Senior Healthcare Assistant
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has become available to join our diverse Ophthalmology team as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker. If you are looking for a fast paced, varied role, utilising excellent communication and patient assessment skills, this could be the role for you.It is a patient focussed position, working within a large team, supporting patients of all ages including paediatrics and adults. We are looking for a motivated individual, who leads by example, has high standards and offers excellent patient care.
Main duties of the job
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities.We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Our service runs 6 days, Monday - Saturday. Our full time workers enjoy a good work life balance with a 4 day week across the 6 days. This position is based in Southampton eye unit and can include occasional off site working at our eye clinics held in Lymington.
The candidate will need to have a Level 3 qualification in healthcare. The role includes but is not limited to, assessing patients visual acuity, understanding the patients pathway, assessing patients holistic needs and planning care as required, instillation of eye drops, cannulation and venesection, supporting and assisting with some specialised paediatric and adult clinics, carrying out some imaging assessments.Previous ophthalmic experience is not essential, however a devotion to learn and develop is paramount.
As a team we focus on teaching and supporting all new starters, who are provided with buddies to support on the job training.
All applicants would need to be flexible, empathetic, and passionate. The ability to work well within a team and also independently is required. We look forward to your applications.
Person specification
Qualifications / training required
Essential criteria- NVQ 3 in health and social care or equivalent
- Numeracy and Literacy skills at level 1 or 2 or equivalent
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential criteria- Proven experience in a caring role
- Understanding of an acute hospital setting and the role of the SHCA
- Previous HCA experience
- Previous experience of working with the general public
Aptitudes and skills required
Essential criteria- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Ability to communicate with a wide range of people
- Ability to work as a team member
- Ability to work under own initiative
- Willingness to undertake further education and training
- Able to take instruction/direction as required
Trust Values
Essential criteria- Patient First
- Working Together
- Always Improving
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.
For more information about our Trust
https://careers.uhs.nhs.uk
Getting to work - our travel promise
Getting to work should be as easy as possible and that’s why we have introduced the UHS travel promise – a commitment from the Trust that we will provide reasonable travel options for every member of staff. Every member of staff can apply for a permit to use our park & ride facility.Eligibility for on-site parking is dependent on the nature and requirement of the role. All staff can also access a range of discounted benefits relating to travel including reduced price bus tickets, purchase of salary sacrifice bikes and ultra-low emission cars.
Our commitment to equality
Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.
UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.
How and why we use your information
The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.
The European General Data Protection Regulations enhances individuals’ rights and safeguards all of their data in place under the DPA.
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