Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Band 2-3 Link Role-Healthcare Support Worker
The closing date is 13 November 2026
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Job summary
Band 2-3 Link Role Healthcare Support Worker means that they will initially be appointed as Band 2 Nursing Assistants. Following completion of the required competencies and demonstration of the appropriate skills and experience, suitable staff will be supported to progress to Band 3 in line with the agreed career progression pathway (Link Role - Band 2 to Band 3).

Ward 5B looking for an enthusiastic Nursing assistant to join our friendly team.

Initially, successful applicants will be based in Short Stay Ward 5B. Towards the end of this year, the Short Stay Ward is planned to merge with the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU), and staff will subsequently transfer to and continue working within the EAU.

We are looking for motivated hard working individuals who have an interest in patient care.

We are a friendly team looking for someone with exceptional communication skills.

Our Ward is busy with a high turnover of patients many of whom we see regularly. It is vital that this person is able to be professional and have excellent attention to detail in order to help maximum the patients experience on the Ward. The individual will work closely with Nurses and Doctors and therefore needs to work well within a team acting as a positive member and dedicated to providing our patients an excellent service.

We are a supportive team and welcome the opportunity to develop and support new starters and those with existing skills and experience.

Main duties of the job

• As a member of the nursing team you will assist registered members of staff to deliver a high standard of care to patients in the ward/clinical area demonstrating compassion, kindness and sensitivity.
• To work as part of the wider ward team in developing and maintaining services provided to patients and contribute to the safe, efficient and smooth running of the ward/clinical area.
• To maintain the dignity and privacy of all patients and respect their right to confidentiality.
• To complete and maintain on an ongoing basis a generic and specific portfolio of clinical competencies and/or the Care Certificate as required. To review progress with ward manager and team leader at regular intervals and through appraisal process.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £25,272 to £27,476 a year per annum/ pro-rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 321-MRC-8341179-B2/B3
Job locations: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Headley Way, Headington, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication:

• To establish and maintain good relationships with patients, relatives and colleagues through effective verbal and non verbal communication.
• To help patients and visitors orientate themselves to their surroundings when admitted to the ward specific to their needs.
• To answer telephone calls appropriately and efficiently, accurately relaying messages and to attend to a patients call bell in a professional and timely manner.

Clinical:

• To undertake routine care for patients and to assist them with their personal care needs. (This may involve maintaining hygiene needs for individuals such as helping patients to wash and dress themselves and assisting with toileting needs, maintaining privacy and dignity at all times).
• To assess and monitor the patients skin integrity and to report and document immediately any changes or concerns in their condition.
• To perform and accurately record and report patient observations and escalate any concerns appropriately.
• To assist patients to meet their food and fluid intake giving attention to special diets, supplements and cultural requirements. All food and fluid intake to be recorded accurately and a malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) risk assessment to be carried out accurately and appropriately.
• To actively encourage all patients to share the responsibility for the maintenance of their health and to promote healthy living.
• Assist the ward team to serve meals and drinks to patients as required.
• Assist patients to mobilise safely, using equipment and techniques as prescribed and recorded in plan of care.
• To participate in handover process to ensure continuity of care and to accurately feedback to a registered practitioner, the care given to patients during the shift and of any changes in the patients condition.

Planning and Organisation:

• To demonstrate time management skills and to be able to prioritise and organise own workload with the support from a registered practitioner.
• When working under the guidance of a registered practitioner is able to assess the patients needs and develop knowledge and understanding that provides the assessment.
• Able to follow a plan of care that accurately reflects the assessment needs of the patient.
• Records the care given to patients in an accurate, legible way that meets legal requirements and ensures it is countersigned by registered practitioner.
• To be familiar with the concept of nursing within a team, be involved in team discussions, meetings and project developments and audits.
• To maintain and monitor levels of stock and equipment as per local policy/guidelines.

Quality and Service Development:

• To undertake annual training as required via face to face teaching or e learning.
• To assist in maintaining a safe working environment for patients, visitors and colleagues.
• To adhere to all Trust and Directorate policies being aware of specific policies and risk assessments carried out in the clinical area to escalate concerns.
• To support all monitoring of quality initiatives and evaluations within the clinical area e.g. Friends and Family Test.
• To be familiar with the local quality standards of the ward/unit and how it fits in and contributes to the organisation and its core values.
• To report all accidents, incidents and areas of concern to senior staff ensuring relevant documentation is completed.
• To have knowledge of the procedure for calling for emergency assistance following cardiac arrest or patient emergency.
• To ensure all faulty equipment is taken out of service, cleaned appropriately, labelled correctly and sent for repair.
• Ensure all equipment is cleaned correctly (according to hospital policy) and stored appropriately.

Personal Development of Self and Others

• To help orientate and act as a buddy for new Nursing Assistants and NHSP/agency staff on the same or lesser band.
• To access and use the wards educational resources and trusts extensive library facilities.
• To develop, maintain and improve knowledge and skills required to carry out all agreed aspects of patient care competently. This may involve further in-house training or through nationally accredited courses as agreed with the team leader and ward manager.
• Participate and contribute to research and/or projects that enable development of staff and raise profile of unit or ward.
• To actively participate in own personal development and career progression.
• To be able to acknowledge limitations to competence and not act outside of these.

Person Specification
Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Able to demonstrate the ability to put patients at the heart of what you do and recognising different needs by encouraging a spirit of support, integrity, respect and teamwork.
• Shows pride in the quality of care they provide for patients and learning from successes and setbacks.
• Evidence of commitment to the Oxford University Hospitals vision and values.

Education and training
Essential

• Motivated to develop knowledge and skills.
• Willing to undertake self-development activities to improve clinical effectiveness.

Desirable

• Evidence of Level 2 Diploma or Apprenticeship in Health related subject.
• Evidence of the Care Certificate.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Ward Manager, Sudan Sunar, sudan.sunar@ouh.nhs.uk, 01865221751

Supporting documents
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