Job Description

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Please upload a copy of Maths and English (GCSE or equivalent International) qualifications to your application, without this information you will not be invited to interview.

Healthcare Support Worker – Band 2 to 3 development role

Salary: £25,272

Work Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, PO6 3LY

Hours per week: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (may consider part time to align shift patterns)

Contract Type: Permanent

Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) are essential providers of everyday care for our patients. The HCSW role is rewarding, it's the kind of job where you will need to be organised, adaptable, resilient, and hardworking. You will have great prioritisation skills, good observational skills and have empathy for others.

Working with us, you will witness first-hand the positive impact your caring nature and efforts will make on our hospital. You will need to be willing to be hands-on with our patients.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals, you will be assisting the team with the provision of clinical care for a defined group of patients. In addition, you will take all possible steps to safeguard the welfare, safety and security of patients, visitors, and staff.

Typical day-to day duties include:

• Providing care for patients, helping to maintain their personal hygiene, which will sometimes include handling of bodily fluids and excrete.
• Providing physical comfort for patients, whilst ensuring their privacy and dignity is always maintained
• Washing and dressing patients, and helping them to safely move around
• Serving meals and help with feeding
• Assisting with cleaning tasks and making beds
• Monitoring patient conditions and report to senior team
• Recording information to patient administration systems and assist with other administrative duties
• Undertake clinical activities such as basic wound care, application of Plaster of Paris, venepuncture, cannulation and ECG’s, following completion of training and evidence of competency.
• Assist with c-spine immobilisation and log roll techniques.

Most importantly, you will ensure patient experience is positive by treating all patients, relatives, and colleagues in accordance with Trust values.

Interview date: 8th July 2026

The HCSW role includes a variety of working patterns which attract shift allowances. Internal rotation onto night duty is a requirement of the post.

Please note this role does not offer sponsorship

Please see attached for additional information

Qualifications

Please upload a copy of Maths and English (GCSE or equivalent International) qualifications to your application, without this information you will not be invited to interview. Please submit this on the second page of the application under “Additional attachments”

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• English and Maths qualification at GCSE/Functional Skills at level 1 (or an internationally recognised equivalent).
• Completed Care Certificate or ability to complete within 3 months of appointment (Pro rata for part time employee).
• Complete Knowledge and Behaviour Framework within 6 months of appointment.
• Compliance with mandatory updates annually (or as required) on an ongoing basis.

Desirable

• Level 2 qualification in a Health-related subject or equivalent in a relevant area gained through experience, on the job training, short courses and completion of work-based competencies.
• Experience in acute hospital setting, community setting or nursing home.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment.
• Understands and complies with HCSW mandatory induction standards and code of conduct.
• Completion and maintenance of statutory & mandatory learning activities.
• Awareness, understanding and compliance of policies and practices e.g. Escort Policy, Prevention and control of infection and Health and Safety. This post holder is therefore able to work within the scope of their practice under direct and indirect supervision by a registered nurse (training will be provided)
• Can demonstrate knowledge of equipment used within the department to support the registered nurse and ensure that they are compatible and in good working order. Will escalate any concerns to registered nurse.
• Can demonstrate a range of core skills to competently undertake personal care for patients and related tasks and activities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills/literacy/ numeracy skills
• Good observation skills and recognition of the importance of reporting

Additional Information

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

For more information, please see our People and OD Strategy 2026