Looking to kickstart a career with the NHS?

Through our 6-month Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) development programme, you can learn on-the-job as a Patient Safety Support Worker (PSSW) with no previous care experience needed.

We have paid and supervised PSSW opportunities at Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.

Your role as a PSSW is crucial in ensuring both quality and safety in the clinical setting for vulnerable patients including those with challenging behaviours, dementia or at high risk of falls. You’ll work towards your Care Certificate whilst receiving weekly pay and paid annual leave.

Pay Rates:

• Days: 10.42
• Saturdays/Nights: 13.40
• Sunday/Bank Hols: 17.39

About the Trust

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (formerly Southport and Ormskirk Hospital) NHS Trust provide acute hospital, community-based and specialist services (including spinal, surgical, A&E, maternity, and paediatrics) to people across Southport, St. Helens, Formby, West Lancashire and beyond.

What the programme involves

During our programme, you will learn how to provide compassionate, safe, and effective care in a range of settings. This will include reducing the risk of falls, injury and anxiety caused by patients suffering from dementia.

You may be expected to provide 1-1 close supervision and patient centred care under the supervision or guidance of a Registered Nurse.

You will support the multidisciplinary team in the clinical environment by providing unique dementia support and maintaining positive engagement including carrying out distraction, communication, diversional, and reminiscence therapies with the patient.

Typical duties may involve but not limited to:

• To assist patients in performing the daily activities of living in accordance with their plan of care such as personal hygiene, dressing, feeding and toileting.
• Provide 1-1 supervision including of patients who have challenging behaviours, vulnerable and patients at risk of falls (under the delegation and supervision of a Registered Nurse).
• Diversional techniques e.g. use of dementia boxes, twiddlemuffs
• Reminisce therapy (photographs, music, memorabilia)
• Comply with Trust and local policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Infection Prevention and Control.
• Documentation to be accurate of the care provided.

Benefits of joining

By joining, you can receive some exciting benefits:

• Career Progression – Achieve a Care Certificate and begin your journey with the NHS.
• Weekly pay – Work this week, get paid next week.
• Paid annual leave – Build holiday allowance.
• Provide patient care – Provide care, safety, and welfare for patients.
• Join the NHS family – Become part of a healthcare team.
• Dedicated training and supervised shifts – Support from your ward / area and skilled mentors.

Who we are looking for?

For this opportunity, candidates do not need any previous healthcare experience, although any experience in 1-2-1 care is desirable, including familial care.

We are looking for candidates who are/have:

• The ability to work well in stressful situations.
• Demonstrate the 6Cs which are care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment.
• Able to manage and prioritise patient care and workload.
• A passion for care.

Please note that we require:

• You must be over the age of 18 or turning 18 before the planned classroom training week.
• You are able to work a minimum of 30 hours weekly, covering a mixture of shifts such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends.

What’s next?

• Attendance of Assessment Day – Planned for Thursday 7th September
• Attendance of FREE classroom training – Planned for Monday 9th October - Thursday 12th October
• Attend an Induction week (37.5 hours supervised placement) – Planned for End of October, Pre employment checks permitting.

After the programme

Once you have successfully completed the programme you will be able to work flexibly at any of our partner Trusts. PSSW can also work HCSW shifts upon programme completion as they are also required to undertake assessment of the 15 Care Certificate standards.

As your first step into healthcare with the NHS, you may be able to access additional training outside of the programme to advance your career. In time, you could apply to train as an Assistant Practitioner or Nursing Associate, enabling further careers such as a Registered Nurse or Midwife.

Apply

As an equal opportunities organisation, NHSP is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective bank members and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender reassignment, or marriage and civil partnership. We believe there is a strong case for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda and we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply.