personal care tasks (such as washing, toileting, mobilising, etc)
Able to follow instructions and procedures
Able to work in a team but use your own initiative
Adaptable and have the ability to prioritise tasks.
Training and development
Your training as a HCSW will include basic nursing skills and you will be supported to achieve the Care Certificate, click here to find out more about the Care Certificate.
With experience and further training, you could become a senior healthcare support worker. You could then apply to train as a nursing associate via an apprenticeship (earning whilst you're learning). With the appropriate qualifications/evidence of academic ability, you could also train as one of the many degree-level healthcare professionals such as a nurse or midwife.
Pay and benefits
A standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, long days (7.15am - 8pm) and weekends. As a HCSW, you'll be paid on the Agenda for Change pay system, typically starting on band 2.
You'll also have access to the NHS pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you're in service.
For further information please contact:
Lisa Punter - Lead Nurse Workforce
Email: lisa.punter@nhs.net Tel: 01784 884276 or
Lyn Woollam - Clinical Practice Educator for Trainee Nursing Associate Apprentices and Healthcare Assistants
Email: lyn.woollam@nhs.net
For the current list of HCSW vacancies please click here.
|
|
|
