37.5 hours per week (Long days, Night shifts, Bank holidays)
Permanent
Closing Date: 9th January 2026
Interview Date: 22nd January 2026
This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly.
All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.
A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community - get in touch to find out more
* The primary role of the Neonatal Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) is to assist, support and work in collaboration with the Neonatal Nurse and the wider multidisciplinary team; in order to provide a safe and holistic approach to babies and their families
* The post holder is expected to undertake a set of defined competencies; to ensure compliance with the Neonatal Support Worker Competency, Education, and Career Development Framework to ensure standards for the role are met, which is in line with the Maternity Support Worker Framework. Support will be given to employees to further develop their skills and explore pathways for progression where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
* The nurse is ultimately responsible for the care of the baby and their family, and it is under the direct or indirect supervision of the nurse that the HCSW assists with and provides care following completion of any relevant or appropriate training. The post based on the Special Care Baby Unit and the employee will be provided with appropriate training for the clinical setting in which they are working.
* Assist with the admission, orientation and discharge of babies and their families.
* Ensure that all clinical documentation is accurately, collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local information governance.
* Participate in tracking, obtaining and filing clinical records as required, under instruction and in line with local policy and guidance.
* Provide administrative support to the neonatal team.
* Manage own time effectively whilst prioritising care needs for babies and their families under the direction of the nurse.
* Convey an approachable and professional attitude to all babies and their families.
* Communicate effectively with families in all settings.
* Ensure that knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.
* Ensure the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
* Report any incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system and escalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.
About us
Here at George Eliot our vision to 'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:
Effective Open Communication
excellence and safety in everything we do
Challenge but support
Expect respect and dignity
Local health that inspires confidence
Benefits:
On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.
If you are applying for a Domestic Assistant or Health Care Assistant role you may be eligible for the refer a friend scheme - find out more here: https://www.geh.nhs.uk/about-us/people-and-workforce/vacancies/refer-friend-scheme
Job responsibilities
* Responsibly receive details of daily duties from the nurse, and use own discretion when prioritising care, under direction and supervision.
* Support babies during clinical procedures, including attending to any personal hygiene needs as necessary.
* Supporting families in their choice of infant feeding and have awareness of the options available.
* Provide evidence-based support, assistance and advice to mothers who are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed.
* Support and assist families with artificial feeding in line with local and national policy and guidance.
* Recognise and report any abnormal events or emergencies to the multidisciplinary team through the appropriate means, in a timely manner
* Assist with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so following completion of the appropriate training and competencies and have an awareness of the storage requirements.
* Assist in neonatal hygiene needs with disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to document accurately the fluid balance.
* Undertake routine neonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate any deviations from the normal range appropriately, and in a timely manner, following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.
* Observe the overall wellbeing of the new-born and escalate any concerns to named nurse or multi-professional team in a timely manner.
* Provide practical support to new parents when caring for their new-born, whilst promoting safety in both the hospital and home setting
* Escort babies and their families between clinical areas as required.
* Undertake new-born blood spot screening, following successful completion of the appropriate competency, as directed by the nurse. Ensure the nurse has gained consent for the new-born blood spot screening to be taken, and that consent is also gained from the mother by yourself prior to undertaking the procedure.
* To complete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in the neonatal records.
* To assist or perform capillary blood sampling tests, including blood glucose sampling, following successful completion of appropriate competency as directed by the nurse.
* Assist with the removal of dressings or cannula under direction of the nurse.
* Assist in the nutrition and hydration needs of babies including oral feeding and Nasogastric tube feeding.
* Assist the nurse in the delivery of the babies care, including the promotion of public health information. Sign posting to families to the local and national services available.
* Provide discharge preparation support to families including teaching of practical skills relating to new-born care and health education.
* Ensure the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist the nurse in appropriately preparing for a neonatal admission.
* Ensure adequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is available; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.
* To give regular handover of care to the named midwife all areas of care completed in practice.
* To recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing of families and respond appropriately, escalating to named nurse.
* To be aware of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern to registered nurse.
* To be aware of the current policy and service frameworks for mental health (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health Act); the impact they have on interventions including rights of people using services or giving formal or informal support and the role of advocacy.
* To be aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathway and to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home or hospital setting.
* Identify own training and development needs.
* Aware of own professional limitations and develop practice through reflection, mentorship and appraisal.
* Attend all statutory and mandatory training as and when required.
* Participate in annual individual performance review process.
* Be conversant with the local infection control policy.
For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
* Previous experience of working with members of the public
* 6 months formal neonatal care experience in a hospital
* Understanding of Safeguarding issues
* Awareness of Health and Safety issues
* Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
* Experience of using hospital patient record system
* Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
* Experience of providing high quality care
* Evidence of continuing professional development
Qualifications and Professional Training
* GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
* Care Certificate
* Commit to undertake in-house training
Skills and Abilities
* Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
* Good written and verbal communication skills
* Ability to prioritise workload
* Ability to work without direct supervision
* Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
* Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
* Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
Personal Qualities
* Ability to travel
Other
* Adaptable and flexible approach to work
* Positive attitude to training and development
* Ability to work 24 hour shift pattern, including weekends and bank holidays
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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