Apprentice health care support worker and health care support worker

Job overview

We are looking for people like you to join us to support and care for our patients who are suffering from a wide range of mental health conditions, that have required them to have an inpatient hospital stay on our mental health units.

We have two opportunities available (dependent on experience) to join us on either  Arden Ward, Stockport or CAMHS inpatient unit, Bury.

1. Apprentice Health Care Support Worker – This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to start their career in health care. You will receive on-the-job training and development while working alongside experienced healthcare professionals.  You’ll work towards achieving your level 2 health care support worker apprenticeship or level 3 senior health care support worker apprenticeship.  You have the potential to enable you to move from Apprentice to a permanent (Band 3).  You will progress from Apprentice to Band3 on successful completion of the care certificate, Level 2 apprenticeship in care (to include your end point assessment) and if required, functional skills Level 2 in English and Maths

2. Health Care Support Worker – If you already have your level 3 vocational qualification in care or demonstrable equivalent relevant experience to this level in healthcare and are looking to build your skills further, this role allows you to make a direct impact by providing person-centered care in a variety of settings.

We will be holding an application and information session on Wednesday 9th April. To register click here.

Main duties of the job

When you join us you will spend the first six weeks on our HCSW induction programme which will help you develop initial skills that you need to do the role, giving you the confidence to join your ward based team and care for our patients.

You will be supported, nurtured, and developed along the way by our dedicated education team.  Once you have completed your initial 6 weeks training, and believe us it will fly by, you will then join your inpatient ward -based teams.

Our inpatient wards don’t close, so as you would expect, we do work on a shift basis – our patients need our care and attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; so everyone gets involved working different shifts to ensure our patients receive the very best, this can include, but not limited to earlies, lates, afternoons, long days, short days, nights, weekends, bank holidays.

You will be an active, inclusive member of our multidisciplinary ward based team.  You will have the most direct patient contact out of staff on the ward & engage with the patients on a 1-1 basis or in groups.  You will take the time to get to know our patients and engage them in their own care.

You will champion life long learning & engage in learning and development opportunities and grow through self reflection.

From health care support worker, you may then want to progress on to our Trainee Nurse associate (TNA) programme & from there on to our Registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). The NHS is your oyster!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Important information

The apprenticeship post will be paid under Annex 21 Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees.

In your first year of your apprenticeship, your salary will be £14,119.80 per annum. This is paid at the  apprentice rate.

In year two your salary will be £19,255.50 per annum, pro rata.

Once you have completed all apprenticeship requirements your salary will be £24,625 per annum pro rata.

If you have already achieved your level 3 vocational qualification in care, along with English and maths GCSE at Grade E or above, annex 21 will not apply and you will commence on Band 3 £24,625 per annum pro rata.

Due to UK apprenticeship funding eligibility guidelines, you need to have been a resident in the UK for more than 3 years in order to commence on the apprenticeship programme.

This role does not meet the salary requirements for sponsorship, therefore we will be unable to offer sponsorship.  You must have valid right to work in the UK.

Hints and Tips!

When completing your application form, read the attached job description and person specification, which can be found in the documents to download section below.

Use your supporting information section of your application to give examples of how you demonstrate each of the essential and where possible the desirable criteria, as this is ultimately what you'll be shortlisted against.

You must have as a minimum, GCSE (or equivalent if studied outside UK) with grade E (2/3) or above in English and Maths or functional skills level 1 to be eligible for shortlisting. You will be asked to provide your certificates at interview.

Where will I be working?

Applicants must be 18 years and over to work on our inpatient units.

Vacancies are in the below two locations only.

Arden Ward.   Adult acute in-patient ward for males between the ages of 18-65.

CAMHS inpatient, Fairfield general hospital, Bury.  Young people (13-18yrs).

Please research the ward, patient group and the role of a support worker within mental health  inpatient wards prior to applying.

Please only apply if you have the motivation to work with the patient type and in the locations specified above.

Assessment Centre Details

An assessment centre will take place on 22nd April 2025 only. No alternative dates are available.  Candidates who wish to apply for this role must make sure they are available on this day

The start date for successful applicants is Monday 7th July 2025. We request that no  annual leave is taken during the first 6 weeks of training.  Training is delivered at Horton House Oldham, Outram Road Dukinfield.