About The Organisation
NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney
With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position
As a Senior Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW), you will be a key member of the multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality personal care to patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. You will carry out a range of care tasks, ensuring safe, person-centred support in line with NHS Orkney policies. The role includes maintaining care standards, participating in ongoing training, and contributing to a positive patient experience.
Your application form will include an assessment question about delivery patient/client care. Your response to this question will be used for shortlisting purposes.
The Candidate
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate individual who is committed to delivering high-quality care and service. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and engage effectively with patients, colleagues, and external partners.
A proactive approach to problem-solving, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities are essential.
Applicants should hold an SVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration
This post will be based at The Balfour.
The successful candidate will work: Part Time 24 hours per week - NHS Scotland is reducing their full time working week from 37 to 36 hours per week from 1 April 2026 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff.
This post is Permanent.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits and Salary
The salary for this post is Band 3 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,654 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact ork.recruitment@nhs.scot.
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Senior Charge Nurses Joanna Laird on Joanna.laird@nhs.scot or Lucy Flett on lucy.flett@nhs.scot.
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.
Equal Opportunities
NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.
Application Closure Notice
Please note this post may be closed early if sufficient applications are reached.
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