About this role
Job summary
Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) - Paediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU)
Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) are a vital part of the multidisciplinary team within the Paediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU), providing essential support to nurses, doctors, patients and their families. Working under the direction and supervision of registered nursing staff, HCSWs contribute to the delivery of safe, high-quality care for children and young people with complex medical needs who require enhanced monitoring and support.
The personal qualities of a Healthcare Support Worker are fundamental to the success of the role. Suitable candidates are compassionate, observant, reliable and emotionally resilient individuals who can communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues. A caring and proactive approach, combined with the ability to recognise concerns and escalate appropriately, is essential when caring for children with complex respiratory and high-dependency needs.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will aim to ensure that all patients are provided with a safe and high quality standard of care.
The role involves assisting with the observation and ongoing assessment of patients, recognising changes in a child's condition, and promptly escalating concerns to the registered nursing team. HCSWs support the monitoring of physiological observations, including respiratory rate, oxygen saturations, heart rate and temperature, ensuring accurate documentation and reporting of findings.
Within the Paediatric HDU environment, HCSWs play an important role in supporting children undergoing sleep studies and those requiring long-term ventilation. This includes assisting with the setup and monitoring of equipment, observing patient tolerance and comfort, identifying potential issues with respiratory support devices, and escalating any concerns regarding patient safety or clinical deterioration.
In addition to direct patient care, HCSWs provide support with personal care, feeding, mobility, play and developmental activities, helping to maintain a child-centred environment. They offer reassurance and information to children and their families during what can be a stressful hospital admission and contribute to maintaining a clean, safe and well-organised clinical area.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be one of the top performing and safest trusts in England. We have two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, plus our award-winning clinics across North West London and beyond.
Job description Job responsibilities Detailed Job Description & Main Responsibilities
The Paediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and motivatedHealthcare Support Worker (HCSW) to join its dynamic nursing team.
The successful candidate will play a fundamental role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, holistic, patient-centred care to children and young people requiring enhanced observation, monitoring, and specialist respiratory support. Working under the direction of registered nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate care in accordance with Trust values and behaviours.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a specialist paediatric environment caring for children with a range of acute, complex, and long-term health conditions. The role includes supporting children undergoing sleep studies, monitoring patients receiving long-term ventilation (LTV), and assisting with the observation and escalation of care for children requiring high dependency support.
Main Responsibilities The post holder will:
Support the nursing team in delivering high standards of safe and effective patient care. Undertake and accurately record physiological observations, including heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturations, blood pressure, temperature, and Paediatric Early Warning Scores (PEWS). Recognise changes in a child's condition and promptly escalate concerns to registered nursing staff. Assist in the monitoring of children undergoing overnight sleep studies and those requiring long-term ventilation, ensuring patient safety and comfort at all times. Support the safe use, monitoring, and maintenance of respiratory and monitoring equipment within the clinical area. Deliver personal care and assist with activities of daily living while promoting dignity, independence, and wellbeing. Provide emotional support and reassurance to children, young people, parents, and carers throughout their hospital stay. Maintain accurate documentation and communicate effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team. Contribute to the safe delivery of delegated clinical skills and competencies within the scope of the Healthcare Support Worker role. Maintain a clean, safe, and well-organised environment, adhering to infection prevention and control policies. Demonstrate flexibility and professionalism while working within a busy and varied paediatric high dependency setting. About You We are looking for a compassionate, observant, and reliable Healthcare Support Worker with excellent communication and organisational skills. The successful candidate will have a positive and professional approach, be able to work sensitively with children and families, and thrive as part of a multidisciplinary team.
This role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and experience within paediatric high dependency, respiratory care, sleep medicine, and long-term ventilation, while making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and their families.
Key working relationships include:
Patients and their carersNursing and medical staffSenior Staff Nurse / Junior SisterSister / Charge NurseMultidisciplinary teamMatronDirectorate / Divisional Nurse
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Demonstrable literacy and numeracy skills at level 1 Care Certificate
Desirable
NVQ/QCF Apprenticeship Level 2 or equivalent experience Excellence in Care or willingness to undertake the course
Experience Essential
Previous experience within a carer's role/setting Insight into the HCA role Experience providing customer care Working within a multi-disciplinary team Experience of working with Children
Skills and knowledge Essential
Caring skills Ability to provide individualized care and empathy Able to demonstrate knowledge of equality and diversity Able to demonstrate an awareness of the important of confidentiality / privacy and dignity Approachable & polite Good organisational skills Able to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and multi-disciplinary team Ability to work in a team Safe Housekeeping skills Keyboard/IT clerical skills
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 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)