Are you seeking a rewarding career as a Health Care Assistant in Harlow? This opportunity with a leading NHS foundation trust offers both full-time and part-time roles for compassionate individuals committed to delivering high-quality patient care. If you have experience in a healthcare setting and a genuine passion for supporting others, this role provides a stable and fulfilling pathway within the UK healthcare sector.
Applicants should hold an NVQ Level 2 in Direct Care (or equivalent) and demonstrate hands-on experience in a clinical or care environment. Ideal candidates will be confident in assisting with patient needs, contributing to care plans, and supporting assessments. Strong communication skills, basic IT literacy, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team are highly desirable for success in this position.
This Health Care Assistant role is perfect for candidates looking to build or advance their careers within the NHS. With opportunities for professional development, flexible working hours, and a supportive work environment, this position offers both stability and growth. Apply now to join a dedicated healthcare team making a real difference in patients’ lives across Harlow and surrounding areas.
Position: Health Care Assistant
Job Type: Full Time, Part Time
Salary: £25,760 – £27,476 per annum pro rata for part time, plus 5% HCA
Location: Harlow
About the Trust
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
We are recruiting to the below wards:
Kitwood ward – 1 part time permanent contract, 25hours per week
Chelmer ward – 1 full time permanent contract, 37.5 hours per week
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Health Care Assistant to join the Adult Inpatient Service at the Derwent Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.
It is a requirement of this position to participate in a flexible rostering arrangement to provide 24-hour care, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form be rejected from the process.
Please note this vacancy requires a face-to-face interview with the Recruiting Manager. Applicants that are unable to attend a face-to-face interview need not apply.
This may close early if enough applications are received.
Main duties of the job
- To assist the professional team in providing care for patients in an in-patient environment.
- Under supervision of qualified team member, implement and assist with the evaluation of individual plans of care.
- The post-holder will be required to work from time to time without direct supervision.
- It is a requirement of this position to participate in a flexible rostering arrangement to provide 24-hour care.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
We run recognition awards to recognise staff’s hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
- Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To maintain effective relationships with members of the multidisciplinary team, Trust and other statutory and voluntary organisations.
- To fulfil the role of Co-Worker under the supervision of a qualified nurse/clinician.
- To deliver planned care to service users identified by the nominated professional.
- Assist qualified staff in the physical monitoring of a patient’s health, including monitoring of blood pressure, pulse , temperature, respiration, weight, drug and alcohol screening ( after appropriate training).
- Assist senior staff in the planning and delivery of therapeutic and social activities for patients in the clinical area.
- To maintain effective relationships with patient’s, their relatives and other carers.
Please see job description for full duties for this role.
The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations across our area. One such example of our collaborative work is our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University Hospital Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) which will model a ‘one workforce’ cross system approach to the recruitment, education, and experience of Healthcare Assistants (HCA).
The successful candidate for this post will be required to attend our one-week (5 days – Monday to Friday) face to face induction HCA Academy Induction Programme at our MSE ICB Education Hub at Brentwood Community Hospital, Crescent Dr, Shenfield, Brentwood CM15 8DR.
This will be followed by another 5 days Monday – Friday EPUT corporate / mandatory training induction. EPUT induction will be varied between face to face and virtual delivery.
Our HCA Academy Induction programme has been designed to train and support the successful candidate through the early stages of their career and will provide opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge and experience. More information will be provided to the successful candidate.
Person specification
Education/qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ Level II Direct Care
Desirable criteria
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
- Experience in participating in the assessment of clients’ needs.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a health care setting
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in adults mental health services
Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.
As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.
Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email epunft.recruitment.adverts@nhs.net and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.
The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.
Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.
Please note – staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Application Process
Application Deadline
April 14th, 2026