Dementia Specialist HCA

Dementia Specialist HCA

The closing date is 05 February 2026

Ainslie ward at Torbay Hospital are recruiting for a full time Specialised Healthcare Assistant to join our fast paced 26 bedded Trauma and Orthopaedic ward.

As a Specialised Healthcare Assistant you will work as part of the MDT ensuring the delivery of excellent clinical care within Trauma & Orthopaedics, taking a lead role in the assessment and care of patients demonstrating challenging behaviours.

You will take a lead role in ensuring the completion of 'This is Me' documents and appropriate risk assessments, to gain vital collateral information regarding this group of patients. You will work in conjunction with the Safeguarding and Mental Health Leads within the ISU, form part of an education team, and deliver staff educational programmes to improve knowledge and skills across the Trauma & Orthopaedic clinical areas.

Main duties of the job

The Specialised HCA will work within the sphere of the nursing team to provide a high quality of nursing care across the full spectrum of nursing, in particular those patients displaying challenging behaviours. Working under the leadership of the Registered Nurse.

The postholder will work as part of the team, delivering health and social care that focuses on the holistic needs of the service users

They will carry out specific clinical tasks and responsibilities as delegated by registered practitioners

The post holder will be part of an MDT, working with and supporting all members of that team both within and external to the directorate

Supervision and teaching of junior staff will be part of the role

Key objectives and responsibilities will be identified and agreed at interview and yearly appraisal

These additional responsibilities may change on an annual basis and work towards increasing the clinical competencies of the individual

About us

Why Work With Us

Ainslie ward prides itself in giving excellent patient care and we welcome new staff to join our team to come and work us to achieve this ideal.

We provide Healthcare Support Workers with a great opportunity to learn multiple new clinical skills within an environment with a supportive and dynamic team.

Our people are caring, committed, inclusive and focussed on quality. We focus on solutions and people's strengths. We encourage outside the box thinking and embrace innovation and change wherever it can drive improvement.

If you share our values and vision and are passionate about working with people on what matters to them, you could be a real asset to our Torbay and South Devon Team!

Job responsibilities

• We are looking for applicants with proven experience in the care sector.
• All new starters will be given the opportunity for specialist training and also support in completion of the care certificate.

For further information regarding the role responsibilities and entry requirements, please see the combined job description and person specification.

Person Specification Knowledge and Experience

• oProven experience of assisting with intimate personal care activities e.g. washing, toileting, etc
• oDetailed knowledge of and ability to use, patient handling and technical equipment relevant to patient group
• oKnowledge of relevant policies
• oKnowledge and awareness of dealing with patients who demonstrate challenging behaviour
• oUnderstands need to work within limits of own competence
• oExperience of working as part of a MDT
• oAwareness of MCA and DoLs
• oKnowledge and skills in a strengths-based approach

Qualifications and training

• oRelevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience
• oEvidence of relevant knowledge and skills in the field of HOP/Trauma & Orthopaedics or patients with challenging behaviours
• oGood written and verbal skills
• oBasic IT skills
• Level 2 functional skills in Maths and English or GCSE equivalent.

Specific skills

• oProven experience of providing a service directly to members of the public
• oProven experience of dealing with volatile and aggressive situations
• oExperience of providing information, training or education to members of staff and the public

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.