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Job overview
The opportunity has arisen for motivated and enthusiastic healthcare support workers to join the team in paediatric services. Our service encompasses ward C2, paediatric oncology and haematology, ward D2 surgical and medical paediatrics, ward C3 surgical and medical care for the under three’s and ward F3 our surgical and short stay admissions ward. We provide family centred care for both our local CUH population and also as a specialist centre for the region. You will be assisting the nursing medical and other allied health professionals to deliver high standards of holistic care to the children and young people that access our services.
You will already have experience working with children and young people and be ready to transfer these existing skills. You will need to have good communication skills and organisational skills. You will always be striving to promote and maintain a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment for our patients and their families / carers. Once deemed competent you will be able to work without direct supervision using your experience and knowledge to deliver the highest quality care.
Main duties of the job
- Participate in personal and practice development activities to maintain standards of care
- Work as part of the multidisciplinary team delivering care to patients. Support and supervision is provided by a Registered practitioner.
- The Healthcare Support Worker carries out a range of patient care tasks and duties to enable the team to provide an effective and efficient service.
- To achieve this, the Health Care Support Worker will:
- Competently perform the necessary aspects of care for patients
- Ensure effective delivery of nursing care is provided to patients and that an acceptable standard is maintained.
- Follow all Cambridge University Hospitals NHS foundation trust policies and provide a safe and person-centred environment for the treatment of patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities
in order to start in this role as a Band 3 there is a requirement that the National Care certificate (NCC) has been completed alongside a practical/ in -person competency booklet. Successful candidates that are unable to evidence completion of these requirements will start in the role at a Band 2 and therefore will not be eligible for sponsorship. Successful candidates that are able to provide this evidence may be permitted to commence at a Band 3. Starting salary and eligibility for sponsorship, if requested, will be considered at conditional offer.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: - applied for a Graduate visa - or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close on 2nd August 2026 or once it reaches 50 applications
Interviews are due to be held on 17th August 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills (written and verbal).
- Able to work as a team.
- Able to carry out well defined routine tasks.
- Able to work on own initiative, following direction/supervision by a Registered Healthcare Practitioner.
- Able to relate well with patients/relatives/ visitors/colleagues/the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust staff.
- Committed to delivering high standards of patient care.
- Friendly, open, empathetic and compassionate.
- Professional outlook and positive attitude. Able to meet the flexible needs of the role and duty roster.
Desirable
- Prepared to undertake coaching role for other HCSW’s.
- IT skills.
Knowledge
Essential
- Understands the job role and specific knowledge in relation to tasks included in the job description or be prepared to undertake training to be able to gain appropriate knowledge.
- Understand the level of competencies to be completed such as wound observation and dressings, venepuncture, removal of peripheral cannula, stoma bag changing, ECG’s and reports any issues to the Registered practitioner.
- Have the knowledge to or be prepared to undertake training to be able to complete clinical and vital signs observations on patients.
- Understands and complies with HCSW mandatory induction standards and code of conduct.
- Awareness, understanding and compliance of policies and practices e.g. Escort Policy, Prevention and control of infection and Health and Safety.
- Promote the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
- Recognise the extent and limitations of own and others competence.
- Use own initiative recognising when to escalate concerns to a senior member of staff.
- Understands the importance of consistently providing individualised care based on current research and evidence.
- Demonstrate awareness of the needs of area specific patient group.
- Understanding of the anxiety and distress of some patients and relatives.
- Basic anatomy and physiology.
Desirable
- Awareness of National and local priorities and initiatives.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in an environment under pressure.
- Experience of working within a team.
- Experience of communicating with individuals from a range of different backgrounds.
- Experience of attention to detail – e.g. for recording in patient records.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a health care environment.
- Experience working in a healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact.
Qualifications
Essential
- Holds National Care Certificate or willingness to undertake within the first 3 months of appointment
- Holds Functional Skills Level 1 Maths and English or GCSE equivalent or undertake and achieve a pass following completion of level 1 functional skills assessment .
- Demonstrates a commitment to further learning and development.
Desirable
- Level 3 award in health care.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Healthcare Support Worker - Childrens Services with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,272 - £27,476 pa pro rata. The contract type is Permanent: Full Time or Part Time/ Flexible working hours may be considered.. The application deadline is 02 Aug 2026.
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