Ward Support Assistant

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Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Ward Support Assistant

The closing date is 01 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team on the Acute Floor as a ward support assistant.

Nutrition and hydration are essential for health and quality of life. Adequate food and drink can help people recover from illness, remain independent, reduce their length of stay in hospital and help to avoid re admission to hospital.

You will assist the qualified nurses and contribute to support, assist monitor and educate our patients, their families and carers with their nutrition and hydration needs. You will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and report to the nurse in charge to ensure individual needs are met in a relaxed environment conducive to dining maintaining dignity and respect.

You will assist with cleaning and maintaining the ward environment as well as equipment ensuring that infection control policies are followed.

You will support with administration tasks as required and answer telephones, giving messages to the MDT.

Main duties of the job

Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.

Work with the MDT to implement nutritional care plans.Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake.

Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.Encourage and assist patients to take prescribed snacks, nourishing drinks and supplements and document as directed by the dietician.

Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.

Clean and maintain the ward environment as well as equipment ensuring that infection control policies are followed.

Support administrative tasks and answer telephones

Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.

About us

CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.

Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,272 a year pro rata, per annum,

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2729-A

Job locations

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Patient Care & Nutrition

Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.

Work with registered nurses and dieticians to implement nutritional care plans.

Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake; report findings to nursing and dietetic teams.

Advise patients on suitable food choices, considering cultural preferences.

Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.

Encourage prescribed snacks and supplements; document intake as directed.

Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.

Promote healthy eating and maintain nutritional information resources on the ward.

Prepare discharge nutritional reports with dieticians and nursing staff.

2. Housekeeping & Environmental Duties

Clean and maintain treatment areas, sluice rooms, linen storage, and patient spaces.

Ensure linen supplies are replenished and stored appropriately.

Clean and check returned mobility equipment for reuse.

Decontaminate equipment according to infection control policies.

Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment, including unpacking and storing stock deliveries.

Follow Health and Safety and Infection Control policies, attending mandatory training updates.

3. General Duties

Answer telephones professionally and relay messages appropriately.

Support administrative tasks when required.

Participate in audits and data collection as directed.

Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.

Act as a link to other agencies and services when appropriate.

Promote self-development through training identified by the team.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Patient Care & Nutrition

Assist patients with eating and drinking, ensuring individual needs are met.

Work with registered nurses and dieticians to implement nutritional care plans.

Monitor and record food, fluid, and supplement intake; report findings to nursing and dietetic teams.

Advise patients on suitable food choices, considering cultural preferences.

Order special diets and liaise with catering staff regarding menu choices.

Encourage prescribed snacks and supplements; document intake as directed.

Weigh and measure patients as per nutritional risk assessments.

Promote healthy eating and maintain nutritional information resources on the ward.

Prepare discharge nutritional reports with dieticians and nursing staff.

2. Housekeeping & Environmental Duties

Clean and maintain treatment areas, sluice rooms, linen storage, and patient spaces.

Ensure linen supplies are replenished and stored appropriately.

Clean and check returned mobility equipment for reuse.

Decontaminate equipment according to infection control policies.

Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment, including unpacking and storing stock deliveries.

Follow Health and Safety and Infection Control policies, attending mandatory training updates.

3. General Duties

Answer telephones professionally and relay messages appropriately.

Support administrative tasks when required.

Participate in audits and data collection as directed.

Contribute to moving and handling patients following training.

Act as a link to other agencies and services when appropriate.

Promote self-development through training identified by the team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
• Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
• Competent in cannulation /venepuncture/plaster training and specialist dressings.
• Moving and Handling
• Infection Control
• Customer Care
• Food hygiene

Desirable

• Resuscitation
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

• Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
• Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
• Understand the importance of record keeping

Desirable

• Medical/Elderly knowledge
• Literacy skills
• Experience of record keeping

Communication and relationships

Essential

• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work in a busy environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
• Good communication Skills
• Ability to ensure the cleanliness, tidiness and efficiency of the department

Desirable

• Plan delegated workload

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
• Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
• Competent in cannulation /venepuncture/plaster training and specialist dressings.
• Moving and Handling
• Infection Control
• Customer Care
• Food hygiene

Desirable

• Resuscitation
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

• Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
• Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
• Understand the importance of record keeping

Desirable

• Medical/Elderly knowledge
• Literacy skills
• Experience of record keeping

Communication and relationships

Essential

• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work in a busy environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
• Good communication Skills
• Ability to ensure the cleanliness, tidiness and efficiency of the department

Desirable

• Plan delegated workload

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.

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 further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had 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) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

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 further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had 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) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Sister

Jodie Spencer

[email protected]

01422223738

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,272 a year pro rata, per annum,

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2729-A

Job locations

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW

United Kingdom

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