Job summary
** This vacancy is currently only open to internal applicants from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust **

We are seeking a highly committed and motivated Health Care Support Worker to work within the Breast Care Nursing Service, to support and develop the complex needs of the service. The post will be based at the Worcestershire Breast Unit but you may be required to work at other sites within the Trust.

The successful candidate will be working under the supervision of the Breast Care Nursing Team and will be encouraged and supported in developing their knowledge and clinical skills. The ideal candidate must possess excellent communication, documentation and organisational skills.

The post holder will be required to triage the incoming patient telephone calls and ensure the more complex enquiries are reported to the appropriate member of the Breast Care Nursing Team.

You would also be expected to support the Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeons in their on call duties, assisting with clinical procedures.

You will need to have excellent IT skills and able to accurately record information in the appropriate format.

The successful candidate will have experience of working in a surgical setting

If you feel you have the necessary skills and wish to be part of a friendly, professional team we would be glad to receive your application, informal visits are welcomed.

Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role within the Breast Service comprise providing high quality care to patients attending the Breast Clinics supporting the work of the professional members of the team to prepare patients for and assisting with clinical treatments and procedures.

Following appropriate training the post holder will be expected to carry out venepuncture, cannulation, removal of sutures and drains, and other clinical duties according to the needs of the service.

The post holder will also carry out planned care or treatment at times unsupervised by nursing staff, for example undertaking simple wound dressings, removing wound drains and other clinical procedures as appropriate.

You will also be responsible for maintaining oversight of the ordering and monitoring of stock and non stock items to ensure efficient use of resources. Additionally,you will be responsible for ensuring the consignment stock of prostheses is maintained and you will have responsibility for overseeing the prosthesis fitting clinics, ensuring the clinics are booked to maintain efficiency of the service.

There will be a requirement for the post holder to triage the incoming telephone calls and refer the more complex enquiries to the appropriate member of the team.

About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job responsibilities
Job Purpose: To support the professionally qualified staff and work under their direction to provide quality nursing care to patients and work under their direction ensure patient safety and ensure patients are cared for appropriately during their time in the Breast Unit.

There will be a requirement to perform a variety of patient orientated administrative duties in the Breast Unit

Dimensions: To work within the Breast Care Nursing Service.

Other Key Relationships: Medical staff, Breast Care Nursing staff, Breast Cancer Support Worker, other health care professionals, care providers, porters, service users and their relatives.

Risk Assessment: This post involves working with display screen equipment, manual handling and exposure to bodily fluids.

Job Purpose:

To support and assist Breast Care Nurses and Consultants in the delivery of care to patients attending the Breast Unit, to care for patients and their relatives/carers in the department and offer reassurance and support when required.

To undertake clinical procedures which are delegated by the Breast Care Nurses and other trained professionals within the team

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To support the Community Breast Clinic, ensuring written information and notes are available, and acting as a chaperone as required
• To support the breast Care Nursing Team by assisting with clinical procedures ensuring a detailed knowledge of equipment required
• Following appropriate training undertake procedures such as removal of wound drains, simple wound dressings, venepuncture, removal of sutures
• To provide clinical and administrative support to the Breast Care Nursing team
• To triage incoming telephone calls, referring complex enquiries to the appropriate member of the team
• To prepare clinical procedure trolleys
• To report any accidents/incidents to a senior member of staff
• Have a flexible attitude to hours of work, and participate in work and duties such as extended days, bank holidays and weekends
• To participate in patient orientated administration duties
• To complete accurately and legibly all hand-written records
• To work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, liaising with MDT co-ordinator to ensure a seamless service for patients
• To carry out administrative duties required by the role
• To record activity on appropriate IT systems

Quality:

• To participate in the Quality Assurance Programme within the department

Finance, Information and Resources:

• To ensure the effective use of resources
• To ensure appropriate stock of prostheses and to be responsible for ordering replacement stock as required

Professional:

• To participate in appraisal and work to achieve agreed set objectives
• To participate in departmental meetings
• To ensure compliance with the Mandatory Training requirements of the Trust
• To attend training courses as appropriate and take every opportunity to maintain and improve knowledge and competence
• To participate in the training of other staff with regard to induction and orientation and to provide support to less experienced or new members of staff
• To behave in a professional manner, upholding the reputation of the Directorate and Trust

Health and safety:

