Children’s Community HCA
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Bridgwater, Somerset
Our award winning trusts recognise that our colleagues are our most valuable resource, we are proud of the excellent levels of service our Trust provides to our service users and the dedication and conscientiousness of our colleagues. With over 10,000 colleagues working for our trusts in a very wide range of services, we aim to provide a supportive, inclusive environment in which our colleagues can thrive.
Potential Trust Merger
Our trust is consulting on a proposed merger to enable Yeovil District hospital and Somerset Foundation Trust to become one combined organisation. If the merger is confirmed your employment will transfer to the newly formed trust in April 2023
Job overview
Children's Community HCA (Band 3)
Due to a recent expansion of the team, we are looking to recruit!
Caring for a child with complex health needs makes real demands on a family. As a Children’s Community Health Care Assistant in the Children’s Home Care Team your job is to provide one on one care to the child, in their family home or school setting. Ensuring that they are safe and all their health needs are met overnight and during the day.
As a team, we feel very lucky to visit children within their own homes, we also have the luxury of spending time getting to know our patients, which is a very important part of this role.
Your development is important to us!
We are a supportive team who rely on each other for support on our friendly group chats & social meet ups! We support our staff, there are many opportunities to progress within this role if progression is what you are after! When joining our team we will offer you a 2 week induction in the office with inhouse/classroom training, & a minimum of 3 months training/shadowing!
Do you like rural working?
Drives through scenic locations?
Applicants welcome to cover locations across Somerset. Various Locations available, including West Mendip, Frome, Wells, Evercreech, Bridgwater, Taunton, Wellington, Watchet. Applicants are required to work in a minimum of 2 locations.
We are a flexible team & do our best to accommodate workings pattern preferences but must be flexible for nights.
Full and part time hours available
Main duties of the job
The post will include carrying out procedures such as feeding by gastronomy tubes, maintaining their tracheotomy and ensuring all the appropriate equipment is working. The result will be a welcome rest for parents and the satisfaction of knowing you have made a difference to a family.
The post holder will also be expected to cover bank holidays including Christmas, Easter and school holidays. This post covers day and night duty and will be in patient’s homes, schools or nursery.
Full training will be given. We provide a county wide service so a valid driver’s licence is a necessity. Please indicate in your application whether you have a clean driving licence. Previous experience of children with special needs or healthcare an advantage.
Working for our organisation
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone’s throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan – there is truly something for everyone!
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Purpose:
To care for children who have unpredictable, complex medical needs which require up to 24 hour help with their lifestyle within a hospital or a community environment. Providing care for children who may require or are dependant on technology such as ventilators, suction machines, feed pumps etc. To provide care on a one to one basis following training and achievement of competencies in specific procedures relevant
to the needs of the specific child. Training will be provided under the supervision of the junior/senior sister and following written procedures.
The Children’s Community Health Care Assistant will work alongside a parent or a trained carer on each shift. At all times the employee must follow agreed guidelines and protocols for all interventions and can seek help from the Children’s Home Care Team (CHCT) practitioners in the office or via an out of hours bleep system.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- 5 GCSE's/ NVQ 3
Desirable criteria
- Additional Qualifications
Driving
Essential criteria
- Has a driving license
- Has access to a car for work
Experience
Essential criteria
- Worked with children
Desirable criteria
- Worked with Children with Additional/ Medical needs
- Worked in Healthcare
Shift/lone worker
Essential criteria
- Has Experience of Working Shifts
- Has Experience of Lone working
Desirable criteria
- Has experience of working in a community setting
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Nikki shuttleworth
- Job title
- Children's Community Nurse
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01823346921