Healthcare Assistant

Transformationunitgm; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Chelmsford is seeking a part-time Health Care Assistant to join their team. The role involves providing high-quality care to patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Responsibilities include assisting with personal hygiene, monitoring vital signs, and ensuring patients receive compassionate care. Ideal candidates must have experience in a healthcare setting and be committed to patient wellbeing. The position offers a salary of £24,465 per annum, pro rata for part-time hours, with 12.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Must have evidence of experience in a health care setting.
• Knowledge and experience of caring for patients living with Dementia.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care and support to patients under supervision.
• Maintain accurate documentation regarding patient care.
• Assist patients with personal hygiene and eating needs.
• Monitor and record patient vital signs and escalate when necessary.

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively

Compassionate care

Knowledge of patient hygiene

Ability to assist with feeding

Capability to respond to emergencies

Education

Experience in a health care setting

Experience in an acute hospital setting

Job description

Main area Care of the Elderly Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 12.5 hours per week (Day and Night shifts) Job ref 390-BR-DoM-1268

Employer Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Broomfield Town Chelmsford Salary £24,465 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 21/12/2025 23:59

Band 2

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

The Health Care Assistant will function as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the ward or department to provide a seamless service & high-quality care to patients under the support and direct supervision of a Registered Nurse.

The HCA is expected to undertake care to meet the needs of the patients under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, working within the Trust’s policies, procedures and Trust Values and of the ward or department in a safe and person-centred environment for the
treatment of patients whilst working collaboratively as part of the multidisciplinary team.

It is expected that the Health Care Assistant will continue to develop their own capabilities and knowledge of nursing tasks in line with the Trust’s career pathway to maintain standards of care.

Main duties of the job

• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues.
• Maintain accurate documentation surrounding patient care and interventions.
• Demonstrate care and compassion at all times to patients and their relatives or carers.
• Assist patients with personal and oral hygiene needs.
• Assist patients with eating and drinking and accurately record intake.
• Enable patients to access appropriate toileting facilities, collect and dispose of body waste.
• Record patient vital signs and observations and escalate appropriately.
• Provide pressure area care and regular repositioning.
• Recognise patients who are in pain using a pain scoring scale and escalate to a registered nurse where appropriate.
• Provide compassionate and dignified end of life care.
• Undertake simple wound dressings as delegated by the Registered Nurse.
• Orientate patients to the ward.
• Remove peripheral cannulas from patients following instruction from the registered nurse.
• Participate in the enhanced observation of patients.
• Utilise a range of de-escalation techniques in challenging situations.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations.
• Respond to any safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately.
• Act in a professional manner at all times demonstrating dignity and respect

Working for our organisation

With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

Patients will experience improved care as well as fewer delays and cancellations. We are able to provide more once-in-a-lifetime specialist care region-wide. With our new trust size will come more opportunities for development, research, networking and innovation.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a ‘one workforce’ cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

Successful candidates to this role will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT. This includes development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as HCA App.

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description and main responsibilities.

We look forward to your application!

Person specification

Experience

• Evidence of experience in a health care setting.
• Experience in an acute hospital setting.

Experience

• Knowledge and experience of caring for patients living with Dementia.

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

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.