HCA Recruitment & Retention Officer - Band 6


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£39,959 to £48,117 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Chelmsford, CM1 1QH
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	2 Oct 2026
Closing date:	15 Oct 2026

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Summary

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY The Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation. The Health Care Assistant (HCA) Academy is a collaborative Integrated Care System (ICS) initiative involving Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), and wider Essex system partners. The Academy adopts a "one workforce" approach to the recruitment, education, development, and experience of Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) across the health and care system. It aims to establish a consistent career framework that supports recruitment and retention, enhances workforce capability, and provides clear progression pathways into apprenticeships and other health and care careers for the local population. The HCA Academy Senior Recruitment & Retention Officer will lead recruitment and retention initiatives on behalf of the Integrated Care System (ICS). Drawing on extensive recruitment expertise, innovation and a passion for workforce development, the post holder will design and deliver attraction strategies for Healthcare Assistants, coordinate recruitment campaigns, and build effective partnerships with organisations including further education providers. In addition to leading on recruitment activity, the post holder will develop and implement retention initiatives aimed at improving the experience, engagement and career development of HCAs across the system. This will include supporting induction programmes, coordinating career development opportunities, promoting progression pathways into apprenticeships and wider health and care careers, analysing workforce data to identify retention challenges, and working collaboratively with system partners to implement solutions that enhance staff satisfaction and reduce turnover. The post holder will ensure delivery of the HCA Academy against key performance indicators, promote excellent customer service, and oversee an efficient, responsive and high-quality recruitment and retention service that acts as a centre of excellence for the ICS HCA workforce. Through a focus on attraction, development and retention, the role will contribute to building a sustainable HCA workforce and supporting long-term workforce transformation across the Essex health and care system. As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the wider Health & Care Academy team in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan: From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning. From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health. From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below: Recruitment Support with producing and managing a programme of recruitment campaigns targeting local workforce, generating awareness and supporting new to care into HCA Roles Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to ensure the effective delivery of the recruitment activity and to ensure that all project deliverables are achieved, taking remedial action if necessary. To be responsible for developing and implementing assessment centre recruitment process for mass recruitment campaigns. Lead on the planning and delivery of recruitment events and job fairs, attending as required, which could take place outside of regular working hours. Maintaining up-to-date information on vacancies to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to fill vacancies and reduce agency spend. To be responsible for ensuring that systems and processes are in place to enable the effective recruitment journey of all new starters. To act as a positive change agent to proactively facilitate and deliver improvements to the recruitment service within the postholders responsibility, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement. Resolve blockages in the process and ensure timely on boarding of staff by acting as a point of escalation for the HCA Recruitment Officers Retention The post holder will aim to reduce early attrition rates by providing a supportive, candidate-focused journey from interview through to induction and into the first year of employment. They will act as a key link between the new starter and the service they have been recruited into, ensuring a smooth and supportive onboarding experience and helping to address any issues or concerns that may impact retention. The post holder will develop and coordinate retention initiatives for Healthcare Assistants across the ICS, including enhanced onboarding processes, stay interviews, peer support and buddy schemes, recognition initiatives, engagement activities, and signposting to wellbeing resources. They will work closely with operational leads, education providers and workforce colleagues to promote career development opportunities, progression pathways, apprenticeships and wider learning opportunities that encourage long-term retention within health and care roles. The post holder will proactively engage with new starters during their probationary period and at key points throughout their employment to gather feedback, identify barriers to retention and provide appropriate support. They will contribute to the development of a positive employee experience by promoting inclusion, belonging and staff engagement initiatives across the system. As part of the ongoing continuous improvement process, the post holder will utilise workforce data, retention metrics, exit interview findings and staff feedback to identify trends and areas of concern. They will develop and implement action plans to address retention challenges, working collaboratively with partners across the ICS and making recommendations for improvement, including those outside their immediate area of expertise, to support workforce sustainability and reduce turnover. Communications and Relationships The ability to communicate in a way that inspires, motivates and engages potential applicants, clinical leads and colleagues is essential to this role. The postholder will be required to: Actively meet with managers in support of partnered recruitment activity; discussions of pipelines of staff; interviews; planned hires etc Develop complex monitoring and reporting processes including detailed analysis, which support the needs of stakeholders. Support with board level reports showing effectiveness of campaigns and progress against all hub activity. Work with the Recruitment & Retention Business Partners to develop relationships with clinical leads and being a point of contact for recruitment queries. Be responsible for investigation and resolving complaints received in the recruitment hub using empathy and within a timely manner. Use initiative and make judgments to resolve queries in relation to all issues. To ensure that organisations maintain a positive profile within the local community and wider recruitment community, including local colleges and places for further education. Represent the ICS and HCA Academy at recruitment events and fairs. Information Systems To use current recruitment systems optimally to maximise efficiency and reduce recruitment time to hire Using the appropriate guidance and technology to support accurate checking of documents, including; verification of identity, right to work in the UK, escalating to the Recruitment Manager, any errors, issues or omissions To develop and manage computerised HR/Recruitment systems relevant to day-to-day processes. These include: Electronic Staff records (ESR), Recruitment management system (TRAC), NHS jobs and Registration authority contact To provide ad-hoc reports as and when required. To fully utilise innovative digital solutions, including TalknJob and other recruitment technologies, to enhance attraction, recruitment, onboarding and retention processes within the HCA Academy, improving candidate engagement, reducing barriers to application, supporting a positive new starter experience, and increasing retention throughout the employee lifecycle. Managing Resources and People Provide effective support to HCA Academy team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and excellent customer service. Monitor individual and team performance against agreed objectives and key performance indicators, undertaking regular performance reviews and addressing performance concerns in a timely and appropriate manner, in line with ICB policies and procedures. For a comprehensive overview and continuation of the Job Description and Person Specification, please see the attached copy.

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