Health Care Assistant - Trauma & Orthopaedics

Job summary
Full Time and Part Time Posts available for Ward 4F and Ward 3Alpha

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated individual to join the dedicated team of Nursing and Medical Staff within Trauma and Orthopaedics.

The Trauma & Orthopaedic Department work across both Whiston and St Helens Hospitals providing day case, in-patient and outpatient services to elective and non-elective patients. The Department is split over 3 wards - 3Alpha, 3B and 3Elective, and our outpatient Fracture Clinic all located in Whiston Hospital.

Ward 3Alpha is an 18 bedded ward dedicated to caring for patients with hip fractures, you with work very closely with the MDT consisting of dedicated Ortho-geriatricians, Orthopaedic Nurse Specialist, Discharge Co-Ordinator and ward based Therapy Staff.

Ward 4F Elective Orthopaedics is a dedicated 22 bedded elective ward caring for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery; the ward also facilitates a pre-operative education programme for patient known as joint school and runs a post-operative follow-up wound care clinic.

Main duties of the job
To work as part of the Nursing Team undertaking household support tasks and direct care tasks as delegated by the Nurse in Charge.

To support the qualified Nursing Staff in the maintenance of high standards of nursing care to patients.

To assist in providing an environment within the ward that is conductive to patient recovery and pleasant for patients and their families.

To accept responsibility for specifically delegated functions within the ward which the Nurse in Charge feels are appropriate for untrained staff to undertake.

To ensure where entries are made in nursing documentation, that these are correct, legible and comprehensive and countersigned by a registered nurse.

To understand and adhere to all Trust Policies.

To ensure the Health and Safety of patients, relatives and other staff is considered and not prejudiced by the post-holder at any time.

To ensure that privacy and dignity of patients is paramount and is not compromised.

To ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the Nurse in Charge.

To ensure that all patient care is delivered with the highest degree of professionalism.

To present an appearance which gives a positive image of the Trust and a manner which is appropriate and which inspires confidence.

To attend specifically fire and lifting and handling lectures annually and ensure appropriate updates are attended once H.C.A. training is complete.

About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.

Advertising date: 22nd September 2026
Closing date: 29th September 2026
Shortlisting date: 30th September 2026
Proposed Interview date: TBC
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills

Desirable

• NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
• Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
• Experience of working in a team

Desirable

• Experience of working in a patient care/health related role

Skills
Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a team
• Able to accept direction and guidance
• Aware of own limitations
• Flexible in working hours
• Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
• Reliable and professional
• Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
• Inclusive and non-judgmental
• Punctual, motivated and committed
• Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
• Basic IT skills

Other
Essential

• Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
• Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention.
• Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately.
• Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
• Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death.
• Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department.
• Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.