Healthcare Support Worker - Leg Ulcer Clinic

Job summary

We are looking to appoint a Health Care Support Assistant who is enthusiastic, motivated with a passion for caring to join our dedicated Team at the Leg Ulcer Service.

The service covers 7 clinic locations across West and East Somerset including Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea, Taunton, Wellington, Minehead, Wells and Shepton Mallett. You will be expected to cover all 7 clinic locations.

Main roles include:

Welcoming patients from the waiting area and assisting them promptly

Removing bandages, providing skin care, applying emollient creams, and re-dressing wounds as needed

Applying compression garments to support wound healing

Assisting the Registered Nurse with the daily operations and smooth running of the clinic

Stock monitoring and placing orders as needed

As a health care Assistant you will work as part of a large multidisciplinary team and will play a key role in delivering the fundamentals of care for patients under the supervision of a nurse, whilst supporting patients to achieve the shared goals. Individuals should be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills who are willing to learn and take on new challenges as the service develops.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

Experience of working in a care setting would be advantageous but all necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post will be provided.

Full details of duties can be found in the job description.

Please be advised - this vacancy may close early if we reach a sufficient amount of applications.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax

A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good standard of literacy and numeracy (Minimum Level 1 or Functional Skills)

Level 2 QCF /NVQ in Health and Social Care or be working towards this

Willing to work towards the Care Certificate

Experience

Essential

Understanding of the health or social care setting

Understanding of the concept of promoting independence

Desirable

Previous experience of working in a health or social care setting or undertaking a caring role

Previous experience of working within a Leg Ulcer Clinic or Tissue Viability Service

Additional Criteria

Essential

Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic

Listens to others' views, respecting and valuing individual patient needs

Understanding of adopting a patient focussed approach

Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients

Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations and take action within sphere of competence

Ability to record and retrieve information on charts/paper and electronic patient records

Good verbal communication skills with an ability to provide and receive routine information

Exchanges factual information with patients using reassurance, tact and empathy

May overcome barriers to understanding i.e. physical/mental disabilities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

For help with your application, contact:

Catherine Cooper

[email protected]

07753349963