Healthcare Support Worker - Emergency Department
Closing date is 22 April 2026.
Our Emergency Department is a fast‑paced, varied, and highly rewarding environment, looking for skilled, compassionate individuals who are ready to thrive in our emergency services. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your clinical skills, expand your knowledge, and make a meaningful contribution within a dedicated multidisciplinary team.
We provide flexible working patterns to suit your lifestyle, including day shifts, nights, and long shifts, with both full‑time and part‑time roles available.
In this role, you will use your existing experience to support patients with a wide range of urgent and emergency needs, playing an important part in delivering high‑quality care alongside a supportive team.
We are committed to your development and progression, offering:
* A comprehensive induction and ongoing clinical skills training
* Mentorship from experienced nurses and clinicians
* Clear career pathways into Senior HCSW roles, Nursing Associate training, and Registered Nursing
Main duties
We care for patients with a wide range of conditions, providing excellent opportunities to develop strong clinical skills, broaden your knowledge, and work closely with a multidisciplinary team.
On joining us, you will play a key role in patient care, working closely with nurses and clinicians across the department.
Your main duties include, although are not limited to:
* Supporting patients with personal care, including washing, dressing, toileting, and mobility
* Promoting patient comfort, dignity, and emotional wellbeing
* Supporting patients’ families and carers, where appropriate
* Assisting with nutrition and hydration, including meal support and fluid balance monitoring
* Monitoring and recording observations, as required (temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure)
* Maintaining a clean, safe, and well‑organised care environment
* Observing and reporting changes in patients’ condition to the registered nursing staff
* Assisting nurses and other clinicians with clinical tasks and procedures within scope of practice
* Accurately documenting care in patient record
* Promoting infection prevention and control practices
About us
We are a Trust that truly values its people; listening to staff, celebrating success, and fostering a culture where everyone feels respected, included, and supported.
Our purpose is simple: to deliver high‑quality, safe care at the right time and in the right place for the communities of Torbay and South Devon, as well as our visitors.
You'll have the opportunity to develop a wide range of extended clinical skills specific to the Emergency Department environment which may include:
* Venepuncture and Cannulation
* Performing bladder scans
* Assisting with plastering and wound care
* Supporting clinicians through scribing in emergency scenarios
* Alongside developing extended clinical skills, working in paediatric care and managing the wide range of unpredictable cases in the Emergency Department means no two days are the same. This variety supports the development of your skills and expanding your clinical knowledge
You will also be supported by a dedicated team of Practice Educators, led by an Emergency Nurse, who provide tailored learning opportunities and in‑house training designed specifically for the ED environment.
Job responsibilities
Working under the supervision of a registered nurse, you will play an active role in delivering high‑quality care to your patients. You’ll gain experience across a range of areas within the Emergency Department, including majors, paediatrics, waiting areas, and fit‑to‑sit, giving you valuable exposure to a wide variety of patient needs in a fast‑paced environment.
What you’ll do:
* Deliver compassionate, high‑quality care to every patient
* Support clinical staff with observations and essential care tasks
* Contribute to patient flow in a busy 24/7 department
* Maintain high standards of dignity, safety, and patient experience
We are looking for an experienced Healthcare Support Worker who brings:
* A genuinely caring, patient‑centred approach
* The ability to stay calm and focused under pressure
* Strong communication and teamwork skills
* A willingness to learn, develop, and take the next step
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/experience
* Previous experience in a care environment or able to demonstrate a caring nature/life experience
* English & Mathematics at GCSE grade A‑C (9‑4) or level 2 functional skills
* Care certificate
Knowledge and Experience
* Understands the need for strict confidentiality
* Previous experience in an emergency/urgent care environment
Specific Skills
* Basic computer/keyboard skills
* Good interpersonal and communication skills
* Able to prioritise and organise work
* Able to work under instruction, under pressure and as part of a team
* Record keeping competency in handwritten and electronic records
* Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and to adapt communication style to circumstances
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.
Employer name
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum pro rata
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