Associate Practitioner

Eput; Basildon; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

EPUT in Basildon Mental Health Unit is recruiting an Associate Practitioner for Grangewater Ward on our Assessment Unit. You must have Associate Practitioner or Nursing Associate training to apply.

You'll work independently within a multidisciplinary team to provide 24/7 mental health access, carry out care planning, monitor physical health, and support service users and carers. Training and supervision are provided, with opportunities to develop professionally.

Qualifications

• Foundation Degree in a Healthcare related subject.
• Care Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for implementing care plans with the team.
• Attend to the physical and psychological needs of patients.
• Lead service roles such as physical health monitoring.
• Record information accurately and confidentially.
• Participate in therapeutic and social activities for patients.

Education

Foundation Degree in a Healthcare related subject

Care Certificate

Job description

We can provide emotional and wellbeing support for anyone affected by the Lampard Inquiry. Find support

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

Please note this may close early if sufficient number of applications have been received.

Associate Practitioner opportunity on our Assessment Unit, Grangewater Ward in Basildon Mental Health Unit. Please note you must have done Associate Practitioner or Nursing Associate training or your application will be unfortunately have to be rejected

To work independently and accountably as part of a team of clinicians offering 24 hr mental health access and information in the locality of the Trust. The service will be 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for 365 days a year working shifts in an in-patient setting.

• To act as a role model to other colleagues within the team.
• Work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, clinicians & other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team.
• To deliver high quality, effective operational service to people with mental health needs, in accordance with the principles & objective of the Trust and its vision as identified in the service. The job requires the post holder to work flexibly and undertake a change in role at short notice.
• To work collaboratively with others within the new organisation to provide an exemplary level of care to service users and their carers.
• To rotate in taking the lead role in the physical health needs of service users and therapeutic activities.
• To provide training in aspects of care to new starters on the unit

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible along with other members of the team for the implementation of all care aspects of individual care planning.
• Attending to the physical and psychological needs of the patients under the care of the nursing team.
• Act as an associate worker for service users.
• To take on a lead role for the service such as physical health monitoring.
• Ensure that accurate and objective information is recorded and signed by the appropriate member of staff.
• Establish therapeutic relationships with individual service users, relatives and carers are maintained by the nursing team. Contribute towards the formulation of care.
• Ensure effective and confidential communication at all times maintaining strict confidentiality with regard to any information concerning patients and colleagues.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the needs of carers of patients with mental health problems.
• Be aware of the Mental Health Act 1983 and be aware of clients detained under section of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the clinical area.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Be involved in the planning for the patient’s discharge and transfer from the clinical areas in line with Care Programme Approach, Community Care Act 1990 and discharge policy.
• Observe any changes in a patient’s physical condition or mental state and document and report in an appropriate manner.
• Assist patients towards self-care and independence.
• Understand the need for personal responsibility in relation to using the correct techniques for moving and handling patients.
• Act in a relaxed manner, thereby contributing to the creation and maintenance of a calm and relaxed atmosphere/environment.
• Establish positive professional and appropriate relationships with patients adopting a non-judgemental approach. Always be prepared to listen and treat each patient with respect and courtesy; valuing them as individuals.
• Carry out planning and organisation of the therapeutic and social activities for patients in the clinical area.
• To participate in managerial supervision.
• Participate in therapeutic and social activities/groups.
• As appropriate and necessary assist patients who have the need to use hoists and wheelchairs.
• As requested take on security and environmental responsibilities.
• Completion of audits including but not limited to weekly physical health observations, VTE assessments, weekly cleaning audits, resusitation bag checks
• To participate in the role of the security nurse.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Foundation Degree in a Healthcare related subject
• Care Certificate

Experience

• The ability to work with keyworkers to support in the development of service user’s plans of care. Implementing interventions as outlined in service user’s care plans
• Understanding of the nature of mental health conditions and how they can affect people’s day to day life and impact upon recovery
• Working knowledge of the Paris/Mobius Clinical Information System
• Knowledge of working with external agencies involved in the care of people with mental health problems

Transformation

• Take the lead with regards to a number of roles including physical health

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [e-mail] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.

Please note -staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.