‘Professionalism, progression and pride’: New roles at Hull hospitals

HEALTHCARE SUPPORT: Nursing Assistant Harvey Wilkinson

By Rick Lyon

They are the backbone of Hull’s hospitals, the army of staff at the forefront of healthcare.

Now, Hull University Teaching Hospitals (HUTH) is rewarding the contribution made by Healthcare Support Workers by changing their title to Nursing Assistants and redefining their role, as part of a new push to fill over 50 positions at the trust.

The new Nursing Assistant and Senior Nursing Assistant roles are designed to better reflect the professionalism of staff in delivering patient care at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, whilst offering more pathways to further develop their careers.

Practice Development Matron Karen Mechen said: “Nursing Assistants are where care begins.

“They’re often the first members of staff a patient meets when they come onto our wards, clinics and departments, and they stay with patients throughout their journey back to health. They’re often a patient’s lifeline to the outside world, acting as a liaison between ward staff and patients’ families.

“Creating this new role shows how much we value them and improves their opportunity for career progression in our hospitals. We currently have around 50 of these roles available within the trust, and further roles will be coming up in the next few months.

“We’re looking for people who are caring, kind and willing to play a part in a busy working environment where teamwork, communication and organisational skills are essential.”

Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at the trust, said: “The role of Healthcare Support Worker has transformed over the years from the original job of Nursing Auxiliaries, as staff take on more and more responsibility in the day-to-day care of patients.

“Thanks to the redesign of the role, our new Nursing Assistants will have full access to world-class training opportunities and have the ability to further their careers by specialising in our full spectrum of nursing services, from outpatients to critical and emergency care. 

“We can also offer some of the best NHS facilities in the country, from our £12m Emergency Department, our £8m Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and our recently opened £7.5m Allam Diabetes Centre.

“The role of the Nursing Assistant is one of professionalism, progression and pride, and we want our trust to lead the way and attract  more people to apply for one of the best roles in health care.”

There are no set entry requirements to become a Nursing Assistant but a good grasp of numeracy and literacy skills is expected and previous experience of healthcare or social care is a bonus. 

Find out more at www.joinhullhospitals.co.uk