Job overview
Are you looking for a career opportunity in the caring profession?
Are you enthusiastic and would like to work with children?
Can you work under pressure?
If your answer to these questions is yes, the Health Care Assistant role may be right for you.
We are looking for a Health Care Assistant to Join the Outpatient Department Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust. Outpatient sees 700 children daily and is based across three sites. This will be a fixed term position (12 months) working 10-4, 5 days
a week. The Job is patient focused, front of house, in a fast-paced environment. The role is to provide clinical care and support to the children and their families across all specialty teams.
As a Health Care Assistant your responsibility is to ensure that children and their families’ Outpatient journey is a positive experience.
The main duties of this job involve a range of clinical and administrative tasks. These Include:
* Setting up clinic rooms
* Preparing patients to be seen by the doctor by taking measurements, obtaining specimens and recording vital signs
* Communicating with the child, families and multidisciplinary team
* Be competent in Venepuncture of patients of all age range
We are looking to invest in people who are committed to a career in caring for children, young people and their families and to work as part of our team to provide an excellent patient experience.
Please read both the job description and person specification carefully and all the supporting information
End date for one Fixed Term post is 26th September 2026, the other end date of fixed tern contract is 8th February 2027
Main duties of the job
* To work collaboratively as part of the healthcare team, helping registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners in the work associated with providing care to meet the health and well-being of the child/young people and their families
* Work with the registered nurses to meet the daily living needs of children and young people
* Provide comfort, reassurance and support to the child/young person and their families if anxious or distressed
* Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the healthcare team, the child/young person and their family/carers/visitors
* Respond appropriately to queries, take phone messages and pass on written and verbal information to the healthcare team, the child/young person and their family/carers/visitors
* To attend annual mandatory training and other training opportunities relevant to role
* To participate in additional training and development opportunities in order to enhance professional development
*
Working for our organisation
We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we’ll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care.
Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE and Women’s networks; all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team.
We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below
Person specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential criteria
* Our Always values
* Experience of contributing to an inclusive workplace culture.
* Experience of working as part of a diverse team
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential criteria
* GCSE (Grade 4 – 9) in English and Mathematics or Functional Skills level 2 pass in English and Mathematics or equivalent recognised qualification
* NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care ( University Certificate of Competence in Principles of Children & Young People Healthcare, advanced diploma, Higher apprenticeship Level 3) or Healthcare Support Worker Level 2
* Evidence of accepted* Care Certificate achievement (*Accepted care certificate achievement must evidence online/workbook component in addition to workplace based skills acquisition and assessment. We do not accept Care Certificates gained solely via an online platform.)
* Willingness to develop and undertake in-house study
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Has the ability to recognise situations that require reporting and demonstrates the ability to escalate to a senior person where appropriate
* Knowledge and understanding of the health service
* Knowledge and understanding of the needs of child/young person and their families. Including: Nutrition and hydration Dignity and respect Infection control Safeguarding vulnerable people Health promotion Confidentiality
* Experience of contributing to an inclusive workplace culture
* Able to provide essential care to patients as directed
* Experience of working as part of a diverse team
* Understanding of working with children/young people and their families who are critically or chronically ill
* Demonstrable previous experience of providing direct patient care in a hospital or experience in caring for children/young people in a child/young person community healthcare/hospice setting
* Previous experience of working with children/young people
* Experience of working within a team
Desirable criteria
* Previous experience in participating in audits, clinical trial programmes and training
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
* Able to carry out administrative and clerical duties appropriate to their work area
* Demonstrates a caring and compassionate approach to patients, families and colleagues
* Able to organise and work autonomously
* Work in a professional manner and in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support workers
Desirable criteria
* Able to contribute to service improvement