Job overview
We’re looking for compassionate, motivated individuals to join our Palliative Care Ward 6 North as Healthcare Support Workers. This is a rewarding opportunity to play a vital role in caring for some of our most vulnerable patients and their families, many at the end of their lives, while working closely with our highly skilled cancer nurses and wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).
As a Healthcare Support Worker, you will support Registered Nurses in delivering the fundamentals of high‑quality patient care. This includes helping with personal care, repositioning, and supporting patients with eating and drinking. You’ll always work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, and you’ll receive comprehensive training, ongoing support, and competency‑based development to help you thrive in this specialist environment.
Alongside direct patient care, you’ll help maintain a safe and well‑organised clinical area.
This role is central to the delivery of safe, compassionate care for cancer patients. Whether supporting someone suffering side effects of cancer treatments, symptoms of the disease itself, or end of life care, ensuring dignity and comfort, your contribution will truly matter.
If you’re caring, committed, and eager to learn, we’d love to welcome you to our team.
Main duties of the job
1. Assist patients with activities of daily living when required, maintaining their privacy and dignity at all times.
2. Attend to patients’ hygiene needs, including hair washing, washing/bathing, oral hygiene, dressing, toileting, and care of urinary catheters.
3. Promote continence and manage incontinence for patients where appropriate.Measure and record routine observations such as weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and pain scores.
4. Report any abnormalities and concerns to a Registered Nurse. When using the ‘Early Warning Chart’ documentation, report all triggers to a Registered Nurse.Measure, record, and report capillary blood glucose levels of patients when required.
5. Provide pressure area relief and assist with mobilisation of patients.
6. Recognise when patients are in pain or discomfort and report to the nurse in charge.
7. Assist with patients’ fluid and dietary needs, including completion of menu cards, recording intake and output of fluids and solids, preparation for mealtimes, and assistance with eating when required.
8. Prepare and assist with clinical procedures.
9. Escort patients who are in a stable condition to other departments in the hospital for tests, investigations, and treatments.
10. Be sensitive and supportive to the needs of bereaved relatives and friends in the event of a patient’s death.
11. Assist in carrying out last offices with a Registered Nurse.
12. Perform venepuncture/cannulation following appropriate training and assessment.
Working for our organisation
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
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 overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person specification
Education/ qualifications
Essential criteria
13. Adult Basic Skills Literacy L2, Numeracy L1
Desirable criteria
14. Phlebotomy/ Venepuncture training
Experience
Essential criteria
15. Demonstrate a clear insight into the role
Desirable criteria
16. Up to date experience worked within a care setting as nursing assistant/ healthcare assistant
Skills/knowledge/ abilities
Essential criteria
17. Good communication skills both oral and written
18. Good team working and interpersonal skills
19. Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative
Values and behaviours
Essential criteria
20. Good customer care skills
21. Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values
Right to work
If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on
Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).
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