Healthcare Support Worker

Job Description
Job summary
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust provide integrated sexual health and outreach support for North and West Kent in the districts, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Gravesend and Dartford
We are now looking for enthusiastic, flexible and committed staff, willing to work in a progressive and supportive environment, willing to learn new skills, who is confident in working with people from all ages and backgrounds with varied sexual health and contraception needs.
Main duties of the job
This role is a combination of administrative and clinical duties and will require cross site working across all four districts, to include evening and weekend working.
We will support you in career and professional development including working towards an equivalent qualification within health and social care.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
- At least 27 days of annual leaveplus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
- Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
- Blue Light card eligibility
- And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Job responsibilities
Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level.(Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Healthcare Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the CSW Induction Programme Lead if you have any issues:rallen@nhs.net), lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes two supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift), all of the other days are classroom-based and run from 9am to 5pm.
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a nationally approved Care Certificate - this must have been obtained in a healthcare setting.
Desirable
- Hold an NVQ/ Diploma level 3 in Healthcare/ or level 3 Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship or equivalent experience.
- Functional skills English and maths level 2 or GCSE English and maths grades A*/9 - C/4.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of dealing with the public
- Experience of working in a caring environment, either in health, social or voluntary services
- Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers (2013).
- Insight into role and responsibilities of post.
- Able to describe the importance of delivering high quality care to patients.
- Knowledge of current healthcare issues.
- Knowledge of principles of confidentiality
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients and colleagues, verbally and in writing
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Basic computer keyboard skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload with supervision.
- Can demonstrate practical skills to others.
- Able to deal with the public in person and on the phone
- Able to support and reassure patients/carers
- Able to follow instructions and complete assigned tasks
- Can understand and communicate factual information accurately.
- Able to deliver patient care under the indirect supervision of the Registered Nurse
- Able to act on own initiative (in relation to delivering patient/client care)
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work autonomously or as part of a team
- Customer Care skills
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
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
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address
Maidstone Hospital
Maidstone
ME16 9QQ