Description

Job title: Healthcare Assistant

Department: Surgical Unit

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £25,640 per annum

Responsible to: Surgical Unit Manager

Job Summary

To assist the qualified nursing staff, under their supervision, in providing a high quality, patient-focused nursing service to all patients and users, ensuring a high standard of a patient care is maintained. The HCA assists clinical staff in maintaining excellent standards of safety, comfort, and dignity throughout each patient’s surgical journey.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-operative Support 

• Prepare patients for surgery, including assisting with pre-operative checks, personal care, gowning, and safe transfer to theatre areas.

• Provide reassurance and emotional support to reduce anxiety before procedures.

• Ensure patient documentation, belongings, and identification are managed correctly.

Post-operative & Recovery Support 

• Assist nursing staff in monitoring patients during post-operative recovery (within training and competence).

• Record observations such as vital signs, pain scores, wound condition, and levels of consciousness.

• Assist with personal care needs such as hygiene, mobility, nutrition, and toileting following surgery.

• Support safe mobilisation after procedures according to clinical guidance.

Clinical Support (Under Supervision)

• Collect and label specimens accurately.

• Assist with wound care, dressing changes, and drain management as instructed.

• Ensure equipment (e.g., moving aids, monitoring devices) is clean, functional, and available.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in line with hospital policies.

Patient Care & Customer Service

• Deliver a high standard of personalised, compassionate care aligned with private healthcare expectations.

• Communicate professionally with patients, relatives, and visitors, maintaining confidentiality and sensitivity at all times.

• Support patients with dietary requirements and ensure meals are served safely and appropriately.

Safety, Quality & Professional Standards

• Adhere to infection prevention and control standards within surgical environments.

• Follow manual handling, safeguarding, and medication support policies.

• Escalate concerns regarding patient deterioration, safety risks, or equipment faults promptly.

• Participate in audits, continuous improvement initiatives, and mandatory training.

• To meet SJH values, whilst delivering care to patients and relatives

• To adhere to the relevant Codes of Conduct, Guidelines and SJH Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Standards at all times

• Carry out any other duty that reasonably falls within the general nature and level of responsibility of the post.

Person Specification

The following specification represents the range of skills, abilities, and experiences etc. relevant to the position. Applicants are expected to meet the attributes that have been identified as essential.

Essential

• Whilst no formal qualifications are required you must be able to communicate with other members of staff and patients clearly and your personal appearance must be of a high standard, expected in a professional healthcare environment.

• Previous experience as a Health Care Assistant

• Basic IT and documentation skills

• Basic awareness of health, safety and hygiene

• English language to IELTS 7.0

Desirable 

• NVQ Direct Care Level 2 or equivalent experience

• Previous ward experience, ideally surgical or acute setting

• Basic clinical observation skills

The closing date for receipt of applications is the 16th December 2025.

We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to the advertised closing date, if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration. 

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.