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Job summary

Main area
Surgery
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (days and nights)
Job ref
409-7815171
Employer
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital
Town
Southport
Salary
£25,272 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Health Care Assistant - Short Stay Surgical Unit

NHS AfC: Band 2

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has risen within our surgical unit. We are a 24hr fast moving and challenging unit, caring for a wide variety of general surgery, colorectal and urology patients who often have a variety of complex health needs.

The ward is a 27 bedded unit consisting of 21 inpatient beds and 6 surgical assessment unit.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a HCA who is committed, motivated, and ready to be challenged and willing to engage. Experience within a surgical care environment would be an advantage but not essential. 

We can offer you:
- Excellent opportunities for professional development
- Clinical supervision (under the Senior Nursing Team)
- To be part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

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. 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.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Advertising date: 20th April 2026

Closing date: 26th April 2026

Shortlisting date: W/C 27th April 2026

Proposed Interview date: 8th May 2026 (TBC)

Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
  • Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
  • Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
  • Experience of working in a team
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a patient care/health related role

Skills

Essential criteria
  • 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 criteria
  • 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

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Nursing TimesApprenticeships logoDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardNavajo - Merseyside and CheshireCare quality commission - OutstandingDying to Work CharterStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingNHS Rainbow Badge - BronzeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPeople Promise

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Karen West
Job title
Ward Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01704704502
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