Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Healthcare Assistant to join our Rapid Response Nursing Team in Gateshead.
Our Rapid Response Team provides planned and unplanned nursing care to people in their own homes, responding quickly when there is a risk of deterioration in their health and wellbeing. Our aim is to help patients remain safely and independently at home to prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
As a Healthcare Assistant within the team, you will play an important role in delivering a range of clinical interventions and providing high-quality, person-centred care to patients in the community.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will be able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and have a positive approach to supporting service developments that enhance patient care and improve outcomes.
The post is based in Gateshead and involves travelling to patients across the Gateshead borough and, where required, to patients living outside the borough who are registered with a Gateshead GP. The successful candidate will therefore need to be able to meet the travel requirements of the role.
The Rapid Response Team provides a seven-day service, and the post holder will be required to work flexibly across seven days.
Main duties of the job
As a Healthcare Assistant within the Rapid Response Team, you will play an important role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, responsive care to patients across Gateshead.
About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Overseas sponsorship is not available for Band 4 and below. Applications falling within Band 4 or lower cannot be sponsored.
Job responsibilities
- Provide high-quality, person-centred care that promotes patients’ dignity, independence, choice and wellbeing.
- Undertake a range of clinical interventions following appropriate training and competency assessment. This may include simple wound dressings, blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, blood glucose monitoring, venepuncture and other diagnostic procedures.
- Undertake additional monitoring and investigations, such as ECGs and spirometry, following relevant training and within your agreed scope of practice.
- Support registered healthcare professionals with clinical procedures as required.
- Support patients with their medicines in accordance with agreed care plans, Trust procedures and your level of competency.
- Observe and monitor patients’ health and wellbeing, recognising and promptly reporting any significant changes or concerns to senior members of the Rapid Response Team.
- Contribute to the assessment, delivery and evaluation of care, including health promotion activities that support patients to maintain or regain their independence.
- Follow infection prevention and control procedures and ensure the safe disposal of clinical waste in accordance with Trust policy.
Communication and Team Working
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team, recognising and valuing the contribution of each team member.
- Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, families and carers, ensuring dignity, privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
- Maintain effective communication with senior colleagues, including providing timely updates on patients and escalating concerns appropriately.
- Liaise professionally with a wide range of internal and external colleagues and partner organisations to support coordinated and seamless patient care.
- Contribute to ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time and in the right place, from appropriately skilled members of the team.
- Respond appropriately and professionally to telephone and other enquiries, taking or escalating action as required.
Documentation and Administration
- Maintain accurate, timely and confidential patient records in accordance with agreed standards and Trust policies.
- Use relevant electronic clinical systems, including EMIS Community, as part of your day-to-day role.
- Provide administrative support to the Rapid Response Team where required to support the safe and effective delivery of clinical services.
- Assist with the collection, recording and collation of activity and service data.
- Remain aware of team priorities and contribute to meeting service requirements and deadlines.
Quality, Safety and Professional Responsibilities
- Contribute to maintaining high standards of patient care and raise any concerns relating to quality or patient safety appropriately.
- Work in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, including those relating to Health and Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, confidentiality and lone working.
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion and respect the individual needs, rights, beliefs and choices of patients and their families.
- Take responsibility for maintaining and developing your knowledge, skills and competencies, completing statutory and mandatory training as required.
- Participate in relevant training, study days and team meetings and contribute positively to your own development and that of the wider team.
- Work flexibly to meet the changing needs and priorities of the Rapid Response service.
Additional Information
This is a community-based role involving regular local travel, and you will be required to work independently in accordance with the Trust’s Lone Worker Policy.
Flexibility is essential, as you will be expected to support the Rapid Response Team in responding to changing patient and service needs.
This list is not exhaustive. As the service continues to develop, you may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to your skills, competencies and the grade of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standards of general education- minimum of 4 GCSE’s or equivalent including English Language and Maths
- Educated to NVQ level 2 in health or social care or equivalent knowledge/experience
- Full Manual Drivers License
knowledge and skills
Essential
- Basic IT skills, clerical and administrative skills
- Ability to work on his/her own initiative
- Ability to communicate accurately verbally and in writing with a wide range of people
Desirable
- Awareness of moving& handling
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working independently
- Experience of working to tight deadlines
- Experience of team working
- Experience of working with health/social care environment
Desirable
- Working in NHS organization
- Community/Hospital setting
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: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bensham Hospital, Fontwell Drive, Gateshead, NE8 4YL, United Kingdom
Employer’s website: Apply through our website
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:Band 7 NursePamela Storeypamela.storey@nhs.net01914458400
Details
Date posted: 29 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 297-8300688
Job locations: Bensham Hospital, Fontwell Drive, Gateshead, NE8 4YL, United Kingdom
Supporting documents
Privacy notice: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
© Crown copyright
#J-18808-Ljbffr…