Are you looking to join Team Countess as a Healthcare Support Worker? We are seeking dedicated, motivated and hardworking individuals to join our Healthcare Support Worker workforce. There are two pathways into a Band 3 role, depending on qualifications and experience:

1. Qualified or Experienced Healthcare Support Worker
Salary: Agenda for Change Band 3

2. Trainee Healthcare Support Worker
Salary: National Living Wage (up to 6 months)

Eligibility – Qualified or Experienced Route

Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Qualification

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, completed via a government‑regulated accredited organisation (as listed on Find a regulated qualification - GOV.UK )

Experience
Applicants without an NVQ Level 3 may be considered if they have either:

• A minimum of 2 years’ substantive experience (not Bank or Agency) as a Healthcare Support Worker or Nursing Assistant in an acute NHS setting (experience may be at Band 2), or
• A minimum of 3 years’ substantive experience in a UK community care setting (e.g. nursing or residential homes), providing adult patient care and undertaking comparable duties.

Please note: This advert is for the qualified or experienced Healthcare Support Worker role only. Applicants who do not meet this criterion and wish to apply for the trainee route must apply via Job Reference: 210-2026-01-G.

Applicants may not be shortlisted if sufficient evidence of qualifications, training or experience is not provided.

We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who want to help Team Countess provide Safe, Kind and effective care to join us.

The right candidate will be provided with a 7-day Healthcare Assistant Induction, introducing you to the Trust and ensuring that you settle into your 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 & responsibilities for this role.

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

​

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 you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

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

Please inform the team if you 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 your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies whcih 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, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.