As a healthcare support worker, you will be part of the multiprofessional team providing compassionate, safe and high-quality care.
'Multiprofessional' describes all people involved in delivering care for our patients. This includes: healthcare support workers; registered nurses; doctors; physiotherapists; occupational therapists; dietitians; social workers and more.
We will ensure you are given practical training (both on the job and in the classroom) and theoretical training to be able to carry out all the different tasks.
We believe our healthcare support workers are vital to help provide excellent care to our patients. You will help keep our services running smoothly and get to meet patients from all over the country. Although the role can be challenging at times, you will make a positive difference to people’s lives every time you come to work.
Why join Royal Papworth as a healthcare support worker?
We pride ourselves on the support we give to our staff. We have been awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality award – Silver for the pastoral care and support we give to our healthcare support workers.
We have extensive staff benefits focused on staff wellbeing.
You do not need previous support worker experience to work here; if you bring passion and compassion then we will provide you with the training needed to feel confident and competent in your work.
We will support you with excellent training and development opportunities.
We run special healthcare support worker forums, which is an opportunity you to pop by and discuss progression/development opportunities, work related concerns and ideas for developing care/services.
Starting your role
You will have a supportive, week-long induction that covers:
- Corporate induction (one day)
- Clinical induction (two day)
- Two days within your department
After the first week's induction you will have a period of supernumerary time, where you will be allocated a mentor who will be able to support, guide and teach you the key aspects (competencies) of the job.
You will also have access to a clinical educator and professional development sister who will offer support, guidance and training.
What will I be doing in the role?
The role is hands-on, varied, exciting, and different depending on which department you are working in.
Duties might include:
- Assist patients with washing and dressing.
- Help patients to eat, drink or go to the toilet.
- Making beds.
- Taking patient observations: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate.
- Escalating concerns to nurse in charge/ manager.
- Collection of patients from wards for procedures.
- Cleaning and prepare bed space for next patient.
- Cleaning and maintenance of equipment in the department.
- Prepare equipment and clinical areas for use in the treatment and care of patients
- Assist with clinical procedures for which training has been provided and competency passed.
- Ensure that the department environment is clean, tidy and fully stocked at all times in line with the infection control policy.
- Disposing of waste.
- Taking blood.
- Training for UV light cleaning machine to facilitate room cleaning.
- Act as a chaperone for patients in consultations or during examinations.
- Assisting patients to get to other areas of the department or diagnostic tests.
Training, support and development
There are many training opportunities available for our healthcare support workers:
The Care Certificate is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of healthcare support workers in health and social care.
It is made up of 15 standards. This will form part of a robust induction programme.
You will complete a series of e-learning modules, a workbook and two study days. It normally takes up to four months to achieve the Care Certificate.
The Healthcare Support Worker Development Programme aims to provide a solid foundation to continue to expand knowledge upon. This should allow time to consolidate your knowledge from previous experience and the Care Certificate. The programme is made up of four on-site, face-to-face study days which complement a workbook.
The courses are taught at West Suffolk College as a mixture of online training and face-to-face group sessions. It will include activities to practice learning, group discussions and the opportunity to ask questions throughout.
Learners will have an online diagnostic assessment to identify areas of development and there will be an online assessment at the end of each course. There will be lots of opportunities to complete 'mock tests' before taking any final assessments. Qualifications gained will be Level 1 or Level 2 functional skills. If you score below Entry Level 3 during your initial assessment you may be sign posted to a different course.
The course is open for staff who do not already have English and maths at GCSE grade A*-C or Functional skills qualification at Level 2 and have lived in the UK or EU for at least three years. These courses are beneficial if you wish to progress in your career, access an apprenticeship, promotion, or higher education as most degree programmes now require a minimum of Level 2 qualification in maths and English.
The Higher Development Award is available to support workers (clinical & non-clinical) and is delivered by West Suffolk College. It is currently available at levels two and three and offers the choice to specialise in either 'coaching and mentoring' or 'leadership and management'.