Advert will close early once sufficient volume of applicants is reached . We are seeking compassionate, motivated, and engaging Enhanced Care Workers to join our dedicated team, providing exceptional one-to-one support to patients with complex health, cognitive, behavioural, and social care needs. As an ECW, you will play a vital role in helping patients feel safe, supported, and valued throughout their hospital journey. Working within acute ward and clinical department settings, you will provide enhanced one-to-one care under the guidance of the Enhanced Care Coordinator, supporting patients who may be living with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, delirium, substance withdrawal, or those at risk of falls, absconding, or self-harm. This role is about more than observation. Through meaningful interaction, therapeutic engagement, and person-centred care, you will promote wellbeing, reduce distress, and improve the patient experience. You will encourage mobility and independence, support therapy and rehabilitation programmes, and help prevent deconditioning during hospital admission. Using a range of activities, including conversation, games, reminiscence work, and innovative technologies such as the Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Assistant (RITA) ,you will provide stimulation, comfort, and emotional support tailored to individual needs.
Working under the direction of the Enhanced Care Coordinator and as part of the wider multidisciplinary team, you will support patients requiring enhanced observation, therapeutic engagement, and personalised interventions. This includes patients living with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, delirium, substance withdrawal, or those at risk of falls, absconding, or self-harm. This role is about more than observation. You will build therapeutic relationships with patients, providing reassurance, emotional support, and meaningful engagement tailored to individual needs. You will encourage safe mobility and independence, support therapy and rehabilitation programmes, and help reduce the risk of deconditioning during hospital admission. Using a variety of patient-centred activities, including conversation, games, puzzles, arts and crafts, and reminiscence work, you will help create positive experiences that enhance wellbeing and reduce anxiety. You will also utilise innovative technologies such as the Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Assistant (RITA) and Magic 360 Table to support cognitive stimulation and social interaction. You will monitor and report changes in patients' condition, behaviour, or wellbeing, contributing to a safe, calm, and supportive environment. This rewarding role offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference to vulnerable patients throughout their hospital journey.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.
Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.
We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.
We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Be the difference that transforms a patient’s day.
If you are passionate about caring for others and want a role where kindness, compassion, and human connection make a genuine difference every day, we would love to hear from you.
As an Enhanced Care Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting patients who require additional care, reassurance, and therapeutic engagement during their hospital stay. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will deliver compassionate, person-centred care that promotes dignity, independence, safety, and wellbeing.
This is far more than an observational role. It is an opportunity to positively impact the lives of patients through meaningful interaction, practical support, and genuine human connection. Whether helping a patient regain confidence in their daily activities, supporting them through periods of confusion or distress, or simply providing companionship when they need it most, your contribution will be valued and recognised.
Your ability to build trusting relationships, recognise changes in wellbeing, and provide reassurance during challenging times will be central to your success.
What You'll Be Doing
Building trusting relationships with patients through meaningful conversation, active listening, reassurance, and emotional support.
Providing dedicated one-to-one enhanced care and observation, ensuring patients remain safe, comfortable, and engaged.
Supporting patients with nutrition and hydration needs, under the guidance of registered healthcare professionals.
Accompanying patients to appointments, investigations, transfers, and discharge destinations as required.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, coordinated care.
Supporting patients with all aspects of personal care, including bathing, dressing, toileting, continence care, and personal hygiene, always promoting dignity, choice, and independence.
Using mobility and handling equipment safely, including hoists, wheelchairs, and other aids, to assist with patient movement and positioning.
Encouraging and assisting patients to maintain their appearance, confidence, and self-esteem through support with grooming, hair care, and personal presentation.
Promoting independence by supporting patients to undertake tasks for themselves wherever possible, using appropriate aids and assistive equipment.
Supporting the delivery of therapy and rehabilitation programmes to help patients maintain or regain physical and cognitive function.
Monitoring patients' nutritional and fluid intake and completing associated documentation accurately when required.
Recording and reporting patient observations, concerns, and changes in condition promptly to the registered nurse or senior member of the team.
Recognising early signs of deterioration or changes in wellbeing, including concerns relating to mobility, cognition, skin integrity, behaviour, nutrition, or hydration.
Maintaining accurate records and contributing to effective communication within the wider care team.
Taking ownership of your professional development, embracing learning opportunities, and contributing positively to a supportive team culture.
Why This Role Matters
Every interaction has the potential to improve a patient's experience. Through your compassion, professionalism, and commitment to person-centred care, you will help some of our most vulnerable patients feel safe, respected, and supported during what can often be a challenging time in their lives.
If you are caring, resilient, and passionate about making a genuine difference every day, this is an opportunity to join a team where your contribution truly matters.
