Senior Health Care Assistant - Special Care Baby Unit
| Posting date: | 27 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24,937.00 to £26,598.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £24937.00 - £26598.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 March 2026 |
| Location: | Yeovil, BA21 4AT |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9184-26-0278 |
Summary
As a Senior Healthcare Assistant in the Neonatal Unit, you will contribute to the safe, effective and compassionate care of babies requiring intensive, high-dependency, special or transitional care. Working under the direction of registered neonatal nurses, your responsibilities will include: Communication & Relationships Work collaboratively with a team of nurses, doctors and allied professionals. Provide empathetic, tactful and clear communication to parents, especially when sharing sensitive or complex information. Build strong working relationships inside and outside the Trust. Planning & Organisation Prioritise your own workload to meet the needs of the unit and infants in your care. Maintain accurate, timely documentation and adhere to Trust and national policies. Support a safe, calm and welcoming environment for families, ensuring visitor security and encouraging feedback. Clinical & Patient Care Responsibilities Under the supervision of a registered nurse, you will: Deliver care to preterm and sick babies including monitoring observations, reporting changes, and carrying out plan-of-care tasks. Perform clinical procedures such as oxygen/respiratory monitoring, heel-prick sampling, gastric tube care, and specimen collection. Recognise when a baby requires urgent intervention and initiate resuscitation protocols. Escort stable babies to other hospital departments for investigations. Teach parents essential skills such as feeding, bathing, recognising cues, maintaining hygiene and understanding safe sleep and development. Prepare families for discharge, including appointment coordination, medication preparation and handover to community services. Professional Development & Governance Attend training, study days and mandatory updates as required. Participate in audits, research and improvement initiatives. Reflect on practice, engage in appraisal, and maintain up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge. Equipment & Resources Ensure safe use and cleaning of medical devices, reporting faults promptly. Support the day-to-day organisation of unit resources, including breast pump hire and baby clothing stock. Leadership & Support Guide and support junior staff and students, contributing to a positive learning environment. Demonstrate Trust values, promoting outstanding care, teamwork and a culture of continuous improvement.