About this role
Job summary
Are you looking to join Team Countessas a Healthcare Support Worker?
We are pleased to offer a training pathway for individuals wishing to develop their career as a Healthcare Support Worker. Following a recent change to the role, an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent experience is now required to work substantively at Band 3. This training role has been introduced to support individuals who do not yet meet these requirements.
Successful applicants will be appointed to thepost for a period of up to 6 months. During this training period, salary will be aligned to the National Living Wage.
Throughout this period, you will be expected to:
Complete and be signed off on the required clinical skills. Achieve the Care Certificate(if not already held) or complete the Trust's Practical Assessment Documentation Complete all Mandatory trainingrequirements Once all elements of the training programme have been successfully completed and signed off, your pay will progress to Agenda for Change Band 3.
In addition, the Trust will support you to complete the NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Carein partnership with Cheshire College. This is a 21-month programme, delivered on site, and you will be enrolled at the earliest available opportunity.
Please note this advert is for a Trainee Healthcare Support Worker role. If you have the qualifications and / or experience, please apply on vacancy 210-2026-01-E.
Please note, this role is not eligible for sponsorship.
Main duties of the job
We will support you in completing your NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care in partnership with Cheshire College. This 21-month programme will be delivered on site, and you will begin the course at the earliest available opportunity.
We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who want to help Team Countess provide Safe, Kind and effective care to join us.
The right candidate will be provided with a 7-day Healthcare Assistant Induction, introducing you to the Trust and ensuring that you settle into your new role.
Successful candidates will be provided with resources and guidance to ensure completion of the national mandatory Care Certificate within 6 months of appointment.
Please see attached the Job Description for full list of duties & responsibilities for this role.
About us
The Trusts services are provided from three locations:
The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds. Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility. Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Job description Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies whcih is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications Essential
Level 3 qualification (e.g. A-Level's, NVQ3) in Health & Social Care OR equivalent knowledge and experience. Completion of the Care Certificate within specified timeframe on commencing employment with the Trust. In-depth understanding of the healthcare support worker role.
Skills And Experience Essential
Experience of working in a clinical environment and undertaking a range of relevant clinical skills with proven competencies. Experience working in the NHS. Knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of a health care support worker. Can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of promoting patient independence.
Desirable
Additional clinical duties and activities as defined by the area of work under the delegation of the registered nurse.
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 Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Countess of Chester Hospital / Ellesmere Port Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)