Company Description
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Job Description

ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON WHO ALWAYS PUTS PATIENTS FIRST? ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER? ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE OUR PATIENTS’ WELL-BEING?

If this is you, you could become a Healthcare Support Worker at Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust - you could be new to Health and Social Care, or an experienced support worker, we would love to hear from you!
The Children’s department is a bright, cheerful unit which is a safe and comforting environment for Portsmouth Babies, Children and young people.

It comprises of 3 wards.

• Children’s Assessment Unit is the referral ward for medically unwell children ranging between 0-16 years of age.
• Starfish is the inpatient 24 bedded medical ward
• Shipwreck an 18 bedded surgical ward caring for children planned and emergency admissions.

The role of the HCSW in paediatrics has historically been non-clinical, however, this is about to change as we are developing a competency pack to enable our HCSW to provide basic care.
In this rewarding role, you’ll support the nursing staff in delivering high-quality care to children and their families. From assisting with daily care to offering a comforting presence during difficult moments.

You will be working under the direct supervision of registered nurses, completed skills, and reporting to the nursing team. The clinical skills will include:

• Supporting with feeding and hydration – helping with bottle feeding and assisting older children with meals.
• Personal care – supporting with bathing, nappy changes, toileting, and dressing while maintaining the child’s dignity and comfort.
• Assisting with observations – recognising and reporting and changes in a children condition to the nursing team
• Comfort and distraction techniques – using play, conversation, or sensory activities to help children feel at ease during procedures or when distressed

It is a busy unit caring for many specialities including oncology, respiratory and mental health. Working on a children’s ward is one of the most rewarding jobs you’ll ever have—but it’s also fast-paced, emotionally demanding, and full of surprises. Every day is different, and flexibility, compassion, and teamwork are key.
The HCSW role includes a variety of working patterns which attract shift allowances.
Please note this role is not eligible for sponsorship.
See attached Job description for additional information.

Qualifications

• English and Maths at Level 1 Functional Skills or GCSE equivalent

Additional Information
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs

Please refer the Job description for details