About this role
Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare or working on the Staff Bank within these organisations. Nursing and AHP vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses/AHPs.
There has never been a more exciting time to join community healthcare. As a Band 3 Healthcare Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting people to recover, maintain their independence, and receive care closer to home. Working as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, you will help deliver high-quality, person-centred care and support patients to achieve their rehabilitation goals.
In return, you will be part of a supportive and inclusive organisation that values your contribution and wellbeing. We offer a range of learning and development opportunities, clear career progression pathways, flexible working options where possible, and the chance to develop your skills alongside experienced healthcare professionals. If you are compassionate, motivated, and committed to making a difference, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Join our dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT) and play a key role in helping patients recover from stroke, regain independence, and return home safely. Working within our specialist stroke rehabilitation service, you will provide high-quality, person-centred care while supporting patients, families and carers throughout their recovery journey.
This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will assist with personal care, mobility, nutrition and hydration, while encouraging patients to achieve their rehabilitation goals. As part of the MDT, you will undertake a range of clinical duties including observations, blood glucose monitoring, catheter and stoma care, venepuncture, ECG recording, bladder scanning, simple wound management, specimen collection and maintaining accurate patient records.
You will also contribute to risk assessments, infection prevention activities, and support patients' physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Working closely with nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals, you will help deliver safe, effective care and promote the best possible outcomes for patients.
If you are compassionate, motivated and committed to making a difference, we can offer a supportive team environment, opportunities to develop your skills, and the chance to be part of a service that transforms lives every day. Come and help us support patients on their road to recovery.
About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.
Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values:Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.
We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.
We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.
Explore KCHFTcareer pathways
Job description Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via [email protected], quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
Person Specification
Qualifications, training and experience Essential
You will have either: A Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3. This could be an NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship, BTEC or equivalent international qualification in healthcare. Or you will be able to demonstrate the equivalent level of experience In addition you will also have Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C/ 4-9 or equivalent in English and Maths) You'll need to have recent experience of healthcare/ working as a health care assistant gained through education, work experience or previous employment
Desirable
You may also have the Care Certificate, but if not, we will support you to achieve this within the first 3 months of starting
Knowledge and skills Essential
You will need to have a customer focussed approach which is essential to; Provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience You will need to be able to be able to use IT systems and databases You will understand where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health You will have knowledge of up to date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks. You will fully understand the role and remit of a health care worker
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address Westbrook House Stroke Unit
150 Canterbury Road
Margate
CT9 5DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)