Overview
Job locations: Torbay Hospital
Job Summary: 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 clinical tasks such as 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. You’ll join a team that supports your growth with 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. Assess patients' conditions using tools like NEWS2 and pain assessments, and escalate concerns appropriately.
* Work independently or within a team, prioritizing 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 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 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 maintain a professional approach in all aspects of care.
About 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-bedded ward, shared with Haematology, with several bays and side rooms. The ward is staffed by specialist staff including dieticians, occupational therapists and palliative care. The junior medical team on Turner Ward includes Core Medical Trainees and Foundation doctors; they assist in covering the oncology day unit alongside SpRs and oncology specialists.
Ricky Grant Day Unit
Ricky Grant Day Unit (RGDU) is located next to Turner Ward and provides outpatient systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) alongside a dedicated PICC line service and paracentesis clinic. It also hosts a 24-hour telephone triage support line for patients on SACT, and has a dedicated chemotherapy CNS team with home delivery. The trust uses the electronic SACT prescribing system ChemoCARE and is supported by an oncology pharmacist team with its own aseptic suite for cytotoxics preparation.
Details
Date posted: 05 February 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 per year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Job responsibilities
Provide direct patient centred care in accordance with patient needs and Trust policies, including personal care, oral care and assistance with toileting and continence. Establish and maintain good interpersonal skills, overcome communication barriers using visual prompts, reassurance, empathy and persuasion. Undertake training to perform high quality clinical interventions and remain competent, such as observations, venepuncture, urinalysis, ECG, cannula management, BMI calculation. Assess clinical condition using tools like NEWS2 and pain assessments and escalate as needed. Work independently or in a team to plan workload and prioritise clinical needs. Undertake a range of clinical interventions with accurate use of equipment, including physiological observation monitoring, venepuncture, catheter removal/insertion, urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring, wound swabbing, ECG, spirometry, bladder scanning. Assist patients at risk of harm by following risk assessments and care plans, reporting changes via the incident reporting system. Adhere to policy and procedures, promote independence and mobility, and support return to baseline function. Demonstrate initiative, professional conduct and Trust values. Engage patients to stay active and mentally engaged. Supervise and mentor new or less experienced staff, maintain equipment and environment, and conduct quality checks. Accurately record observations and care documentation, including risk assessments, care plans, and nutrition/fluids charts. Promote nutritional intake and assist with feeding and meal preparation. Act as patient advocate for safeguarding, report concerns via the incident system.
Additional responsibilities include ordering supplies and assisting with equipment use (hoists, trollies, wheelchairs), and maintaining the clinical environment.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications and training: NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/experience
Desirable
Care certificate; English & Mathematics at GCSE level (A-C) or Level 2 functional skills
Knowledge and Experience
Essential: Previous care experience or demonstrable caring nature; understands confidentiality
Desirable: Knowledge of complex care needs, safeguarding, domestic abuse and mental health
Specific skills
Basic computer skills; good interpersonal and communication skills; record keeping competency (handwritten and electronic); flexible, reliable, punctual; fine motor skills for venepuncture and other tasks
Desirable: Healthcare competencies relevant to area of work
Other Information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to DBS checks under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. A Disclosure will be sought.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring skilled worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered. For information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. Since 2017, criminal record checks may be required for overseas applicants.
Employer details: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torbay Hospital, Lowes Bridge, Torquay, TQ2 7AA; Website: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk
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