Job summary
- Main area
- Community Health Services
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- 24 hours per week (This is a part time role and requires the ability to work a flexible working pattern)
- Job ref
- 448-LCA-7256685
- Employer
- Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Luton Adult Community Health Services
- Town
- Luton
- Closing
- 09/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 23/07/2025
Employer heading
Health Care Assistant
Band 3
Driven by our Trust values: Honesty, Empathy, Ambition, Respect; the Trust's vision is to provide high quality care to the diverse communities we serve to make their lives better.
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Our cultural diversity, long term conditions and disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ staff networks are a key part of this commitment, creating positive change and helping build an inclusive culture across the Trust.
Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed - our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
Options for flexible working are considered for all roles within CCS, including job share opportunities, compressed hours, annualised hours, tailored working patterns and more. If you are interested in flexible working, please talk to the recruiting manager for this vacancy.
Please note, the selection processes at Cambridgeshire Community Services are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored, we remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and skilled Health Care Assistant to join the Rapid Response night nursing team.
The Rapid Response team take referrals from GPs, Paramedics, local Hospitals and Specialist Community Teams for patients experiencing an acute health crisis. We aim to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions by assessing patients, developing care plans and liaising with other services as needed.
Working overnight you will be providing nursing support and care to patients on the Rapid Response caseloads including Virtual wards and supporting patients on the District Nursing caseload who may require unplanned / urgent visits.
Must have previous NHS experience in a health care associated role.
This is a part time role and requires the ability to work a flexible working pattern and the ability to travel across the county.
'If we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after '03.07.25'.
Main duties of the job
To work as a Multi-Skilled Assistant supporting qualified members of the Community Nursing team to deliver appropriate nursing care to enable each patient to achieve their maximum potential and remain within their home environment.
To be able to respond under supervision to unexpected health care needs of patients.
As our Health Care Assistant (HCA) you will be involved in supporting patients which may involve short episodes of intensive input to prevent hospital admission. This will also involve undertaking personal care of patients, medication administration, wound care and completing patient assessments.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Provide advice and instruction to patients to explain any procedures being undertaken.
Understand the principles of data protection and patient confidentiality and the policies and procedures surrounding them.
Attend and participate in staff meetings.
Basic understanding of IT and ability to use e-mail and willingness to undertake training for any systems used to collect and manage patient data.
Communicate with practice staff and GP’s regarding results and collection of specimens.
Refer patient queries to the nursing staff in a timely fashion.
Provide understanding and support to patients having difficulty coping with their condition.
To be supportive and communicative with patients & colleagues.
To ensure at all times patients are treated with care and compassion.
Report any change or deviation from planned care package to nursing staff.
Recognise change in patients need and with instruction adapt care package accordingly.
Recognise abnormal results following monitoring and inform nursing staff.
Undertake the delivery of patient care packages under the supervision of nursing staff.
Manage and prioritise workload.
To liaise with other health professionals, social services, GP’s, hospital staff and other agencies involved in the care of each patient as required.
To accurately take and record telephone messages as required, including supporting the screening and prioritisation of referrals according to local guidelines.
Undertake set nursing procedures following training and assessment e.g. phlebotomy, blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, preparing patients as necessary prior to procedure, using aseptic technique.
Driving skills, including in icy and snowy conditions.
To acquire core skills in nursing care and nursing techniques.
To provide general office duties i.e.: filing, photocopying as required.
Be able to implement packages of care, therapy or treatment prescribed by qualified members of the team. This will initially be done with supervision from a qualified member of the team.
Support patients in achieving goals set in care packages.
Undertake personal and social care as required to support people to remain at home.
Deliver prescribed medication to patients, operating within set protocols.
To provide reassurance & psychological support to patients in an acute phase of illness which may involve short episodes of intensive input to prevent hospital admission.
To maintain a neat and tidy appearance and professional approach to work, patients, their families & other colleagues.
To act in a manner that is in line with Trust Values at all times.
Ensure all electronic and paper based records are kept up to date and filed appropriately.
To maintain accurate and comprehensive records, recording and providing statistical information by means of computer and other methods.
To supply information to the client where appropriate using computer database and written materials.
To monitor stock in partnership with the nursing team.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- Good standard of spoken & written English
- NVQ in Health studied to Level 3 or willingness to work towards
Desirable criteria
- Admin/clerical training
Experience
Essential criteria
- Minimum 1 year experience working as HCA or equivalent
- Experience of working with the public
- Previous experience of working in a team
Desirable criteria
- Phlebotomy experience
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Basic IT skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Accurate and methodical approach to work
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Ability to cope with challenging behaviour
- Willingness to learn new skills
Desirable criteria
- Presentation skills
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
Essential criteria
- Ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
- Demonstrates understanding of safeguarding issues
- Appreciates the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people/vulnerable adults whatever their life circumstances
- Has a good understanding of the Safeguarding agenda
- Can demonstrate an ability to contribute towards a safe environment
- Is up-to-date with legislation and current events
- Can demonstrate how s/he has promoted ‘best practice’
- Shows a personal commitment to safeguarding children
Working within Professional Boundaries
Essential criteria
- Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others
- Recognises the limits of own authority within the role
- Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
- Understands the principle of confidentiality
- Demonstrates professional curiosity
Emotional Awareness
Essential criteria
- Aware of the range of emotions in self and others
- Demonstrates empathy for the concerns of others
- Listens to and understands directly and indirectly expressed feelings
- Encourages others to express themselves openly
- Manages strong emotions and responds constructively to the source of problems
- Shows respect for others’ feelings, views and circumstances
- In highly stressful situations keeps own feelings in check, takes constructive action and calms others down
- Has a range of mechanisms for dealing with stress, can recognise when to use them and does so
- Listens to personal comments without becoming defensive
Self-awareness
Essential criteria
- Has a balanced understanding of self and others
- Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development
- Can demonstrate flexibility of approach
- Shows a realistic appreciation of the challenges of working with children and young people/vulnerable adults
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel across the County sometimes at short notice
- Satisfactory DBS
- Flexibility to work over seven days per week, to support the delivery of a 24hr service
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Petrina Kaye
- Job title
- Rapid Response Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07881516886
- Additional information
Emma Farquhar
Rapid Response Operational Administrator
0782 723 3906
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