Job overview
Are you a caring individual with the ability to communicate effectively within a team? Can you adapt to change and work using your own initiative? The Acute Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU) at Harefield Hospital is looking for a passionate and energetic Band 3 Healthcare Assistant to join our specialist team.
The ACCU consists of two cardiology wards and a 40+ bedded unit specializing in cardiac investigations, heart failure, and interventions such as Angioplasty, Ablations, and Pacemakers. Notably, our Primary Angioplasty service is the only 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service in the region. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong care values and a commitment to making a positive difference in patient care every day.
Successful candidates must have completed the Care Certificate and will work alongside Registered Nurses, Nursing Associates, and the wider multi-disciplinary team to provide excellent standards of nursing care. This role offers a supportive environment focused on specialist care and professional development.
Closing Date: 25 March 2026
Main duties of the job
The primary purpose of this role is to assist in the delivery of fundamental nursing care and clinical duties under the supervision of a registered nurse. Key responsibilities include:
Clinical Care: Carrying out tasks to support direct patient care, including more complex duties such as taking and recording vital signs, blood sugar monitoring, and venepuncture as directed.
Specialist Support: Preparing patients for cardiac procedures and monitoring their hygiene, nutritional, and hydration needs.
Leadership and Supervision: Supervising and teaching less experienced or new Healthcare Assistants and pre-registration student nurses to ensure patient-focused care.
Operational Support: Maintaining a safe, clean, and pleasant clinical environment, as well as providing administrative and clerical support to the ward team.
Safety and Risk: Identifying and reporting clinical risks, untoward incidents, or complaints to the ward manager in accordance with Trust risk management policies.
Working for our organisation
Harefield Hospital, now part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, offers a wealth of opportunity within a globally recognized specialist centre. We are one of the UK's busiest and most successful foundation trusts, comprising five well-known hospitals and community services.
As part of King’s Health Partners, an academic health sciences centre, we uniquely combine world-class clinical services with cutting-edge teaching and research. You'll be supported by dedicated Practice Educators and benefit from comprehensive training and development plans, truly enabling you to realize your full potential and achieve significant career progression.
Our values define our culture and interactions, guiding everything we do:
1. Caring: We put patients first.
2. Ambitious: We innovate and strive for excellence.
3. Inclusive: We respect each other and work collaboratively.
Join a friendly and supportive team dedicated to continuous personal and professional growth, ensuring our patients receive the highest quality care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Patient and Customer Care You will provide holistic, high-quality care, encouraging patient independence while meeting their health and wellbeing needs. This includes assisting with activities of daily living, responding to clinical emergencies appropriately, and acting as a patient advocate to safeguard individuals from harm. You will contribute to setting goals and benchmarking standards of care under supervision.
Communication and Teamwork Effective communication is vital. You will demonstrate politeness and sensitivity when dealing with patients, relatives, and colleagues. You are expected to participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues, and working cohesively to ensure the best services are provided at all times. You must immediately inform a registered nurse if asked to perform a task outside of your training or capacity.
Resource and Information Management You will ensure the effective use of resources by adhering to departmental procedures for supplies and equipment. This includes assisting with restocking and the maintenance of equipment. You will utilize relevant IT systems and the Trust intranet to support patient care, professional development, and the collection of audit and research data.
Personal and Professional Development Adhering to the National Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers is mandatory. You will participate in the Trust’s appraisal and personal development plan (PDR) schemes, identifying your own learning needs and attending mandatory training as required. You should be flexible in your approach to the clinical area and willing to work flexible shift patterns, including internal rotation to day and night duty.
Person specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential criteria
4. Evidence of general education Functional skills level 2 in numeracy and literacy or GCSE's maths and English grades A-C / grades 4 – 9 or equivalent.
5. Vocational Level 3 in Health care or equivalent qualification in the area of speciality ( Operating Dept. Practice for posts in Theatre)
6. Completion of Care Certificate
Previous experience
Essential criteria
7. Previous experience of working as a healthcare assistant in a hospital or registered care setting
8. Competent in recording patient observations and changes to patient/ clinical conditions
9. Customer care experience
10. Experience of working in an environment with changing demands and priorities
Skills/Knowledge/ / Ability
Essential criteria
11. Knowledge of care and related procedures to area
12. Ability to undertake venepuncture.
13. Demonstrates an awareness of professional boundaries
Desirable criteria
14. Knowledge of hospital systems
Additional Information
Essential criteria
15. Manual handling of patients, using lifting aids
16. Motivated and enthusiastic
17. Excellent time management skills, managing priorities under pressure
18. Able and willing to work flexible shift patterns, internal rotation to day/ night duty and unsocial hours according to service need.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.