Healthcare Support Worker

Job description

Job OverviewThe Band 3 Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) is a key member of the Hospital at Home team, supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality, acute-level care to adults in their own homes within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Working on a 7‐day, 12‐hour rotating shift pattern, the postholder works under the direction and supervision of the Band 6 Senior Nurse (on shift), providing delegated clinical support, personal care, and a defined portfolio of enhanced clinical skills.

Detailed Job Description And Main ResponsibilitiesPatient Safety

Work under the supervision and formal delegation of the Band 6 Senior Nurse on shift, never acting independently outside verified competency portfolio.

Act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England (Skills for Health 2013) and CNWL SCARF values.

Safeguard frail older adults and others at risk by recognising and responding when a patient or carer may be at risk of abuse, neglect, or harm during home visits; recognise limits of the HCSW role and escalates all safeguarding concerns immediately to the supervising Band 6.

Escalate safety concerns — including deteriorating observations, abnormal NEWS2 scores, changes in patient presentation, home environment hazards, and patient or carer distress — promptly and without hesitation.

Activate the CNWL lone worker device before every home visit, complete a basic home‐environment risk assessment for each new patient, and report any safety concerns to the Band 6 on shift.

Report all incidents via Datix in line with CNWL PSIRF policy; identify areas for safety or quality improvement and raise these with the Band 6 or Band 7.

Maintain accurate, legible, and contemporaneous care records on S1 / Docabode at the point of care during every home visit, in line with CNWL documentation policy.

Maintain full compliance with all mandatory and statutory training requirements, including annual reassessment of the four enhanced clinical skills: phlebotomy, female catheterisation, 12‐lead ECG acquisition, and bladder scanning.

Clinical Outcomes

Provide skilled, evidence‐based delegated care — including vital signs recording, personal care, wound care, medication administration, phlebotomy, ECG acquisition, bladder scanning, and catheter care — adhering to CNWL policies, the Hillingdon HaH SOP, and each patient's individual care plan.

Work with patients, families, and the registered nursing team to support all stages of the care delivery process, including reporting observations that contribute to risk assessment, care plan review, and NEWS2‐guided escalation decisions.

Act as a patient advocate within the Hospital at Home multidisciplinary team, ensuring the patient's voice, preferences, and concerns are communicated clearly to the supervising clinician.

Operate effectively as a member of the virtual ward team, implementing care plans and clinical directives overseen by the Band 6, Band 7, and Senior Clinical Decision Maker (Consultant Geriatrician).

Contribute to a high‐performing virtual ward team by communicating clearly with all team members at handover and throughout the shift; understand specific role within the HaH staffing model and how it supports safe virtual bed management; reflect regularly on own clinical practice; identify ways to improve the quality of delegated care.

Patient Experience

Work in genuine partnership with patients, families, and carers during every home visit, treating each patient with dignity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity in line with CNWL values.

Gain consent before every clinical intervention and involve patients in decisions about the care being delivered, supporting the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Signpost patients and carers to supportive services (GP practices, community nursing, social care, local authority support services, and voluntary sector organisations) as directed by the supervising Band 6.

Reassure patients and carers by being professional, calm, responsive, and knowledgeable; provide clear explanations of tasks.

Escalate patient complaints or concerns effectively, promptly, and in line with CNWL complaints policy; never attempt to manage a formal complaint independently.

Benefits

Agenda for Change pay.

Generous NHS pension scheme.

Minimum 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising with length of service).

Flexible working opportunities and support for work‐life balance.

Access to the CNWL Staff Health and Wellbeing programme, including free staff counselling, physiotherapy, and occupational health services.

Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan.

Access to NHS discounts, including Blue Light Card.

Comprehensive induction programme and role‐specific training.

Support for continuing professional development and career progression within CNWL and the wider NHS.

Regular supervision, appraisal, and a personal development plan.

A supportive, values‐driven team committed to making a difference for the people of Hillingdon.

Person SpecificationEducation and Qualifications

Numeracy and literacy skills required to keep accurate records and administer medicines (if appropriate).

Spoken and written English, to an appropriate standard.

NVQ L3 or equivalent (desirable).

Care Certificate (or commitment to complete within 3 months of commencement in post) (desirable).

Previous Experience

Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team.

Experience of working with the general public and communicating with a range of different people.

Previous experience of working in a fast‐paced environment.

Previous experience of working within a customer‐focused environment.

Healthcare/NHS or similar experience in community or hospital settings (desirable).

Experience in a caring role (desirable).

Volunteer sector experience (desirable).

Previous experience in a mental health setting or working with adults suffering from mental health problems (desirable).

Skills and Knowledge

Able to communicate with the multidisciplinary team, update others in the team, and use handover effectively (face‐to‐face and by telephone).

Maintain accurate, timely, concise and legible clinical records both electronic and handwritten, adhering to CNWL policies.

Maintain electronic patient records; use Microsoft Word to draft letters and reports.

Able to work under own initiative but follow the directions of care plans and Band 4 staff or registered nurses.

Obtain consent and understand how the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards impacts work and the people you are working with.

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for Health Care and Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.

Contribute to the implementation of care plans by helping to assess patients, develop, implement and evaluate a care plan.

Basic knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983 (desirable).

Attitudes, Aptitudes, Personal Characteristics

Compassionate for the people who use our services, their families and carers, and other staff.

Respectful of others and genuinely treating them how you would want to be treated.

Able and willing to work with service users, family and carers, and other staff in a way which empowers and supports others and makes them feel better about themselves.

Able and willing to work in partnership with service users, their friends and family as well as other health‐care professionals.

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Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Uxbridge

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

26-05-2026

Profession type

Counselling and Social Services

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English