Healthcare Support Worker
Job Description
Job summary
Are you looking to join Team Countess as a Healthcare Support Worker? We are seeking dedicated, motivated and hardworking individuals to join our Healthcare Support Worker workforce. There are two pathways into a Band 3 role, depending on qualifications and experience:
1. Qualified or Experienced Healthcare Support WorkerSalary: Agenda for Change Band 3
2. Trainee Healthcare Support WorkerSalary: National Living Wage (up to 6 months)
Eligibility - Qualified or Experienced Route
Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Qualificationo NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, completed via a government-regulated accredited organisation (as listed on Find a regulated qualification - GOV.UK)
ExperienceApplicants without an NVQ Level 3 may be considered if they have either:o A minimum of 2 years' substantive experience (not Bank or Agency) as a Healthcare Support Worker or Nursing Assistant in an acute NHS setting (experience may be at Band 2), oro A minimum of 3 years' substantive experience in a UK community care setting (e.g. nursing or residential homes), providing adult patient care and undertaking comparable duties.
Please note: This advert is for the qualified or experienced Healthcare Support Worker role only. Applicants who do not meet this criterion and wish to apply for the trainee route must apply via Job Reference: 210-2026-01-G.
Applicants may not be shortlisted if sufficient evidence of qualifications, training or experience is not provided.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who want to help Team Countess provide Safe, Kind and effective care to join us.
The right candidate will be provided with a 7-day Healthcare Assistant Induction, introducing you to the Trust and ensuring that you settle into your new role.
Successful candidates will be provided with resources and guidance to ensure completion of the national mandatory Care Certificate within 6 months of appointment.
Please see attached the Job Description for full list of duties & responsibilities for this role.
About us
The Trusts services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies whcih is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 qualification (e.g. A-Level's, NVQ3) in Health & Social Care OR equivalent knowledge and experience.
- Completion of the Care Certificate within specified timeframe on commencing employment with the Trust.
- In-depth understanding of the healthcare support worker role.
Skills And Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a clinical environment and undertaking a range of relevant clinical skills with proven competencies.
- Experience working in the NHS.
- Knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of a health care support worker.
- Can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of promoting patient independence.
Desirable
- Additional clinical duties and activities as defined by the area of work under the delegation of the registered nurse.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countess of Chester Hospital / Ellesmere Port Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)