NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran - Senior Health Care Support Worker - Recruitment Campaign
We are excited to be recruiting Senior Health Care Support Workers to join NHS Ayrshire & Arran as part of our Acute Services recruitment campaign.
This is a great opportunity to become part of a supportive and dedicated team, delivering high-quality care across a range of specialties including Surgical, Medical, Emergency Care, and Trauma & Orthopaedics. Various hours are available.
We are looking for individuals who have experience delivering care within a health or care setting and who are committed to making a positive difference to patient care.
As part of your application, you’ll be asked to select your preferred site - either University Hospital Crosshouse or University Hospital Ayr - so please ensure you indicate which location you would like to be considered for.
Please note interviews for this post will take place in person at a venue in NHS Ayrshire & Arran between Monday 20 July – Thursday 23rd July.
Potential applicants are welcome to attend our Health Care Support Worker Open Evenings to find out more about the roles. Please see attached flyer for details.
What you will do:
As a Senior Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW), you will play a vital role in supporting the nursing team to deliver safe, effective, and person‑centred care to patients with ongoing and complex care needs. Working under the supervision of registered nursing staff, you will contribute to the day‑to‑day running of the department and support patients throughout prolonged hospital stays.
You will work closely with nursing staff and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive high‑quality care. Your contribution will help promote dignity, independence, and a positive experience for patients and their families.
The role will focus on:
- Supporting patient safety, dignity, and quality of care
- Supporting patients with personal care, mobility, nutrition, hydration, and comfort, including assistance with repositioning and prevention of pressure damage
- Monitoring and recording observations and promptly reporting concerns or changes in patient condition to registered nursing staff
- Providing enhanced supervision and support for patients at increased risk of falls, deconditioning, or confusion
- Contributing to the effective use of ward resources and maintaining a clean, safe, and well‑organised care environment
- Participating in continuous improvement activities and audits, as required
- Engaging in training, education, and ongoing personal development
- Supporting patients, relatives, students, and new staff members in line with the scope of the role
Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:
- Experience of delivering care in a health and care setting
- SVQ3 in Healthcare related subject and / or equivalent knowledge gained in a relevant area through experience, on the job training and/or short courses or appropriate competency to undertake role
- Mandatory training
- Genuine interest in position and Acute careGenuine interest in working within an Acute environmentAbility to prioritise assigned workload
For further information on the role and the requirements please click the link below to view the Job Description and Person Specification.
Hours and Shift Pattern:
Full and part time contracts available.
Please note this post may close early when a sufficient number of applications are received therefore please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Right to Work / Certificates of Sponsorship
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.
It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored before submitting your application form.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks.
Please visit here for further information.
We are unable to provide sponsorship for Band 2 posts or bank contracts.
Additional Information for Candidates
- You should apply for this post by completing the application process on NHS Jobs Scotland.
- DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.
- Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. Late applications will not be accepted.
- For help to complete an application on NHS Jobs Scotland, please follow this link: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
- To view our accessibility statement, please follow this link: https://www.eess.nhs.scot/jobtrain-accessibility-statement/
- Please note that our correspondence method is by email, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately.
- Please check your email regularly (including junk folders) and your NHS Jobs Scotland account for updates.
- Please contact JobTrain Candidate Support Hub: https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home - for advice and support with any system issues.
- We recommend using the Internet Browser “Google Chrome” or “Microsoft Edge” when using JobTrain.
- Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments.
- Some of our vacancies are for internal candidates only. If you are a staff member, please ensure you update your NHS Jobs Scotland account profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
- Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.
