Job Summary
Do you enjoy working in a team to provide high standards of care to children and young adults? Do you understand and enjoy the unique challenges associated with delivering paediatric nursing care? Are you looking for a career opportunity within an organisation rated as 'outstanding' for caring? Are you able to be flexible in your approach to work to meet the needs of patients whilst achieving a work-life balance?
Paediatrics services at QE Gateshead encompasses a number of varied care settings including an emergency assessment and 24 hour short stay area within ECC (peapod), a children's day unit and children's outpatients services including general paediatrics, community paediatrics and specialist clinics. The service has a clear patient focus and a reputation for quality and excellence within the Business Unit.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking to appoint a dynamic, highly motivated, enthusiastic individual to join us in working as part of the paediatric team at QE Gateshead. The post holder will work as part of the nursing team within the Pea Pod, Day Unit and outpatient area to ensure high quality care is delivered to children and their families. The successful applicant will undertake any additional study and training required of them. In addition to internal shift pattern rotation, the successful applicant is expected to undertake a rotation between departments. The main duties of the job will include:
* Ensuring the department is clean, tidy and well stocked
* Supporting nursing staff with patient care and treatments
* Taking and recording digital observations and measurements on patients
* Supporting children and their families through stressful procedures including blood tests
* Providing opportunities for play and distraction to improve the child's hospital experience
* Supporting parents/carers throughout their child's hospital experience
* Setting up and ensuring the smooth running of outpatient clinics
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work both independently and as a team member
About Us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead. Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients. We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement. We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks. The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Details
Date posted: 03 February 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year PA
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Job Description
Job responsibilities
Job Details
Job Title: Health Care Assistant
Directorate: Trust Wide
Accountable To: Ward Manager
Location: Gateshead Health
Main Purpose of the Job
To support all members of the Multi Disciplinary Team to deliver high quality, safe patient care. To ensure a safe, clean and well stocked working environment. To assist the registered staff to care for and provide treatment to unwell and injured children. To support children and families throughout their hospital experience.
Communications and Relationships
Communicates information to staff, patients, relatives and carers. Communicates in an empathetic and reassuring way where there may be barriers to communication. Communicates with patients whose first language may not be English. Establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, relatives and colleagues. Provide and receive routine information requiring tact or persuasive skills; barriers to understanding.
Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience
Essential Experience of having worked with children and families. Excellent communication and organisational skills. Team working skills. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload. Work as part of MDT. IT skills/knowledge appropriate to the role. Courses and skills that demonstrate transferable skills; previous care experience preferably in a health care setting.
Desirable Recent relevant experience. Level 3 NVQ in maths and English or evidence of GCSE maths and English. Essential experience working within the health care setting. Desirable experience working with children; experience in an acute or outpatient setting.
Other Requirements
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the DBS. Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information, see UK Visas and Immigration. General guidance on overseas criminal records checks is available.
Employer details: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. Address: Paediatrics Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, NE9 6SX. Employer's website: https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk
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