Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospitals Dorset - All Sites Town Dorset Salary £24,937 - £26,598 pro rata per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 09/03/2026 23:59 Interview date 17/03/2026
NHS AfC: Band 3
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
We are recruiting Bank Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) to support patients across our hospital sites in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. We are seeking individuals with a passion for supporting patients with various needs, and who have a willingness to develop enhanced care skills.
Bank roles offer:
* Flexible shifts across UHD sites
* Weekly pay
* Opportunity to apply for permanent roles
Please read the details of this advert carefully and follow the instructions provided.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
To be considered to join our bank as an HCSW, as a minimum you must:
* Have at least 6 months’ experience as an HCSW in a UK acute hospital, OR 1 years’ experience in a UK nursing or care home setting (within the last 24 months), AND
* Hold a completed NHS-recognised Care Certificate (competency‑based, with workbook evidence), AND
* Have a good standard of numeracy and literacy.
NB: Student nurses from Bournemouth University are welcome to apply but must either meet the requirements above OR have completed at least one acute placement. Agency MHSWs who are already working shifts at UHD are also welcome to apply. Please make it clear on your application if you fall into one of these categories.
A full list of the criteria used to shortlist for this role is included on the advert. Please ensure you outline on your application how you meet these requirements.
Main duties of the job
MANDATORY EVIDENCE SUBMISSION
At the point of application, you must email copies of the following to uhd.bank.recruitment@nhs.net:
* Care Certificate (fully completed and NHS-recognised)
* Evidence to demonstrate your literacy and numeracy level (functional skills certificates, GCSE certificates, higher education certificates in relevant topics, etc), if available*
NB: Student nurses from Bournemouth University must either supply the evidence above OR evidence of their current registration on an appropriate BU nursing programme. Agency MHSWs will be reviewed against our database to confirm recent shift activity.
*If you are unable to demonstrate the necessary skill level in numeracy and/or literacy, you will be required to attend for, and pass, the relevant assessment(s) prior to being invited to interview. Please see below.
Evidence must be received by the advert closing date. Please include your full name and application ID/reference number.
Applications without the required evidence will not be progressed and will be automatically excluded in the longlisting stage. If you are unable to provide your evidence at the time of application, please wait for a future advert.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE
To support a fair and efficient recruitment process, the following dates are fixed:
* Advert closes:Monday 9th March 2026 at Midnight (may close earlier if sufficient applications are received)
* Assessments, if required (literacy & numeracy): Tuesday 17th March 2026 (in person)
* Face‑to‑face interviews: Tuesday 24th March 2026 (in person)
By applying, you confirm you are available to attend the assessment date (if applicable) and interview date listed above.
If you are unable to attend these dates, please wait for a future advert.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Successful candidates must be available to attend:
* A mandatory induction programme of two full consecutive weeks (Monday to Friday). These usually start on the first and third week of each month. BU student nurses will only be required to attend a two day induction (Monday‑Tuesday).
* Additional days of induction and enhanced care training (exact dates to be confirmed).
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role.
Person specification
Min. Experience Requirements
* 6 months’ experience as an HCSW in a UK acute hospital
* 1 years’ experience in a UK nursing or care home setting
* Completion of at least one acute placement (BU student nurses only)
Other Requirements
* Training courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties, including mental health awareness
* Understanding of basic physiology (e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc)
* Experience of working with patients that require enhanced care (eg challenging behaviour, high falls risk, dementia and delirium)
* Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well‑being
* Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
* Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative
Please note:
Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.
This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
COVID‑19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Please note that this advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
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