Care Certificate Support Worker

Job summary

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is offering an excellent opportunity to join our Integrated Clinical Education Team (ICET).

The Care Certificate is a mandatory requirement for all Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) within the organisation, and the postholder will provide support and guidance to new HCSWs undertaking the Care Certificate programme.

The Trust has achieved the Gold HCSW Pastoral Support Quality Award in recognition of its commitment to supporting HCSWs, making this a fantastic opportunity to contribute to our ongoing journey towards excellence.

The Care Certificate Support Worker (CCSW) will work alongside new HCSWs to develop their clinical practice and knowledge in line with Care Certificate standards. It is essential that the successful applicant has already achieved the Care Certificate.

The role involves working across a wide range of settings in both acute and community environments, including adult, child, maternity, and therapy services.

Sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa not AvailablePlease note that a Certificate of Sponsorship is not available for this position as it does not meet one or more of the required criteria. For more information on eligible roles please visit

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work alongside all new HCSW employees across clinical and community settings, providing both clinical expertise and pastoral support. Strong communication skills will be essential for building effective relationships with teams and managers while consistently promoting best practice.

The CCSW will support new HCSWs in delivering fundamental patient care and assisting with all activities of daily living, as outlined in individual care plans. This includes observing and reporting changes to senior staff, accurately documenting care provided, assessing competency, and guiding HCSWs through completion of their workbook.

The postholder will also contribute to teaching within both classroom and clinical environments, with training provided to support this aspect of the role.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

• Care Certificate
• Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship (Level 3) or equivalent or equivalent experience
• Demonstration of personal development over the past 2 years

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Recent relevant experience of working in acute/community healthcare environment
• Experience of supporting new Healthcare Support Workers in clinical environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• IT skills - Use of eCare, Word, Excel etc.
• Good attention to detail
• High level of fundamental patient care skills
• Knowledge of the Care Certificate

Desirable

• Supportive nature with the ability to develop others
• Ability to instil confidence in others.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Supportive nature with the ability to develop others
• Ability to instil confidence in others.

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.