Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Healthcare Support Worker – Colchester
The closing date is 25 June 2026
Do you want to be part of a team who have an excellent reputation for delivering a high standard of care with innovative working in a rapidly changing environment?
We are currently recruiting for Senior Healthcare Support Workers across Colchester General Hospital, including Surgical, Medical and Care of the Elderly wards.
We welcome applications from individuals with prior NHS healthcare experience.
As a Senior Healthcare Support Worker, you are required to work a rota pattern and be able to work a variety of shifts, including days, nights and weekends and Bank Holidays such as Christmas Day.
If you like a challenge, are able to work at a very fast pace, enjoy working with a multi-disciplinary team and can give our patients the dignified care they deserve, then this could be the job for you.
Previous NHS Experience & NHS Care Certificate is required for this role.
Main duties of the job
- Assist the Registered Nurses to care for the patient to ensure their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs are met
- Assist the patient to perform activities of daily living in accordance with their plan of care, e.g. personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, feeding, oral hydration, positioning, mouth‑care etc
- Perform and accurately record clinical observations as required and report changes to the Registered Nurse immediately
- Ensure own infection control practice is in line with Trust Infection Control policies, including approved hand‑washing technique
- Challenge those not following recognised infection control procedures when witnessed
- Maintain the dignity and respect of all patients and their carers/relatives in all communication and care provision
- Welcome patients and visitors to the ward, ensuring they are orientated and aware of hospital routines and facilities
- Communicate effectively with patients, carers, visitors and other staff members at all times
- Promote high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and safety within the ward/department environment
- Maintain equipment ensuring that it is clean and ready for use & report if not in good working order
- Clean and prepare areas for new admissions/transfers
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
Person Specification
Experience
- Previous experience in an healthcare setting
- Experience within an acute care setting
Knowledge
- Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patient’s relatives and carers
- Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs
- Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling
Qualifications
- Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent
- Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
- Willingness to undertake further study
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exempt 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.
Salary and benefits
£25,760 to £27,476 a year pro rata, per annum + unsocial hours payments
#J-18808-Ljbffr…