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Job summary

Main area
Healthcare Support Worker
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-CEN2280-BD-A
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Ashton Health Centre
Town
Preston
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Children's Health Care Support Worker

Band 3

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

A rewarding role where each day could be different, being able to build a working relationship with children and young people within our packages of care, helping to make a difference to their lives and see the impact your support can make to the family unit

We have an exciting opportunity for Health Care support workers to join our team in the Children’s Packages of Care Team (CPOC). We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic people to join our team due to expansion within the service. 

Please note further to recent national updates regarding Certificates of Sponsorship issued after 9 April 2025 the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers has increased to £25,000 per year. The increase also applies to the Health and Care Visa route for those occupations paid by NHS bands. This means that entry-level Band 3 roles will not be eligible for sponsorship.

Therefore, this role is unlikely to be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role."

Main duties of the job

HCSWs within this team are lone workers, taking full responsibility for the care of children with complex needs after receiving comprehensive training. This could be caring for a child overnight in their own home, while parents are sleeping, accompanying a child to school and meeting their needs during the school day or working with another HCSW/nurse to give parents a complete break. 

Following training and competency assessment, HCSWs will be able to independently care for children with tracheostomies, gastrostomies, require medications, oxygen therapy amongst other medical needs. 

Shift times vary dependant on the child’s needs and HCSWs are expected to work a mixture of days, nights, and weekend shifts, these can be anytime over the 24 hour period. 

Working for our organisation

The children’s packages of care team sits within the Children’s Complex Needs Nursing Service and delivers packages of care to children within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation trust.

This role includes shift work, including nights/weekends. We would also consider someone who only wanted to work night shifts as a shift pattern.

You will require a valid UK driving licence or have access to a vehicle for work purposes or be able to travel between community settings in a timely manner. This is essential in order to travel across the geographical footprint required within the service. Bases are both at Burnley and Preston with packages of care across Lancashire. (Travel expenses reimbursed in accordance with trust policy

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The ideal candidates will need to be organised, able to work alone and part of a team, adaptable, calm in pressured situations and flexible to meet the needs of the service. Ideally you will have experience in a health care, social care or education setting working with children. An NVQ3 in care or equivalent care experience is desired, however full training will be given. 

This is an extremely rewarding role as you will be caring for children in their homes/school providing support ensuring that their needs are met. You will be attending to personal cares, moving and handling needs and engaging through play. Some of our children have additional health care needs such as gastrostomies, tracheostomies and use of medical equipment in which full training will be provided.

You will be well supported by an experienced and dedicated management team as well as peer support amongst colleagues, opportunities to work alongside specialists, a personal and professional development plan. 

Career pathway from HCSW to nursing associate is available to members of CPOC in addition, you will have an annual personal development review and plan to support your career aspirations along with regular team days for training, supportive discussions and well-being sessions.

This is an NHS ran service and incorporates all the standard NHS staff benefits for working within the service e.g. Enhanced rate for nights and weekend work, pension, paid sick leave, annual leave entitlements and access to evidence based training.

 

*Please note - previous applications need not apply for this role*

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent experience.
  • A willingness to undertake further study.
  • Good general education including GCSE in English Language or equivalent.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Good knowledge of child development
  • Basic understanding of how complex needs/chronic illness affects children and families
  • Sound working knowledge of professional issues e/.g. confidentiality

Exper

Essential criteria
  • Experience of managing children on an individual and group basis
  • Experience of interacting with Children with Complex and/or Additional Needs
  • Previous experience of care in health, social, education or voluntary setting.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rebecca Higham
Job title
Clinical Nurse Business Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01282 628362
Additional information

Rebecca Cowell, Team Leader for CPOC Central on [email protected] or

Ruksana Afsar, Team Leader for CPOC Pennine on [email protected]

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