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Health Care Support Worker
The closing date is 02 June 2026
We are seeking an enthusiastic Health Care Assistant (HCA) to join our team as a Band3 HCA. In this role, you will be a valued and integral member of the Childrens Diabetes Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), undertaking delegated tasks to support high quality paediatric diabetes care. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people aged 0-19 years living with diabetes across our locality.
We are a progressive and passionate team who continue to develop and adapt delivery of care in line with our local and National diabetes colleagues, adapting our MDT approach ensuring that we continue to deliver a service that truly changes lives and improves outcomes for our young people. This role offers a chance to grow and develop the role to continue to deliver compassion, curiosity and commitment to a role and service in making a difference.
As our service develops, elements of the role description may be open to consultation to reflect new ways of working and emerging best practice. This creates a unique opportunity for the post holder to help shape the future of the role, contributing to a service that values growth, adaptability, and meaningful impact.
You will work within a friendly and dynamic team comprising a Band 7 Lead Nurse, Band 6 Diabetes Nurse Specialists, and dedicated administrative colleagues. We also work closely with a wider MDT including dietitians, psychologists, and diabetes specialist consultants.
Main duties of the job
- Support the MDT Provide day to day support to the multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes team, delivering a high quality service to children, young people, and their families. This includes offering supervised advice to help optimise blood glucose control and promote healthy physical, psychological, intellectual, educational, and social development within outpatient settings. Base location can be discussed upon successful appointment.
- Contribute to care frameworks Assist in maintaining a robust and effective framework that meets the clinical and developmental needs of children and young people with diabetes.
- Communicate effectively Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, communicating, liaising, and collaborating effectively with a wide range of professionals across the MDT and wider services.
- Promote positive experiences Uphold a commitment to ensuring a positive, supportive, and compassionate hospital experience for all children, young people, families, and carers.
- Use IT and digital tools Utilise good IT skills and maintain awareness of digital health platforms relevant to diabetes care, supporting accurate documentation and effective communication.
- Adapt to service needs Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in response to changing situations, service needs, and clinical environments.
- Support diabetes education Assist in preparing and delivering diabetes education sessions, including developing resources, organising materials, and booking venues.
About us
We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients’ homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
You must produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
Job responsibilities
We are seeking a dynamic and driven individual to join our Childrens Diabetes Team and support the delivery of high quality diabetes care pathways. This role is ideal for someone eager to learn, motivated to understand the impact of diabetes on children and young people, and committed to working alongside families to help each child reach their full potential.
- Support diabetes care pathways Assist the team in delivering safe, effective, and compassionate diabetes care for children and young people across outpatient settings.
- Learn and develop Build knowledge and confidence in paediatric diabetes, gaining insight into how the condition affects physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.
- Work collaboratively with families Engage with children, young people, and their families to support their understanding, confidence, and ability to manage diabetes day to day.
The post holder will play a key role in delivering outpatient care in line with local and national guidelines, working collaboratively with the MDT. Under appropriate supervision direct or indirect you will support the delivery of all planned care activities.
This is a 30 hour per week position and requires the ability to travel independently across the Trust’s main sites. It is essential that applicants have access to a suitable vehicle to meet the travel requirements of the role.
We are also open to considering a job share arrangement between two HCAs, depending on applications received. This would support flexible base working across both South sites (Darlington and Bishop Auckland) and North sites (Chester-le-Street and University Hospital of North Durham).
If this description resonates with you, we would be delighted to hear from you. For informal enquiries, please contact Alison Stelling, Lead Children’s Diabetes Specialist Nurse, on 07827254395 or via email at astelling@nhs.net.
Please note that this position requires an enhanced DBS check.
Special Requirements
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others
- skills
- Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change
- Driving posts must have valid Full UK driving licence
- Be able to offer pastoral care to mentors and students when providing feedback on performance
Special Skills & Knowledge
- Good verbal and written command of
- Ability to act upon own initiative.
- Able to work under some pressure.
- Ability to show leadership
- Ability to plan own work.
- Ability to work calmly under pressure
- Willing to take and record patient observations
- Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation
Experience
- Ability to learn new skills
- Previous experience in caring for others
Qualifications
- Care Certificate or willingness to complete within first 6 months of commencement in post
- GCSE equivalent in English and Mathematics
- Short courses relevant to undertake patient and clinical care duties
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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