Job summary
- Main area
- General Surgery
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Long days and Night duties)
- Job ref
- 220-WHT-3401
- Employer
- Whittington Health NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Whittington Hospital
- Town
- Islington
- Salary
- £30,546 - £32,207 Per Annum Including HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/09/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 25/09/2025
Employer heading

Healthcare Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Covid-19 Vaccination
Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.
Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust.
For our current apprenticeship vacancies, please go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship and use Keyword ‘Whittington’
By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Job overview
Mercer's ward is an 18-beded general surgical ward specialising in Colorectal, Bariatric and Spinal surgery. W e are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic Health Care Assistant to join our our friendly and supportive team.
The role involves supporting the qualified nurses in all aspects of patient care from admission through to discharge. Applicants are required to be flexible, willing to learn new skills and have excellent communications skills.
Main duties of the job
Treat all patients with dignity, respect and discretion, maintaining their confidentiality.
Ensure that patients’ personal hygiene requirements are met. This will include assisting with washes, bed bathing, assisting patients to use the shower and bath, providing mouth care and cleaning dentures.
Promote continence by ensuring that patient’s toilet needs are met. This will include the giving and taking away of bedpans and urinals, emptying catheter bags, bowel and stoma care.
Take and record observations of patients’ temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. To monitor patients’ blood sugars. Any abnormalities to be reported to the qualified nurse.
Carry out routine urine testing, record results and report any abnormalities.
Collect blood and urine specimens and label as required.
Undertake phlebotomy after training.
Perform E.C.G’s after training.
assess pressure areas and skin integrity and report to a qualified nurse
Be able to prepare a patient safely for surgery and to escort them to theatre
Working for our organisation
Equal Opportunities
It is the aim of the Trust to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less than favourable treatment on grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, creed, religion, physical disability, mental health, learning difficulty, age or sexual orientation and is not placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end the Trust has an equal opportunities policy and it is for each employee to contribute to its success. The hospital has a single equality scheme, which underpins its duty to promote equality. You can access a copy of the scheme on the trust's website
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. The post holder will have an NVQ level 3 in care or equivalent, and have a minimum of two years experience in an acute setting.
2. The post holder will work as part of the ward team under the supervision of registered nurses, and will support them by participating in the delivery of patient care.
3. The post holder will be expected to be self-motivated and use their initiative when necessary.
3. The post holder will undertake the hospital’s in house training for Health Care Assistants and will maintain an agreed level of competence.
4. The post holder will work internal rotation to meet the needs of the service.
5. The post holder will be expected to assist with the induction, supervision and
training of Band 2 Health Care Assistants.
6. It is expected that the post holder will be able to carry out all of the duties listed
in the main duty section below. No duties are to be undertake by the post holder unless they have received the appropriate training or instruction.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- NVQ in care Level 3 or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- post holder will undertake the hospital’s in house training for Health Care Assistants and will maintain an agreed level of competence.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to carry out care duties
- Ability to communicate with clarity both orally and in writing
- Computer skills
Desirable criteria
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge and Experince
Essential criteria
- Has a minimum of two years acute experience
Desirable criteria
- Have an understanding of the need for maintaining dignity, privacy and confidentiality
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Self motivated to develop skills and knowledge
- Ability to work under pressure
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates flexible and positive approach.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Suzette Bertram
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0207 2883233
- Additional information
Contact Mercer's ward on 0207 2885481 for an informal visit
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