Is it an emergency?Acute care refers to short–term treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients with any kind of physical or mental health illness or injury.
Acute NHS Trusts provide services such as accident and emergency departments, inpatient and outpatient medicine and surgery and in some cases very specialist medical care.
There are four acute trusts operating within Suffolk and north east Essex. Between them, they offer a range of inpatient and outpatient health and care services.
We are currently recruiting for Healthcare Support Workers on behalf of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Healthcare Support Worker roles
Healthcare Support Workers are a vital part of how the NHS looks after people. They spend time with patients, including supporting their personal care, and learn how to undertake technical tasks like taking a patient’s temperature.
For most Healthcare Support Worker roles, you don’t need to have worked in any healthcare jobs and you may already have some relevant work or life experience. You will be given all the training you need when you join the NHS.
Relevant experience could include:
- Customer service
- Hospitality
- Volunteering in your local community or hospital
- Armed forces or cadet programmes
However, anyone from any background who is compassionate, demonstrates the values below, and is interested in a career in the NHS would be well-suited to this role.
To be an excellent Healthcare Support Worker you will be compassionate, caring and committed. Your success as a Healthcare Support Worker will be driven by your values and the skills you’ve gained from your life experience or other jobs.
An excellent Healthcare Support Worker:
- enjoys working as part of a team
- is caring and kind
- likes every day to be different
- is proactive
- is able to work under the guidance of other staff members
- enjoys meeting different people
As a Healthcare Support Worker you can work in different places and services across the NHS. This means you will be able to find the role that is right for you, however and wherever you want to make a difference.
Areas of healthcare you could be working in
Mental health
Supporting people with mental health conditions in hospitals, in their own homes or in the community.
Learning disabilities
Supporting people with a learning disability in their own home or in the community.
Community
Caring for people in their own homes and outside of hospital.
Maternity
Caring for families and their babies through pregnancy, labour and during the postnatal period.
Acute care
Helping patients in hospital, whom of whom may be very unwell.
Primary Care
Helping patients in primary care settings, like GP surgeries.
Children and young people
Caring for children in hospitals, family homes and the community.
As a Healthcare Support Worker there are lots of opportunities to learn and develop within the role, or to progress into other jobs in the NHS, including the below.
Senior HCSW Apprenticeship
A senior HCSW Apprenticeship will mean learning as you work. You’ll work alongside registered practitioners to provide high quality, compassionate healthcare.
Trainee Nursing Associate
You can become a nursing associate through a hands-on apprenticeship or through a degree route. Your HCSW experience will be invaluable.
Registered Nurse or Midwife
You can become a Registered Nurse or Midwife through an apprenticeship, doing an undergraduate degree, or by topping up your Nursing Associate training.
Find out more about development opportunities via the HCSW Learning and Development Roadmap.
Organisations that are recruiting
You can choose to interview for a Healthcare Support Worker role at either ESNEFT, NSFT or West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT)
ESNEFT provide healthcare to a population of almost a million people in Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, as well as patients’ homes, surgeries, community and high street clinics and community hospitals.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)
NSFT provide mental health and learning disability care for people across Norfolk and Suffolk. The trust supports a population of just over 1.6 million people and employs more than 4,700 staff based in more than 50 locations. NSFT’s biggest bases are at Hellesdon Hospital, Norwich, Wedgwood House, Bury St Edmunds and Woodlands Unit in Ipswich.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital and community services to a population of around 280,000 people who live in west Suffolk.