Become a Healthcare Support Worker at UHBW
On this page you will find more information about the role of a Healthcare Support Worker in our Adult, Children and Maternity services, what it is, what you need to do to apply and links to useful information which can help you decide whether this role is right for you.
Prefer to speak to someone? Please email our HCSW recruitment team on HCSWrecruitment@uhbw.nhs.uk
What is a Healthcare Support Worker?
Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) are a crucial part of the multi-disciplinary team, delivering a high standard of care for our patients from newborn babies to our elderly patients. You will be working with Registered Nurses and helping to provide care and therapy to the patient group in your area of our very diverse trust.
The role of a HCSW is all about patient contact. You will need to have a caring approach, enjoy team working, be an excellent communicator and be capable of delivering high standards of patient care. Our HCSW’s work closely with our clinical teams and in particular with our entire nurses team. As a HCSW, your role will vary each day depending on the ward and the patients in your care.
The role of a Healthcare Support Worker
No two days are the same as a healthcare support worker. You’ll support patients through their treatment, sharing their experiences and making a real difference in their healthcare journey.
It’s a really special role where you’ll be part of a tight-knit team of healthcare professionals and have the privilege of sharing unique life experiences every day. With the ongoing support of your team, and our world-class training and development, you’ll be able progress your career into a variety of healthcare roles.
What matters most in this role is that you have a passion for helping others and enjoy working as part of a passionate team – the qualifications you may have are less important to us.
You’ll be working in a hands-on, fast-paced environment where communication is vital – nowhere else will a compassionate nature have such an impact.
Our Healthcare Support Worker Roles
Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker
A Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) is a core member of the team delivering personal care to patients and supporting registered practitioners to deliver high quality, compassionate care. They will carry out a range of non-clinical healthcare tasks, under the direct supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner. Their role is to provide compassionate care, to agreed quality standards and in accordance with Trust values. There will be opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills, specific to their individual needs. Training will be provided to ensure they have the required core skills and skills set specific to their area of work. They will also be supported to obtain their care certificate if they do not have this qualification
Band 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker
A Senior Health Care Support Worker (SHCSW) is a core member of the team delivering direct care to patients and supporting registered practitioners to deliver high quality, compassionate health care to people in accordance with assessed needs and a care plan. They will carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare, or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner, in accordance with the Trust values. There will be opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills, specific to your needs. Training will be provided to ensure they have the required core skills and skills set specific to your area of work. They will also be supported to obtain their care certificate if they do not have this qualification.
Band 2 Trainee Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Candidates identified at the recruitment stage with a level 3 qualification (or equivalent) and level 2 Maths and English, with no care experience, will be directed to undertake a training programme as a band 3 Trainee Senior Healthcare Support Worker Role. The training is designed to support ‘new to care’ candidates being fast tracked in 12 weeks into a band 3 role and therefore fully competent to work as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker.
Band 3 BANK Healthcare Support Worker
Candidates who are recruited into a UHBW Bank position will work against the Band 3 HCSW
job description on the UHBW Bank flexible workforce.
Our People
Click the videos below to find out more about the role of a Healthcare Support Worker
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Healthcare Support Workers at UHBW
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HEE Healthcare Support Worker
Where can a Healthcare Support Worker role take me?
Being a HCSW is a great starting point in the NHS. It will give you a taste of what a career in healthcare is really like, open your eyes to the different roles you might want to work towards and if you’re thinking about applying for one of our NHS apprenticeships, the skills and experience you’ll gain will help your application really stand out.
What if I have no Healthcare experience?
If you’re just starting out or are looking to change careers, you may be surprised to learn that you’ve probably already got lots of the skills we’re looking for. A caring and compassionate nature is essential to the role but you’ll also need to have good communication skills, be good at problem solving and also be able to make quick decision.
Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeships
Our HCSW apprenticeship is a very popular route into healthcare and we receive a large number of applications. To be shortlisted please ensure that you have completed the application form carefully. Candidates that show a patient focused approach and a desire to study healthcare in the supporting information are very likely to be shortlisted.
Our June HCSW Apprenticeship Applications are now live! Please follow the links below to apply
Bristol & Weston Adult Services HCSW Apprenticeship
Bristol Children’s Services HCSW Apprenticeships
What does the training involve?
You will receive training in the work place and off the job, and will be fully supported in your learning by Weston College. Apprenticeship contracts are fixed term for a period of 27 months (NVQ Level 3) if working full time. Previous healthcare experience is not required, but an interest in the role is essential as well as a caring, compassionate attitude. You will need to complete an online Numeracy and Literacy assessment to enable the college to fully support your learning.
When you have successfully completed all of the components of the apprenticeship within the agreed timescale, you will be guaranteed a permanent Healthcare Support Worker position with us at UHBW.
Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship Standards
Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Click here to find out more about our Apprenticeships
How to apply
Entry requirements and skills needed
There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare support worker, but good literacy and numeracy skills are expected, and in some cases GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths are required too. You may also need a healthcare qualification such as a BTEC or NVQ for some of our roles.
For some roles, some experience of healthcare or care work may be beneficial – this could be from paid or voluntary work, or through experience you bring in from previous roles.
But academic qualifications aren’t everything. You’ll also need to be caring, kind and willing to really get stuck into the role – it’s a hands-on environment where teamwork, communication and organisational skills are vital.
Click the links below to apply for a HCSW Role at UHBW.
Bristol Royal Infirmary – Adult HCSW
Weston General Hospital – Adult HCSW
Bristol Royal Childrens Hospital – Children’s HCSW
Once you are ready to apply for a role as a Healthcare Support Worker, it’s time to start thinking about what to include in your application:
Make sure your application reflects your personality. Remember, our healthcare support worker roles are less about your academic qualifications and more about you as a person.
Be sure to mention your communication, organisation and observation skills, as well as bringing to light your caring and compassionate nature.
Explain why you think you’re right for the role.
Talk about which of our values you feel most represent you.
Flag any relevant healthcare experience or life experience you may have.
Preparing for your Healthcare Support Worker interview
Remind yourself of the job description – and identify why you’re right for the role and why the role appeals to you.
Refresh your memory of UHBW’s values – so you’re able to show your interviewer you’ve got what they’re looking for.
Re-read what you wrote in your application – you may be asked questions about it.
Prepare some questions for your interviewer – to show you’re enthusiastic and switched on.
Plan your route – make a note of the date and time of your interview, and if you’re meeting them in person, plan the best way to get there.
Join our HCSW Bank
We truly value all of our Bank staff, providing them with development opportunities and flexible working patterns so they can create a career that works for them.
Due to a high volume of applications, we have currently paused our HCSW BANK Recruitment – please check back in May 2023 when our recruitment has resumed.