We are looking for healthcare assistants to help  with the day-to-day care of patients in hospitals.

If you would like to care for people and make a positive difference to their lives, this could be the ideal job for you.

Location: Liverpool Street
Work activities

As a healthcare assistant you would work under the supervision of nursing staff. Your duties could include:

• Helping patients to wash, shower or dress.

• Serving food or helping people eat

• Making and changing beds

• Turning patients who are confined to bed to avoid pressure sores.

• Talking to patients to help them feel less anxious.

• Helping patients to move around if they find it difficult.

• Giving out and collecting bedpans, and helping patients to the toilet.

• Making sure the ward or patients’ homes are tidy.

• Keeping supplies and equipment in order.

• Taking and recording observations such as temperature, pulse and breathing.

Your day-to-day work may include using mobility aids and equipment to help lift and move patients. In hospitals you may also escort patients between departments. With experience, you may be involved in induction training for new healthcare assistants.

Working hours and conditions

You would usually work around 37 hours a week on a shift or Rota system, including nights, bank holidays and weekends. Flexible and part-time hours are often available.

You could work a hospital setting. If you work in the community, you are likely to travel throughout the day between patients’ homes.

Training and development

Once you start work you will receive on the job training from your employer, which is likely to cover:

• Clinical hygiene

• Health and safety

• Personal care

• Measuring and recording temperature, pulse, breathing and weight.

• Developing communication and interpersonal skills.

With the right training and support you could become an assistant practitioner, working in the community or on hospital wards under the supervision of nursing staff.

You may be able to do the training part-time on a secondment basis. Check with your employer for more details about this.

Skills, interests and qualities

As a healthcare assistant you would need:

• A friendly and caring personality

• The ability to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

• Tact and sensitivity

• An understanding and respectful approach to patients from all backgrounds.

• The ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team.

• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality.

• Patience and a sense of humour

40 Hours per week