Job summary If you have a caring and compassionate approach, and want to join a motivated, friendly and supportive team, we are keen to hear from you. We require staff who have a genuine interest in help caring for acutely unwell patients as part of a multi-disciplinary team as well as having excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Southport Short Stay unit is a 29 bedded ward. We are half an acute unit and half endocrinology. Successful applicants will be supported through a supernumerary period and will become proficient in providing basic care as well as other day to day responsibilities. Main duties of the job The Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) will: 1. Undertake personal care duties for patients within the care setting accessing supervision from registered healthcare practitioner. Personal care refers to delivery of personal hygiene and assisting with feeding, not requiring clinical skills. 2. Record patient's personal care information in accordance with local and trust policies. 3. Work with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver the Trust's vision and values providing safe, high quality compassionate, person-centred care. 4. Demonstrate ward routine to new employees in own work area, where required. About us The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals. From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals. The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales. Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care: CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate SAFETY that is of the highest standards COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients Our achievements include: Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018 Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal) Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme Date posted 03 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 2 Salary £23,615 a year per annum Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 409-6976712 Job locations Ward 9a Southport Southport PR8 6PN Job description Job responsibilities 1.1 Work as part of a team and duties will be delegated by the registered healthcare professional. 1.2 Act within the scope of your training and competence, knowing who to ask for help and support if you are not sure. 1.3 Work within agreed ways of working, following relevant Trust standards, policies and protocol. 1.4 Communicate compassionately and effectively with individuals and their families, carers and health care practitioners using a range of techniques, maintaining confidentiality and using tact, empathy, persuasion and reassurance. 1.5 Observe, assess and respond to personal care patients needs appropriately, escalating concerns to nursing staff, as required. 1.6 Organises self in general work tasks or when delivering patient care with supervision where needed from Senior Health Care Assistant and/or nursing staff. 1.7 As directed, undertake personal care duties and support activities of daily living, e.g. mouth care, personal hygiene, and toileting needs, demonstrating person centred care. 1.8 Safely deliver care duties including manoeuvring of patient equipment (such as hoists and wheelchairs). 1.9 Under supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner, undertake delegated procedures within the limits of required training and measured competence, where appropriate. For example, patient moving and handling, and providing personal care. 1.10 Support of patients feeding, diet and nutritional needs and accurately record patients nutritional intake and fluid intake and output, noticing and reporting changes to the nursing staff. 1.11 Ensure patient property is managed as per Trust policy. 1.12 Monitor levels of supplies and order supplies for the department as appropriate. 1.13 Demonstrates own duties to new starters, contributing to the learning environment. 1.14 To work in line with Trust policies and procedures 1.15 Contributes to maintaining a safe, healthy working environment. 1.16 Follow the principles for implementing a duty of care, always acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm. 1.17 Work in partnership with the individual, their carers/ families and the wider healthcare team. 1.18 Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development and learning activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal. 1.19 Participate in team handovers. Job description Job responsibilities 1.1 Work as part of a team and duties will be delegated by the registered healthcare professional. 1.2 Act within the scope of your training and competence, knowing who to ask for help and support if you are not sure. 1.3 Work within agreed ways of working, following relevant Trust standards, policies and protocol. 1.4 Communicate compassionately and effectively with individuals and their families, carers and health care practitioners using a range of techniques, maintaining confidentiality and using tact, empathy, persuasion and reassurance. 1.5 Observe, assess and respond to personal care patients needs appropriately, escalating concerns to nursing staff, as required. 1.6 Organises self in general work tasks or when delivering patient care with supervision where needed from Senior Health Care Assistant and/or nursing staff. 1.7 As directed, undertake personal care duties and support activities of daily living, e.g. mouth care, personal hygiene, and toileting needs, demonstrating person centred care. 1.8 Safely deliver care duties including manoeuvring of patient equipment (such as hoists and wheelchairs). 1.9 Under supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner, undertake delegated procedures within the limits of required training and measured competence, where appropriate. For example, patient moving and handling, and providing personal care. 1.10 Support of patients feeding, diet and nutritional needs and accurately record patients nutritional intake and fluid intake and output, noticing and reporting changes to the nursing staff. 1.11 Ensure patient property is managed as per Trust policy. 1.12 Monitor levels of supplies and order supplies for the department as appropriate. 1.13 Demonstrates own duties to new starters, contributing to the learning environment. 1.14 To work in line with Trust policies and procedures 1.15 Contributes to maintaining a safe, healthy working environment. 1.16 Follow the principles for implementing a duty of care, always acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm. 1.17 Work in partnership with the individual, their carers/ families and the wider healthcare team. 1.18 Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development and learning activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal. 1.19 Participate in team handovers. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Basic literacy and numeracy skills Desirable NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1) Knowledge & Experience Essential Knowledge of personal care and related procedures Experience of working in a team Desirable Experience of working in a patient care/health related role Skills Essential Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats Good interpersonal skills Able to work within a team Able to accept direction and guidance Aware of own limitations Flexible in working hours Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change Reliable and professional Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations Inclusive and non-judgmental Punctual, motivated and committed Effective role model demonstrating Trust values Basic IT skills Other Essential Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention. Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death. Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department. Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids. Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Basic literacy and numeracy skills Desirable NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1) Knowledge & Experience Essential Knowledge of personal care and related procedures Experience of working in a team Desirable Experience of working in a patient care/health related role Skills Essential Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats Good interpersonal skills Able to work within a team Able to accept direction and guidance Aware of own limitations Flexible in working hours Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change Reliable and professional Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations Inclusive and non-judgmental Punctual, motivated and committed Effective role model demonstrating Trust values Basic IT skills Other Essential Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention. Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death. Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department. Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids. Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours. 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. Employer details Employer name Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Address Ward 9a Southport Southport PR8 6PN Employer's website https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)