Advertised role location: Gloucester Park Site: Lisgarel Resid'l U
Official document: NHSCT Care Assistant B3 PT Lisgarel Oct 26 (docx)
Care Assistant Band 3
Job Description

Care Assistant Band 3
Job Description


The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.
We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.
The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value
 What does this mean?
 What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.
 

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

 Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.
 

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

 
Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Care Assistant
BAND: Band 3
DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: AHP, IC & Integrated Discharge Division
INITIAL LOCATION: Lisgarel Residential Home, Larne
REPORTS TO: Home Manager and Senior Care Assistant
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Assistant Director of Intermediate Care
FLEXIBLE WORKING
PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share

JOB SUMMARY:
The Care Assistant provides support to Service Users who are residing in the residential home. The Care Assistant will have specific responsibilities for designated Service Users and will attend to a range of duties and tasks according to an agreed care plan. The Care Assistant ensures all duties are carried out according to Health & Safety Standards/Policies and Procedures within the Trust.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
To help create an environment that will maintain and enhance the quality of care for each resident and maximise opportunity for choice and self-determination.
To adhere to Trust Policy and procedures in relation to Residential Care.
Report to the Senior Care Assistant/Manager any matters requiring inclusion in care plans and maintain appropriate records as required by the Trust e.g. daily food intake, mattress/commode audits and recording daily progress notes.
Contribute to reviews and participate in review meetings/case conferences when required to do so.
Responsibility to register and maintain registration with the appropriate governing/registration body, and ensure strict adherence to their codes of practice e.g. NISCC, NMC etc.
Work within and to DHSSPSS Standards as inspected by RQIA.
Assist with, where appropriate, personal care to residents such as bathing, washing, toileting, dressing, feeding, stoma/catheter care, ensuring clients’ privacy, dignity and rights.
Assist in the assessed physical, emotional and social rehabilitation of residents on short breaks to enable them to return home.
Ensure the detail of care plans which have been developed by other Professionals are followed, when working with Clients with physical, mental, or emotional care needs, including those with behavioural issues.
In relation to health, safety and welfare of residents adhere to risk assessments and report any new or further risks you discover to the Senior Officer on duty. Likewise report any faulty equipment and take out of use.
Work flexibly within the duty rota, designed to ensure the home is covered in accordance with the Trust policy and in line with standards. Also to ensure fairness and equitability to your colleagues, and as a requisite in order to provide high quality service to Clients.
Report any untoward incidents, e.g. falls, accidents, complaints etc to the Senior Officer on duty who will complete the necessary paperwork. Record the details within the daily progress notes.
Be available to listen and talk to residents and engage in such tasks as letter writing, reading, and assist residents in the use of modern technology such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, and smart televisions.
Participate in the implementation of client group and leisure activities e.g. reminiscence, craft and outings. Accompany residents to hospital and doctors’ appointments if family members are not available in the first instance.
To act as primary worker to residents as designated by Senior Officer in charge. Primary worker duties may involve shopping for/with Clients.
Adhere to training guidelines in relation to assisting with/applying prescribed creams.
Regular attendance and contribution within Staff Meetings.
Participate in QCF/RVQ training as well as in-house/external training as appropriate to your role. To complete all mandatory training and update own knowledge base as required. (NISCC Codes/Requirement).
Prepare for and participate in formal supervision sessions as well as in the knowledge and skills framework (KSF) and annual appraisal. Ensuring that personal training and development logs are kept up to date.
On occasions and if asked by Senior Officer on duty, collect prescribed medication from Pharmacy.
On occasions and if asked by Senior Officer on duty, obtain either urine or faeces samples for Senior to complete appropriate forms.
Verify balance of controlled drugs book.
Ensure stock levels are maintained regarding items required to deliver care by reporting to Senior Staff.
Assist with the serving of meals and snacks.
Assist with and Adhere to various audits within the Unit as requested by Management.
Courteously answer telephone and record messages in book provided.
Assist with the admission/discharge of residents, listing clothing and belongings as required and assisting with the orientation of a new resident into the home.
File away completed documentation for each Resident/Client in their folders.
Liaise with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Professionals regarding client care. Implement changes made by Physiotherapist.


GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK
Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS
Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times.

MEDICAL
Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS
27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION
The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS
You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD
You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

WAITING LIST
A waiting list will be created to cover any permanent/temporary part-time, bank vacancies arising within the next 6 months in the Lisgarel Residential Home, Larne.

PAY PROTECTION
Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011.
This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.
Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

October 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Care Assistant
Band of Post: Band 3
Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.
Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Experience
NVQ Level 2 or QCF/RVQ Level 2 plus 6 months’ paid experience working in a Hospital/Residential/Day Care or Community setting
OR
4 GCSEs (Grades A-C) plus 1 year’s paid experience working in a Hospital/Residential/Day Care or Community setting
OR
2 years’ paid experience working in a Hospital/Residential/Day Care or Community setting
OR
2 years’ paid/unpaid caring experience and willing to undertake and successfully complete QCF /RVQ level 2 in Care within a specified timeframe.
Equivalent Qualifications considered
PLUS
By date of appointment applicant must be listed or eligible to be registered on NISCC Register of Social Care Workers and within 3 months of date of commencement in post, registration with NISCC
must be fully complete.
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Willing and able to work flexible hours as the service demands across all Residential Facilities which will involve bank holiday, weekend work, waking night duty within unit.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Ability to sensitively undertake all personal care tasks.
Clear verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work as part of a team.

Interview / Test

Knowledge
Understanding of the role and responsibilities of the job.

Interview / Test

Value Based Recruitment
Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.
In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust.  This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate.  Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post.  If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.
October 2026