Healthcare Assistant - AMU

Job overview

We are currently seeking enthusiastic and motivated Band 3 Health Care Assistants to join our dynamic team within the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a vital role in delivering high standards of care in a fast-paced, ever-evolving clinical environment.

As a key member of the multidisciplinary team, you will work closely with nursing and medical staff to support patient care and contribute to efficient patient flow. The AMU is a high-turnover area, offering variety, challenge, and excellent learning experiences—no two days are the same.

From day one, you will have access to a wide range of learning, development, and training opportunities designed to support your professional growth. As you progress in your role, you will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients.

This role also offers the chance to learn and develop extended clinical skills, including venepuncture and cannulation, under appropriate supervision and training.

At Mid and South Essex, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive culture, where all staff are valued and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants who reflect our core values and who are committed to helping us further develop a diverse and talented workforce.

If you are compassionate, proactive, and ready to take the next step in your healthcare career, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 3 Health Care Assistant in the Acute Medical Unit, you’ll play a key role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care in a busy and fast-paced environment. Working as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you’ll help maintain patient flow and safety while developing valuable clinical skills.

Your day-to-day duties will be varied and rewarding. You’ll carry out clinical observations (including ECGs and urine testing), assist with patient transfers, and, with appropriate training, perform extended skills such as venepuncture and cannulation. You’ll also provide reassurance to patients and families and escalate any concerns about patient wellbeing.

We’re looking for someone who is kind, reliable, and eager to learn. You’ll need to be a good communicator, able to follow instructions, work well in a team, and use your initiative when needed.

This is an exciting opportunity to grow within a clinically rich environment, supported by colleagues who value development, teamwork, and putting patients first. If you're ready to make a difference, we’d love to welcome you to our team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What we Offer:

• - Range of opportunities for flexible working - Strong team ethos - NHS salary structure and pension - 27 days holiday plus days off for bank holidays worked - Enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours - Maternity, paternity and adoption leave - Childcare vouchers - Wide range of LGBTI+ initiatives - Health service discounts and online benefits - Health and wellbeing support - Discounts on public transport - Disability Confident Reasonable adjustment

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a ‘one workforce’ cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

Successful candidates to this role will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT. This includes development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as HCA App.

We look forward to your application. Please refer to attached Job Description in attached documents for full list of responsibilities.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.