Senior Health Care Assistant - Neurosciences

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 HCA Assistant to join our Haematology Services at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We are seeking motivated, compassionate, and enthusiastic individuals to join the team on Chartwell Haematology Day Unit.

The Department of Haematological Medicine is one of the UK's leading centres for the diagnosis, treatment, and support of patients with both malignant and non-malignant blood disorders, including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, aplastic anaemia, MDS, and sickle cell disease.

Note: Advert may close early if we have received sufficient number of applications.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 3 Senior HCA, you will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care. You will support registered nurses in providing safe and effective care to patients receiving specialist treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood products, and supportive therapies.

Your role will include assisting with personal care, monitoring and recording observations, undertaking delegated clinical duties, maintaining accurate documentation, and supporting patient admissions and discharges. You will also provide day-to-day support and guidance to Band 2 HCA's, acting as a positive role model and contributing to the smooth running of the ward. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication and organisational skills, a commitment to patient safety, and a passion for delivering compassionate care while upholding the Trust's values and standards.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King’s Strategy – 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.  Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King’s, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties

• To assist patients with activities of daily living whilst encouraging independence, as appropriate 
• Demonstrate encourage and assist patients in undertaking therapeutic activities within parameters of agreed care plans and under guidance of registered practitioners 
• To monitor and record patient’s clinical observations, escalating appropriately to a registered nurse as required
• To assist with patient nutritional needs – eating, drinking, menu selection, meal delivery and special diets according to the individual patient’s needs 
• To assist in the maintenance of up to date, comprehensive and accurate records in accordance with current legal requirements both written and digital 
• Support enhanced care in line with trust Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care Policy
• To assist in the admission and discharge of patients including any necessary risk assessments
• To escort patients and families to other departments within the hospital as required 
• Undertake electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and point of care testing (e.g. blood sugar, urinalysis)
• After appropriate training, to assist in the collection of specimens including blood samples (including fixed central lines and established arterial lines – specialist areas only) 
• After appropriate training, carry out cannulation if required in the clinical setting 
• After appropriate training, remove urinary catheters; empty drainage bags and accurately measure and record urinary output 
• After appropriate training carry out simple wound dressings and assist in obtaining wound swabs
• To participate in maintaining standards of hygiene, cleanliness and infection control, reporting problems as appropriate.
• To ensure that equipment is clean at all times, stored safely when not in use and report faults as appropriate 
• To assist in setting up and preparing patient areas appropriately to the clinical area (this may include the set up and calibration of devices e.g. ventilators, pumps – after appropriate training) 
• To ensure that stock levels of linen, sterile supplies and stationery are maintained at all times in conjunction with the senior sister/ward receptionist.
• To assist in the maintenance and safekeeping of patient’s property in line with Trust policy 
• To assist ward staff with general collection/delivery of items necessary to ensure effective operational management of ward/department 
• To assist in performing the last offices as requested 
• To ensure that all patients and relatives are welcomed and orientated to the ward environment 
• To assist with the care of distressed or bereaved relatives 
• To demonstrate an awareness of the different cultural, ethnic and religious needs 
• To participate effectively in multidisciplinary case conferences as required

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Completed Care Certificate
• Completed Trust Band 2 Competency document (internal candidates only).

Desirable criteria

• Functional Skills Level 2 in Numeracy and Literacy or GCSEs Maths and English Grades A-C
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate with the multi-disciplinary team, update others in the team and use handover effectively.
• Able to talk to people about sensitive issues in a supportive manner but also challenge others assertively where necessary
• Demonstrate excellent time management skills.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience within a care setting/environment.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include. They shouldn’t however replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience 

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications