Job overview

The Pre-Assessment Department at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot is seeking a motivated Healthcare Assistant (HCA) to join our established team.

This role supports the delivery of high-quality pre-operative care within a busy NHS clinic environment.

The successful candidate will undertake a combination of clinical and administrative duties, contributing to the smooth running of the department and ensuring patients receive a safe, efficient and professional service prior to surgery.

This is a patient-facing role requiring excellent communication skills, professionalism, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The post holder will support nurses and senior staff in providing effective patient care and will be expected to escalate clinical concerns appropriately. The position is primarily Monday to Friday with a likely set shift pattern, although some flexibility may be required depending on clinic needs.

Main duties of the job

The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) will support the pre-assessment clinic by performing a range of clinical tasks including venepuncture, recording observations, performing ECGs, and collecting swabs and urine samples. 

These clinical skills are essential, and the post holder will be required to independently recognise and escalate abnormal results on ECGs, vital signs, etc.

The post holder is expected to escalate abnormal results only without the need for interpretation.

The role also involves leading telephone pre-assessment clinics, where the HCA will complete structured questionnaires with patients and identify when information needs to be escalated to the supporting nurse.

Administrative responsibilities include preparing patient notes for upcoming clinics and supporting general departmental organisation.

The post holder may also assist with data collection for audit purposes when required.

On occasion, the HCA may provide reception cover, which includes greeting and checking in patients, distributing relevant documentation (such as NJR, PROMS and FFT forms), directing patients to the waiting area, and helping coordinate patient flow to ensure clinics run efficiently and waiting times are minimised.

The role requires a proactive team player who is supportive of colleagues and committed to delivering excellent patient care.

Working for our organisation

Visa Sponsorship:
This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. 

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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