Job overview
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for you to build upon your experience of supporting people who have a diagnosis of Dementia.
A vacancy has arisen for a Dementia Specialist Support Worker based within the safeguarding and complex health team at Colchester Hospital.
You will be supported by and work alongside our Dementia Nurse specialist and will be expected to have direct patient contact in order to support understanding of activity and interventions which help patients during their time in hospital.
You will support the sharing of planned care interventions to help inpatient teams enable consistency of care. There will be some expectation that you will undertake short periods of enhanced one to one observations where these are required as a means of understanding if the strategies identified to reduce risk are help and will support work being undertaken to evaluate the service that is provided.
This will include data collection as part of an audit programme and involvement in understanding patient and carer experience.
The Dementia specialist support worker will also work with carers and families to signpost and referral for further support, encourage feedback and enable information sharing which will be helpful for the patients’ care.
PROVISIONAL INTERVIEW DATE: MONDAY, 22nd JUNE 2026
Main duties of the job
- To assist the Registered Clinicians to care for the patient who has a diagnosis of dementia to ensure their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs are met
- To ensure that all communication and care provision maintains the dignity and respect of all patients and their carers/relatives. In particular a compassionate approach to working with carers of people who have a diagnosis of Dementia.
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, visitors and other staff members at all times. Specifically, effective communication in relation to formulated care plans to support consistency in approaches to care and contact with families and carers to support and signpost to external services.
- To assist the wider MDT with clinical procedures, acting as a chaperone if necessary. This will involve reviewing use of assessment tools as identified within care plans and feeding back to the Dementia Specialist as required to assess outcomes.
- To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.
- Deal with external and internal queries. This may include providing complex or sensitive non clinical information or advice to patients or relatives.
- Use initiative to deal with routine and some non-routine problems that may arise, and only exceptionally refer more complex issues to the appropriate person
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in an health setting
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of Dementia
Desirable
- Experience within an acute setting
Qualifications
Essential
- Care certificate achieved
- Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
- Willingness to undertake further study
- Evidence of Dementia specific training undertaken
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Awareness of the physical, mental, emotional impact of Dementia for patients and their carers/families
- Awareness and experience of undertaking care interventions which specifically focus on supporting the needs of people with Dementia
- Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients 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
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Ability to support junior staff members
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Dementia Specialist Support Worker with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 02 Jul 2026.
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