Job summary
We are recruiting a Senior Healthcare Support Worker to join our Oncology Day Treatment Unit (DTU) at the Churchill Hospital. We're looking for an experienced Healthcare Support Worker with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who is keen to learn and take on new clinical skills to work alongside our nursing teams. We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed and professional approach to the delivery of care, ensuring the best patient and family experience. Candidates should be excellent team players with the ability to use their own initiative and judgement to resolve issues. They should also have a tactful, sensitive manner, work well under pressure, with a flexible approach and a willingness to suggest ideas for improvements. Previous Healthcare Support Workers experience and successful completion of the Care Certificate (or equivalent healthcare qualification) is essential, along with an ability to demonstrate compassion and a commitment to learning new skills.

The successful candidate can look forward to working in a professional supportive environment with a team that is passionate about delivering excellent Cancer care to patients.

For further details please contact: claudia.costa@ouh.nhs.uk

Closing date: 09 November 2026
Location: Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, OX3 7LE
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum / pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Band: Band 3
Reference number: 321-SW-8352762-B3

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 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.

Supervise and support new members of the team. Assist other nursing assistants with completing their Care Certificate.

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.

The Trust comprises of 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 the OUH YouTube channel.

Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job responsibilities

• Undertake a range of delegated and specific clinical skills for patients that demonstrate an enhanced level of competency/technical expertise documented in the plan of care (see specific clinical skills).
• Prepare patients, families/carers and the environment for clinical activities supporting and reassuring patients and their families/carers and preparing specific equipment as necessary.
• Monitor closely patients having undergone a clinical activity ensuring their safety, comfort and well being.
• To assist all patients of all genders with their personal care needs, empowering patients, and/or families/carers and actively encouraging participation. 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 asses and monitor the patients skin integrity and to report and document immediately any changes or concerns in their condition.
• To demonstrate clinical competence in order to undertake minor dressings and treatment and as specified in the plan of care and in consultation with the registered practitioner.
• To actively encourage all patients, families/carers to share the responsibility for maintenance of their health and to promote healthy living where appropriate and identified as part of the care plan.
• Assist patients to mobilise safely taking account of developmental/physical needs, using equipment and techniques as prescribed and recorded in plan of care and contribute to the falls and moving and handling risk assessment.
• Recognise when a patients condition changes and seek advice and expertise from registered practitioners in accordance with Trust policy.
• Contribute to, understand and report identified patient risk assessments, e.g. nutritional assessment scores, slips, trips and falls assessment, e.g. Humpty Dumpty, use of medical devices as appropriate in line with Trust policy.
• To perform clinical observations (following appropriate assessment of competence) accurately recording using agreed electronic National Early Warning Systems such as SEND and report and escalate any concerns appropriately by reporting to the registered practitioner immediately.
• Participate in the initial assessment of patient needs under the direct supervision of a registered practitioner.
• To assist patients to meet their food and fluid intake giving attention to special diets, supplements, enteral feeding and cultural requirements and to recognise and understand the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration. In order to avoid malnutrition ensure an age appropriate nutritional assessment is undertaken for example, STRONG/MUST. All food, nutritional supplements and fluid intake should be recorded accurately as required.
• Seek support for self and others following an untoward incident.
• Report and raise concerns in relation to poor practice, attitude and behaviour of any health care professional through appropriate channels.
• Undertake patient transfer and escort duties between departments as appropriate and as per policy.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• Evidence of level 2 Apprenticeship or Diploma in Health-related subject

Desirable

• Evidence of the Care Certificate or commitment to achieve on joining Trust.

Clinical Practice
Essential

• Significant experience of the NHS and/or health/childcare and an interest in the speciality

Values
Essential

• Able to demonstrate the ability to put patients and their families and carers at the heart of what you do

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
Employer's website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/

Contact: Claudia Costa, Ward Sister, claudia.costa@ouh.nhs.uk

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