Senior Health Care Assistant

Senior Health Care Assistant

Closing date: 22 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Health Care Assistant at Charlton Lane Hospital. Willow Ward is a 16‑bedded ward for predominantly older adults with an organic mental illness.

It would be desirable for the post holder to have experience in caring for elderly, facilitation of positive engagement and activities with people with dementia. The successful candidate would be supported by the unit manager in taking mandatory, statutory and dementia training. Upon commencing your post, you will participate in a comprehensive trust and unit induction which ensures that you feel skilled and supported to undertake this challenging job.

The posts are funded at 37.5 hours per week (full time) and involve a 7.5‑hour rotational shift system. Flexible working arrangements will be considered; any request will be set against genuine operational requirements and limitations and it is not obligatory for a manager to accede to the request.

If you do not hear from us within three weeks of the closing date you have probably not been shortlisted. We are sorry we are unable to let you know the outcome of your application.

As a Health Care Assistant / Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care services to patients and service users within a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. You will follow the guidance set out in the Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants / Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.

You will receive direct supervision and partake in reflective practice / training on a regular basis and be required to meet the Care Certificate standards. All successful applicants will also have the opportunity to discuss the prospect of undertaking a Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship alongside their substantive post. This apprenticeship would include the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5,000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services across 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust. Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us.

In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question. 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.

81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%. This high‑level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. We also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas.

To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top‑quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

• On a daily basis assist qualified staff in the provision of care as detailed in individual care plans and undertake tasks that facilitate the smooth running of the ward, as directed by qualified staff, and liaise with other departments to ensure the ward environment is safe and welcoming (e.g. Hotel Services).
• Assist with the giving of medication and medical dressings; holding the pagers for first response; preparing for admissions; escort and driving duties.
• Provide necessary physical care to patients to help them complete daily living activities: personal hygiene, diet and fluid intake, clothing and…