Job summary
- Main area
- Senior HCSW
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 432-HR362-26
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ipswich Hospital
- Town
- Ipswich
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata + unsocial hours allowance
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/06/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 01/07/2026
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Bures Ipswich
NHS AfC: Band 3
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
Are you an experienced HCSW with a positive, adaptive and enthusiastic outlook looking for an exciting and dynamic role?
Do you currently work in a Mental Health setting or dementia unit if so we would really be interested in your application?
Do you have a passion for caring for patients with enhanced therapeutic care needs? Do you want the advantage of team rostering supporting your work life balance?
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join Bures team, a highly skilled and versatile team that works across ipswich hospital, providing vital support to all adult clinical specialities.
Bures team Healthcare Support Workers will assist across all adult wards and departments of the hospital, for patients who may require additional support due to their illness, unfamiliar surroundings, medication, mental health or challenging behaviour needs. Enhanced observation is an integral part of a therapeutic plan and ensures the safe and sensitive monitoring of a patient’s physical and psychological wellbeing, whilst building therapeutic relationships.
Enhanced therapeutic observational care could be supporting ‘cohorted’ or patients who require 1-1 support.
This dynamic team will play a pivotal role in responding to operational demands, ensuring our ward and departments receive the support they need when they need it most.
Previous NHS Experience and NHS Care Certificate is essential for this role.
Main duties of the job
This unique position offers the right candidate a chance to gain experience across a wide variety of specialities, developing your skills and expertise to become a highly versatile and experienced health care support worker.
By working across diverse clinical areas, you’ll build a wealth of knowledge and adaptability, empowering you to thrive in any situation and provide exceptional care. You will need to be flexible and adaptable as you could be supporting multiple areas during a shift – going where the need is greatest.
This role is perfect for someone who is eager to grow, embrace challenges and make a significant impact across the hospital.
We are committed to supporting you on this journey, providing the training and development needed to help you become the very best in this role.
In addition, we offer team rostering allowing you to request as many or as little of your off duty as you like (typically 70-80% of these will be approved), we want you to thrive in your new role while maintaining a healthy work life balance. Choose your own shifts from available long days and nights.
You’ll receive 2 day Enhanced Therapeutic Observation and care workshop and a 2 day Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression workshop. You will also be offered supernumerary time in areas you may not have worked in before to build your confidence, knowledge and skills.
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience in an acute NHS, mental health or dementia setting
Desirable criteria
- Experience in enhanced therapeutic observations and care
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Care certificate achieved or demonstrable relevant skills
- Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
- Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Willingness to undertake further study
- Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patient’s relatives and carers
- Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs.
- Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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
- Lindsey Lacanlale
- Job title
- Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07586472069
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