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Healthcare Assistant
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust View all jobs
Posted 19 day(s) ago
Reference: 193-HCA-SEP2026
Job summary
Start Your NHS Career With Us -- Your Future Begins at Royal Berkshire Hospital
If you're passionate about helping others and ready to take your first step into a meaningful, long-term career, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust wants to hear from you. We're looking for enthusiastic, caring and motivated individuals to join us as Healthcare Assistants -- and to grow with us through our exceptional apprenticeship pathways.
This is more than a job. It's your opportunity to gain highly valued NHS experience, develop clinical skills, and build a career you can be proud of. Our Healthcare Assistants can go on to become Nursing Associates and Registered Nurses through our apprenticeship programmes -your journey could start right here.
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.Main duties of the job
Why begin your career with us
- A supportive environment where your learning and development truly matter
- Opportunities to apply for apprenticeship routes after probation, including:
**The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship and the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
- Structured progression for those who want to build a long-term future in healthcare
- Hands-on experience in a busy acute hospital -- the perfect foundation for a clinical career
- A team that values compassion, communication and a willingness to learn
What we're looking for
You don't need previous healthcare experience -- just the right values. If you're caring, reliable, eager to learn and committed to making a difference, you'll fit right in. Good communication skills and a compassionate approach are essential.
Please note: this role requires full-time working (37.5 hours per week) on a rota covering days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
About us
We are one of the largest hospital foundation trusts in the country, and currently touch the lives of half a million patients in the west of Berkshire every year by providing high quality acute medical and surgical services for our local communities. The Trust strives to provide high quality, compassionate care for our patients and their families.
Our values:
- Compassionate
- Aspirational
- Resourceful
- Excellent
The town of Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as good.
Details
Date posted
14 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
193-HCA-SEP2026
Job locations
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll be doing
As a Healthcare Assistant, youll play a vital role in delivering highquality care under the supervision of Registered Practitioners. Your responsibilities will include:
- Always acting in the patients best interests
- Supporting patients with dignity, compassion and respect
- Providing personalised care to people from all backgrounds
- Noticing and reporting any changes in a patients condition
- Learning and performing clinical skills once trained, such as venepuncture and cannulation
- Offering enhanced support to patients who need closer supervision
- Guiding and supporting junior or less experienced colleagues
If youre ready to start a career with purpose one that offers real progression, nationally recognised qualifications and the chance to make a difference every day wed love you to join our team.
**To be eligible to apply for Nursing apprenticeships, you must meet the universitys academic entry requirements, and the relevant apprenticeship rules.**
Please note we are currently recruiting candidates who are able to work full time (37.5 hours per week) on a rota basis, 7 days a week (including bank holidays) on day and night shifts.Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll be doing
As a Healthcare Assistant, youll play a vital role in delivering highquality care under the supervision of Registered Practitioners. Your responsibilities will include:
- Always acting in the patients best interests
- Supporting patients with dignity, compassion and respect
- Providing personalised care to people from all backgrounds
- Noticing and reporting any changes in a patients condition
- Learning and performing clinical skills once trained, such as venepuncture and cannulation
- Offering enhanced support to patients who need closer supervision
- Guiding and supporting junior or less experienced colleagues
If youre ready to start a career with purpose one that offers real progression, nationally recognised qualifications and the chance to make a difference every day wed love you to join our team.
**To be eligible to apply for Nursing apprenticeships, you must meet the universitys academic entry requirements, and the relevant apprenticeship rules.**
Please note we are currently recruiting candidates who are able to work full time (37.5 hours per week) on a rota basis, 7 days a week (including bank holidays) on day and night shifts.Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Previous care experience
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Demonstrates the ability to place the patient at the centre of care
- Information technology literate
Education
Essential
- Able to evidence a general level of education
Desirable
- Care Certificate
- QCF level 3 in Health or Health and Social Care
- TLevel in Health
Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Previous care experience
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Demonstrates the ability to place the patient at the centre of care
- Information technology literate
Education
Essential
- Able to evidence a general level of education
Desirable
- Care Certificate
- QCF level 3 in Health or Health and Social Care
- TLevel in Health
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
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)