NHS Care Assistant at University Hospitals Birmingham

University Hospitals Birmingham is one of the biggest NHS trusts in the country. They run the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and several other sites across the city. Right now they need Care Assistants to join their ward teams. This is hands on work where you are directly helping patients every single day.

You do not need a nursing degree or any medical qualifications. If you are patient, kind, and reliable — and you genuinely want to help people — this job is worth applying for. The NHS provides full training when you join so you will not be thrown in without knowing what to do.

Job Role:

• Help patients with washing, dressing, and personal hygiene when they cannot manage on their own
• Assist patients with eating and drinking during mealtimes
• Help patients move around the ward safely — from bed to chair, chair to bathroom
• Check and record basic observations like temperature and blood pressure under nurse supervision
• Keep patient areas clean, tidy, and comfortable throughout your shift
• Talk to patients and keep them company — especially those who do not get many visitors
• Tell the nurse straight away if a patient seems unwell or distressed
• Help with general ward duties like making beds and restocking supplies

Shifts and Pay

• £11.50 to £12.50 per hour based on experience
• Full time 37.5 hours per week
• Rotating shifts — days, evenings, and nights on a rota basis
• Weekend shifts are part of the role
• NHS pension scheme from day one
• Annual leave — 27 days plus bank holidays for new starters

Why Join This Job?

A lot of Care Assistants at UHB have been there for years. The work is not easy but it is genuinely meaningful. You go home knowing you made a difference to someone's day. The NHS also gives you a clear path if you want to train as a nurse later — many nurses started out exactly where you are starting now.

You get access to NHS discounts which cover everything from gym memberships to restaurant meals. Staff parking is available on site. The ward teams are large so you are never working alone.

About University Hospitals Birmingham

UHB is one of the largest NHS trusts in England. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital alone has over 1,200 beds and treats more than a million patients every year. They employ tens of thousands of staff across multiple sites in Birmingham.