• To work at all times in a safe and responsible manner, ensuring that his/her own work practices comply with Unit and Directorate Policies on Health and Safety, COSSH, Security and that any risks or incidents or concerns are brought to the attention of the Nurse in charge promptly
• To work in accordance with all Trust and Clinical policies

External Liaison:

• To liaise with other disciplines in the Trust and to foster good communications within the department and the hospita

Any other Ad Hoc duties that may be required

Standard Clauses:
The purpose of this post should remain constant, but the duties and responsibilities may vary over time within the overall role and level of the post. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any such changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of service needs

Competence
The post holder is responsible for limiting his/her actions to those which s/he feels competent to undertake. If the post holder has any doubts as to his or her competence during the course of his/her duties then s/he should immediately speak to their line manager or supervisor

Codes of conduct
All employees of the Trust who are required to be registered with a professional body, to enable them to practice within their profession, are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration. Those staff who are not required to be registered with a professional body are required to comply with the Trusts codes of conduct

Confidentiality
The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service business

Records Management
All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the Trust (including patient, financial, personnel and administrative), whether paper or computer based. All such records are considered public records and all employees have a legal duty of confidence to service users. Employees should consult their manager if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work

Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992). This ensures that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors to the Trust

Infection Control
Employees must accept personal responsibility and accountability for Infection Prevention and Control practice. Employees should ensure they are familiar with, and comply with, all relevant Infection Control policies for minimising the risk of avoidable Health Care Associated Infection. All Employees must undertake annual mandatory updates in Infection Control

Risk Management
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all employees of the Trust that they fulfill a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, taking appropriate actions, and reporting all incidents, near misses, and hazards promptly. It is a contractual obligation that all employees must co-operate with any investigations undertaken

Children and vulnerable adults
You have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children/young people/vulnerable adults that you come into contact with or are responsible for in your job role and sphere of competence

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure
The Trust aims to promote equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Criminal records will be taken into account for recruitment purposes, only when the conviction is relevant. As the Trust meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. Postholders may periodically be asked to undertake a re-check

Vetting and Barring Scheme
The Trust is legally required to check all staff against the ISA Childrens and Vulnerable Adults barring lists if they engage in what is defined as Regulated Activity or Controlled Activity: Regulated Activity is defined as working closely with children or vulnerable adults, paid or unpaid, on a frequent or intensive basis. Controlled activity is work that provides opportunities for contact with children or vulnerable adults, or their records. This includes caterers, cleaners, administrators, contractors, maintenance workers and their managers and supervisors

If the post holders role is defined as regulated or controlled activity they will be required to be checked against the relevant ISA barring lists and will need to be ISA registered by 31st July 2015. The Trust will undertake these checks on a phased basis for existing staff. All new staff commencing from 26th July 2010 will need to be ISA registered. It will be a condition of employment that ISA registration is maintained

Equal Opportunities
The Trust has a clear commitment to equal opportunities for all in employment practices based on an applicants ability, skills and aptitude for the post. A range of equality & diversity policy initiatives are in place and all successful applicants are expected to familiarise themselves with these. It is therefore the duty of every employee to comply with the detail and spirit of these policies and the law at all times. Any issues or concerns you have should be taken up with the recruiting manager or the human resource team as soon as possible

Conflict of Interest
The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients and its care meet the highest standard. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The Trusts Standing Orders require any member of staff to declare any interest, direct or indirect, with contracts involving the Trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• A good basic education. Educated to GCSE or O Level Good level of spoken and written English. Good standard of numeracy NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels. Ability to communicate sensitive information in an emotive atmosphere. Empathy with service users and the ability to always provide a high standard of care. IT skills. Variety of clinical skills. Able to demonstrate good organisational skills. Attention to detail. Flexible attitude to departmental duties.
• Demonstrates commitment to own personal/professional development. A valid UK driving licence and access to a car Conscious of appropriate image and self-presentation to suit the department.

Desirable

• Experience of working on a surgical ward or in an outpatient Breast Service environment Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Competent in Venepuncture, Suture removal, simple wound care
• Desire for further personal development.
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology. Knowledge of clean and aseptic techniques. Knowledge of the patient pathway through the breast diagnostic service.

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: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Lead Breast Care Nurse
Nicola Jayne O'Hara
n.o'hara@nhs.net
07707350842

Details
Date posted: 24 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year
Contract: Secondment
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Flexible working
Reference number: C9365-26-0718
Job locations: Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD, United Kingdom

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.