Healthcare Assistant

Job summary
Join our friendly and supportive Community Nursing Team in Herne Bay, where people are at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable Health Care Assistant who shares our CARE values and is passionate about delivering high quality care within the local community.

Working across a diverse patient population with a wide range of health and care needs, you'll help support people to remain safe, independent and well in their own homes. Community is at the heart of our Trust, and by working closely with local primary care partners we deliver responsive, patient-focused care tailored to the needs of each individual.

You'll become part of a close-knit team that values collaboration, compassion and innovation, making a meaningful difference to patients and their families every day.

Main duties of the job
As a Band 3 Health Care Assistant, you'll work alongside community nursing colleagues to deliver person-centred care to patients in their own homes. Supporting people of all ages, you'll help implement care plans designed to promote independence, wellbeing and recovery.

Your patients may be older adults, people living with long-term conditions, individuals recently discharged from hospital, or those requiring end of life or disability support. You'll provide high quality care, monitor patient wellbeing, identify any changes in condition and share feedback with the wider team to ensure the best possible outcomes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys working independently while being supported by a dedicated team. In return, we'll invest in your development, offering learning opportunities, career progression and support to help you achieve your ambitions.

If you're caring, committed and want a role where you can truly make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Details
Date posted: 23 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 846-8253001-CF-A
Closing date: 04 November 2026

Essential qualifications, training and experience

• A Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3, such as an NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship, BTEC or equivalent international qualification in healthcare, or demonstrable equivalent experience
• Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy / GCSE grade A-C / 4-9 or equivalent in English and Maths)
• Recent experience of healthcare / working as a health care assistant gained through education, work experience or previous employment
• Full UK/EU driving licence

Desirable

• The Care Certificate, or support will be provided to achieve this within the first 3 months of starting

Essential knowledge and skills

• A customer focussed approach
• Providing patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience
• Ability to use IT systems and databases
• Attention to detail with the ability to spot problems, knowing when you are within your own limits and when to escalate
• Knowledge of up to date clinical practice, using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks, with a full understanding of the role and remit of a health care worker
• Understanding where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health

Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Good luck! We can't wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

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. 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.

Employer details
Employer name: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Queen Victoria Hospital, King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay, CT6 6EB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Lead, Durga Kasina, durga.kasina@nhs.net

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