Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting healthcare support workers for its Northern Services, with applications closing on 19 November 2026. The advert was posted on 13 November 2026, giving candidates less than a week to apply for roles based at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, the trust's community hospitals and community locations across North Devon.

Healthcare support workers, known as HCSWs, work alongside nurses and other clinicians to deliver day-to-day patient care. The trust says the role includes providing personal care, promoting patients' nutritional needs and helping patients prepare for, recover from and recuperate after treatment, on wards, in operating theatres and in community hospitals.

Pay, hours and locations

The posts are paid at Band 2, at £25,272 a year pro rata, and Band 3, at £25,760 to £27,476 a year pro rata. The trust is recruiting to both fixed-term and substantive vacancies, for a minimum of 15 hours a week up to 37.5 hours a week. Staff will work across North Devon District Hospital, the trust's community hospitals and community locations in North Devon.

The trust says it cares for patients around the clock, so support workers will need to work a range of shift patterns. These include short shifts, day shifts between 8am and 8pm, and 12.5-hour day and night shifts, with an hour's break in the ward areas. Applicants will be asked to confirm the patterns they can work at interview.

No experience needed

No previous experience or qualifications are required. The trust says applicants need only a desire to deliver excellent patient care, with the support and guidance of colleagues. New starters receive a comprehensive training and induction programme, and the trust says its commitment to learning and development will suit ambitious applicants. Once training is complete and experience gained, staff progress along the salary scale, while applicants with previous related experience who can demonstrate the required competencies can join further up the scale.

There is one condition on flexibility. The trust says it will not be able to consider applications from people who are not fully flexible with the days and shifts they can work. Anyone interested in ad-hoc hours is directed to apply through NHS Professionals instead.

How to apply

Applications are made through the trust's own careers gateway, linked from its vacancies page. In the supporting information, applicants are asked to explain why they would like to become a healthcare support worker, highlight any relevant qualifications or experience, and say which wards or areas they would like to work in, or whether they are happy to work anywhere. The trust recommends at least 300 words, because the detail provided is used for shortlisting. Interviews will be arranged throughout November.

Visa sponsorship

The trust states that it is unable to offer Skilled Worker sponsorship for this role, which falls within occupation code 6131 on the Immigration Salary List. The Home Office has confirmed that the list will close on 31 December 2026, after which the occupation code is not expected to remain eligible for sponsorship for new applicants.

About the trust

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. With a workforce of more than 15,000 staff, it describes itself as the largest employer in Devon, providing services to more than 615,000 people across more than 2,000 square miles. Staff starting out in the NHS receive 27 days of paid annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days, alongside access to the NHS Pension scheme, occupational health services and staff discounts.