Job summary

Health Care Assistant -Band 3 - Paediatric Ward

Full time 37.5 hours

Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Leave Cover until November 2027)

We have an exciting new opportunity within our Paediatric Ward , for a talented, highly motivated individual who wants to make a difference to our patient experience. We are looking for a caring and committed individual who would like to develop their knowledge and skills within this challenging and rewarding environment.

Experience of working with children preferred but not essential.

The ability to deal supportively with babies, children and young people, along with their families, is essential. Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-professional team are critical to the success of the role.Previous experience of working within an acute hospital setting is essential along with current experience in an acute setting. You should have also completed NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or equivalent level study.

Due to current service demands, we are only able to consider applicants who have relevant UK experience. Candidates must also be available to commence employment immediately or within a very short timeframe. We regret that we cannot progress applications that do not meet these essential requirements.

Main duties of the job

Staff are expected to be flexible with their availability as there is a 12-hour rotational shift pattern in place with internal rotation between day and night duty.

Work with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver the Trust's vision and values providing safe, high quality, compassionate, person centred care to children and their families.Support/supervise learners, new staff and junior staff where required

Record patient information in accordance with local and trust policiesUndertake personal care duties for patients within the care setting accessing supervision from a registered healthcare practitioner

Staff are expected to be flexible with their availability as there is a 12-hour rotational shift pattern in place with internal rotation between day and night duty.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

o Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

o Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

o National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details

Date posted

22 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year Per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-8278712

Job locations

Ormskirk Hospital

Wigan Road

Ormskirk

L39 2AZ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.

Advertising date: 17th September 2026

Closing date: 29th September 2026

Shortlisting date: 30th September 2026

Proposed Interview date: W/C 12th October 2026

Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job description Job responsibilities Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application. Advertising date: 17th September 2026 Closing date: 29th September 2026 Shortlisting date: 30th September 2026 Proposed Interview date: W/C 12th October 2026 Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Frequent moderate effort for several long periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patient's personal care.
• Concentration, focus and frequent record keeping requirements. Carrying out time critical tasks.
• Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
• Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
• Daily exposure to distressing situations which may include challenging behaviour, care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/care after death
• Able to carry out direct clinical care as required on ward or department.
• Potential blood or body fluids exposure

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 3 Health & Social care or equivalent
• Care Certificate (equivalent to level1)
• Literacy and numeracy functional skills level 2 or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working in a patient care/health related role
• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
• Knowledge of relevant legislation related to healthcare
• Experience of working in a team

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a team
• Experience of supporting junior staff and learners
• Able to accept direction and guidance
• Aware of own limitations
• Flexible in working hours
• Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
• Reliable and professional
• Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
• Inclusive and non-judgmental
• Punctual, motivated and committed
• Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
• Basic IT skills

Person Specification Other Essential Frequent moderate effort for several long periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patient's personal care. Concentration, focus and frequent record keeping requirements. Carrying out time critical tasks. Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support Daily exposure to distressing situations which may include challenging behaviour, care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/care after death Able to carry out direct clinical care as required on ward or department. Potential blood or body fluids exposure Qualifications Essential NVQ level 3 Health & Social care or equivalent Care Certificate (equivalent to level1) Literacy and numeracy functional skills level 2 or equivalent Knowledge and Experience Essential Demonstrable experience of working in a patient care/health related role Knowledge of personal care and related procedures Knowledge of relevant legislation related to healthcare Experience of working in a team Skills Essential Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats Good interpersonal skills Able to work within a team Experience of supporting junior staff and learners Able to accept direction and guidance Aware of own limitations Flexible in working hours Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change Reliable and professional Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations Inclusive and non-judgmental Punctual, motivated and committed Effective role model demonstrating Trust values Basic IT skills

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Ormskirk Hospital

Wigan Road

Ormskirk

L39 2AZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Ormskirk Hospital

Wigan Road

Ormskirk

L39 2AZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)