Go back Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Healthcare Support Worker
The closing date is 13 April 2026
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of cancer patients?
As a Healthcare Support Worker, you will play a crucial role in delivering compassionate, patient‑centred care. Based on the Ricky Grant Day Unit and Turner Ward, you'll be at the heart of providing essential nursing support, clinical interventions, and emotional care to patients undergoing cancer treatment. Whether assisting with personal care, performing vital clinical tasks like venepuncture and ECGs, or advocating for patient safety and wellbeing, you'll contribute meaningfully to the patient journey.
We're looking for individuals with a caring nature, strong communication skills, and a commitment to excellence. If you're flexible, eager to learn new skills, and thrive in a fast‑paced yet supportive environment, this role is for you. In return, you'll join a team that’s passionate about your growth and patient care, with access to robust training, career development opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact in a rewarding specialty.
Main duties of the job
* Provide patient‑centered care in line with Trust policies, including personal care (e.g., washing, dressing, toileting) while promoting independence. Use effective communication skills to overcome barriers, offering reassurance, empathy, and persuasion.
* Undertake training to perform clinical interventions (e.g., observations, venepuncture, ECGs, cannula insertion/removal, urinalysis) and remain competent in these skills. Assess patients' conditions using tools like NEWS2, pain assessments, and escalate concerns appropriately.
* Work independently or within a team, prioritising patient needs, and demonstrate accurate use of equipment for interventions. Support patients at risk (e.g., falls, pressure damage) by following care plans and escalating changes in condition. Promote mobility, independence, and mental stimulation through appropriate activities.
* Ensure adherence to Trust policies and maintain accurate documentation (e.g., care plans, observations, fluid/food charts). Assist with nutrition by supporting mealtimes and recording intake. Act as an advocate for patient safety, safeguarding from harm, and reporting concerns or incidents through the Trust's system.
* Provide guidance to less experienced staff, ensuring safe practices, maintaining clinical environments, and performing quality control checks to uphold standards. Demonstrate Trust values and a professional approach in all aspects of care.
About us
Why Work With Us
You will be working with a friendly and dynamic team in a fast‑paced environment supporting patients on the Ricky Grant Day Unit and Turner Ward.
Turner Ward
Turner ward provides the in‑patient base for cancer medicine. It is an 18‑beded ward, shared with our Haematology colleagues and has one three‑bedded bay, three two‑bedded bays and nine side rooms. The ward is staffed by highly skilled specialist staff including dedicated dieticians, occupational therapists and palliative care. The junior medical team on Turner Ward consists of 1 Core Medical Trainee, 1 GPST, 1 F2, 1 F1. The junior medical team also assist in covering the oncology day unit alongside the SpRs and oncology speciality doctors (SAS).
Ricky Grant Day Unit
Ricky Grant Day Unit (RGDU) is located next to Turner Ward and provides out‑patient systemic anti‑cancer treatment (SACT) alongside a dedicated PICC line service and paracentesis clinic. It also hosts the 24‑hour telephone triage support line for patients on SACT, and a dedicated chemotherapy CNS team provide oral SACT clinics with home delivery. The trust uses the electronic SACT prescribing system ChemoCARE and the department is supported by a dedicated oncology pharmacist team with its own aseptic suite for the preparation of cytotoxics.
Job responsibilities
* Provide direct patient centred care in accordance with patient needs and in line with Trust policies, including personal care such as washing, dressing patients, oral care, and toileting and continence support, while promoting independence; establish and maintain good interpersonal skills, communicate accurately and overcome barriers using visual prompts, reassurance, empathy, persuasion; undertake training to perform high‑quality clinical interventions such as clinical observations, blood glucose monitoring, urinalysis, venepuncture, peripheral cannulation, ECG, BMI calculation, and remain competent; assess clinical condition using NEWS2, pain assessment tools, non‑verbal signs of deterioration and know how to urgently escalation; plan workload and prioritise clinical needs independently or as part of a team.
* Undertake a range of clinical interventions and demonstrate accurate physical skills with relevant equipment, including physiological observation monitoring, venepuncture, catheter removal, peripheral cannulation, urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring, swab taking (MRSA, Covid, wound), wound dressings, ECG, cardiac monitoring, spirometry, bladder scanning; assist patients at risk of harm, pressure damage, falls, following risk assessments and care plans, and report changes via the Trust incident reporting system; adhere to Trust policies and SOPs, access up‑to‑date policies; promote independence and mobility; act on own initiative in delivering patient care and demonstrate Trust values; support patients with activities to maintain physical and mental engagement; organise clinical environment, supervise colleagues, maintain equipment, perform quality control and audits; ensure accurate documentation, records and nutritional intake; act as patient advocate, safeguard and report incidents.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/experience.
* Care certificate English & Mathematics at GCSE grade A‑C (9‑4) or level 2 functional skills.
Knowledge and Experience
* Previous experience in a care environment or able to demonstrate a caring nature/life experience; understands the need for strict confidentiality.
* Working knowledge of complex care needs of some individuals/families including Safeguarding Children & Adults, Domestic Abuse and Mental Health.
Specific skills
* Basic computer/keyboard skills; good interpersonal and communication skills, ability to adapt communication style; record keeping competency in handwritten and electronic records; flexibility, adaptability, reliability and punctuality; fine motor skills for venepuncture, phlebotomy and other clinical tasks; Healthcare competencies appropriate to area of work.
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 to submit Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous convictions.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
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