Publish date: 19 May 2022
NHS and Indeed to host Bristol recruitment event with hundreds of jobs and on-the-day offers
Health and care teams across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are working with NHS England and the global job site Indeed to host an event for people interested in becoming NHS healthcare support workers.
The event takes place at the Bristol Pavilion, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, between 9am and 7pm, on Thursday 19 May.
It is one of the first of its kind since COVID-19 restrictions were eased and is aimed at candidates who are looking to start out in a healthcare career, return to work after a break or move from another sector.
Healthcare support workers are key part of the NHS workforce, providing care across wards, operating theatres, maternity units and in the community, with all types of patients. Many go on to other careers in the health service.
Duncan Burton, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England said: “Healthcare support workers are at the heart of wards, clinics and local communities up and down the country, and play an integral part in delivering incredible patient care every single day.
“If moving into healthcare is something you’ve been thinking about or have always wanted to try but thought you needed existing skills and experience, now’s the perfect time to apply and take your first step into this rewarding career.”
Health and care organisations involved in the event include University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, which provides inpatient and community-based health care.
They will be joined by Sirona care & health, a community interest company delivering specialist health and care services for adults and children in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and North Bristol NHS Trust.
Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nursing Officer at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), said: “Our healthcare support workers play a central role in ensuring we are putting patients first and providing exceptional healthcare. We are delighted to be a part of this recruitment event and hope to attract many new people to join us at NBT. Not only is the healthcare support worker role an exciting and fulfilling opportunity in itself, it also has the potential to lead to one of many future career opportunities with us.”
Adrian Childs, Director of Nursing at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) said: “Being a healthcare support worker in mental health services is both rewarding and challenging. You will make a real difference in the lives of our patients and services users and their families. You will be part of a multi professional team that will enable our patients to live more independently and manage their mental health challenges. If you genuinely want to make a difference to people’s lives then this is the career for you and here at AWP we will support you from the very beginning and help you go from strength to strength in your career.”
Mary Lewis, Director of Nursing and Quality at Sirona care & health said: “Healthcare support workers are at the heart of our community services, working with people and their families to deliver the best outcome for individuals to enable them to stay as independent at home as possible.
“Whether you are supporting people in their homes or in one of our rehabilitation units, we also offer great support and training across all areas, to ensure our colleagues can achieve their own goals within a caring and supportive environment. We look forward to meeting you on Thursday 19 May – we’d love to hear about you and how you can help us make a difference.”
Professor Deirdre Fowler, Chief Nurse and Midwife at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), said: “Healthcare support workers are a vital part of the teams on our wards and all our other clinical areas, helping to deliver excellent care to our patients.
“We are really pleased to be part of this recruitment event and are hoping to welcome new healthcare support workers to team UHBW in a role that is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Not only is this a great role in itself but it can also lead to future career opportunities in healthcare.”
Jobseekers can find out more about the event at NHS Bristol (indeed.com)
After registering their interest, Indeed will check people’s suitability for the role before inviting them to book their own interview slots.
Candidates can then simply turn up to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club where they will be interviewed and possibly receive on-the-day job offers, subject to post-interview checks.
Anyone who hasn’t registered can still attend as a walk-in but will also be required to bring along evidence of their right to work in the UK and other essential documents.
Maggie Hulce, EVP and GM of Enterprise at Indeed, said: “Healthcare workers play a vital role in society and have been called upon like never before over the past two years. With demand for their care and compassion at an all-time high, Indeed is proud to partner with the NHS on our hiring events to help people find new and purposeful careers in the health service.
“Our mission is to help people get jobs and by streamlining the manual processes involved in hiring we’ll quickly move suitable candidates straight to the interview stage and free up NHS employees to do what they do best, which is engaging with people interested in fulfilling careers.”
What is a healthcare support worker?
The term healthcare support worker (HCSW) is an umbrella term which covers a variety of health and care support roles, including healthcare assistant (HCA), nursing assistant, theatre support worker, maternity support worker and more.
Healthcare support workers play a vital role in providing excellent care to patients across all NHS care settings. They can help patients with social and physical activities, personal care, mobility, meal times, booking appointments etc. They may also take observations of patients, including temperature, pulse, respiration and weight. HCSWs can work in hospitals, GP practices, people’s own homes or in the community; roles can vary depending on the environment in which they work. They can work with many different patient groups, of all ages, including those receiving acute care, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental health conditions, and in maternity services.
The HCSW role can also lead to a range of career opportunities. With the right support, those who exemplify the skills and core values essential to delivering high-quality, compassionate care could, and can, go on to become our future nurses, nursing associates and midwives.
Further information about the national Healthcare Support Worker Programme is available here.
