Senior Health Care Assistant - Special Care Baby Unit
We are seeking passionate Healthcare Assistants to join us as we prepare for the reopening of our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in April 2026.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new chapter for our services, where you will play a key role in shaping a positive, collaborative and forward-thinking culture from day one.
In this vital role, you will:
* Assess, provide and evaluate safe patient care for sick, preterm and vulnerable babies.
* Work closely with an infant's parents or carers, supporting and teaching them to care for their baby and encouraging them as valued partners in the multi-disciplinary team.
* Offer a high level of emotional and practical support to anxious and distressed parents, sharing information sensitively and clearly about their baby's condition.
This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a highly skilled neonatal team during an exciting period of development and renewed service provision.
Main duties of the job
* Work within a multi-disciplinary team to deliver highquality, safe care to preterm and sick infants.
* Communicate clearly, compassionately and professionally with parents, carers and colleagues, adapting information to individual levels of understanding.
* Assist in assessing babies' conditions, recording observations, reporting concerns and supporting treatment plans set by the registered nurse and medical team.
* Carry out a range of clinical tasks including monitoring, specimen collection, feeding support, using medical devices, and assisting with neonatal procedures.
* Teach and guide parents in practical newborn care, feeding, temperature regulation and preparing for discharge.
* Maintain a clean, safe and therapeutic care environment, upholding infection control standards and neonatal unit security.
* Support the smooth running of the unit by managing equipment, updating records (including BadgerNet), and contributing to audits, training and ongoing service improvement.
* Uphold safeguarding responsibilities, Trust values and national standards at all times.
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 responsibilities
As a Senior Healthcare Assistant in the Neonatal Unit, you will contribute to the safe, effective and compassionate care of babies requiring intensive, high-dependency, special or transitional care. Working under the direction of registered neonatal nurses, your responsibilities will include:
Communication & Relationships
* Work collaboratively with a team of nurses, doctors and allied professionals.
* Provide empathetic, tactful and clear communication to parents, especially when sharing sensitive or complex information.
* Build strong working relationships inside and outside the Trust.
Planning & Organisation
* Prioritise your own workload to meet the needs of the unit and infants in your care.
* Maintain accurate, timely documentation and adhere to Trust and national policies.
* Support a safe, calm and welcoming environment for families, ensuring visitor security and encouraging feedback.
Clinical & Patient Care Responsibilities
* Under the supervision of a registered nurse, you will:
* Deliver care to preterm and sick babies including monitoring observations, reporting changes, and carrying out plan-of-care tasks.
* Perform clinical procedures such as oxygen/respiratory monitoring, heel-prick sampling, gastric tube care, and specimen collection.
* Recognise when a baby requires urgent intervention and initiate resuscitation protocols.
* Escort stable babies to other hospital departments for investigations.
* Teach parents essential skills such as feeding, bathing, recognising cues, maintaining hygiene and understanding safe sleep and development.
* Prepare families for discharge, including appointment coordination, medication preparation and handover to community services.
Professional Development & Governance
* Attend training, study days and mandatory updates as required.
* Participate in audits, research and improvement initiatives.
* Reflect on practice, engage in appraisal, and maintain up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge.
Equipment & Resources
* Ensure safe use and cleaning of medical devices, reporting faults promptly.
* Support the day-to-day organisation of unit resources, including breast pump hire and baby clothing stock.
Leadership & Support
* Guide and support junior staff and students, contributing to a positive learning environment.
* Demonstrate Trust values, promoting outstanding care, teamwork and a culture of continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ 3 (Health- based)
Experience
* Working with babies and families
Additional Criteria
* Basic knowledge of NHS legislation to include Health and Safety, Infection Control, Manual Handling, Confidentiality, Data protection Act.Ability to re-prioritise time in accordance with Unit need.Basic Computer literacy.Basic knowledge of Safeguarding Children
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.
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