Healthcare Support Worker (Sponsorship Available) at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

Are you looking to join Team Countess as a Healthcare Support Worker? Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking dedicated, motivated and hardworking individuals to join its Healthcare Support Worker workforce.

Job Details

Employer: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Job Title: Healthcare Support Worker
Location: United Kingdom
Salary: £25,760 – £27,476 a year
Job Type: Full-time
Closing Date: 04 November 2026 at 23:59

Eligibility – Qualified or Experienced Route

Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Qualification

Main Duties of the Job

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who want to help Team Countess provide Safe, Kind and effective care.

The right candidate will be provided with a 7-day Healthcare Assistant Induction, introducing them to the Trust and ensuring that they settle into their new role.

Successful candidates will be provided with resources and guidance to ensure completion of the national mandatory Care Certificate within 6 months of appointment.

Please see attached the Job Description for full list of duties and responsibilities for this role.

About Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

The Trust’s vision is to improve the lives of the community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation.

The Trust’s High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to the Trust vision, values and behaviours.

The Trust welcomes applications from colleagues from local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within the region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region, the Trust is reviewing the way it works, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of the recruitment process, the Trust will explore how its inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

The Countess of Chester Hospital: Providing 473 general and acute beds.
Ellesmere Port Hospital: Providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: A base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire, which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support candidates through the recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of the original vacancy page.

If an applicant has a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and can show that they meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, they should answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Applicants should inform the team if they have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The Trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for the role, applicants are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website – https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Level 3 qualification (e.g. A-Level’s, NVQ3) in Health and Social Care OR equivalent knowledge and experience.
Completion of the Care Certificate within specified timeframe on commencing employment with the Trust.
In-depth understanding of the healthcare support worker role.

Skills and Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in a clinical environment and undertaking a range of relevant clinical skills with proven competencies.
Experience working in the NHS.
Knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of a health care support worker.
Can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of promoting patient independence.

Desirable criteria

– Additional clinical duties and activities as defined by the area of work under the delegation of the registered nurse.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020, 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on the original application, a new application will need to be submitted and the applicant will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from the applicant’s salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

For details regarding salary requirements of a skilled worker, please refer to the Skilled Worker Visa Immigration Salary List.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules.

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview – GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

How to Apply

If this opportunity interests you, head to the company’s official website for full details — click here to submit your application.