Band 3 Physical Health Care Assistant

Bsmhft; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Physical Health Care Assistant to support physical health care for adults with serious mental illness. The role involves monitoring health indicators, venepuncture and ECGs, and coordinating with GPs and other clinicians.

You will work across hospital and community settings with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and engaging service users in appropriate health services. Experience in mental health care is advantageous.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
• Experience providing direct care or support within health or social care.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently within community services.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
• Previous experience within mental health services.
• Venepuncture and ECG competencies.
• Knowledge of physical health inequalities affecting people living with severe mental illness.
• Experience using NHS clinical record systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist in service users’ care to encourage recovery and wellbeing in hospital and community settings.
• Assess service users for basic health parameters (core physiological measures).
• Plan, organise and lead groups independently in the community (smoking cessation/exercise/healthy lifestyle).
• Maintain records and validate with a registered staff member.
• Monitor service users in groups and report concerns to physiotherapy, GP, or senior nursing staff.
• Support service users to make healthy lifestyle choices and signpost to community services.
• Involve in treatment progress planning and reviews.
• Use ECG equipment and provide trace readings for medical staff.

Skills

Flexible working

Independent working

Literacy & numeracy

IT skills

Venepuncture

ECG competencies

Communication

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Tools

NHS clinical record systems

Job description

Please note that this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job overview

We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Physical Health Care Assistant to join our Community Mental Health Team. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of high-quality physical healthcare for adults receiving secondary mental health services.

You will work alongside nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and support staff to improve the physical health and wellbeing of service users with serious mental illness. The role will involve carrying out physical health assessments, monitoring physical health indicators and supporting individuals to access appropriate healthcare services.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake physical health monitoring including blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI and other routine observations.
• Support the completion of annual physical health checks for service users.
• Perform venepuncture and ECGs (or undertake training where required).
• Record and maintain accurate clinical records in line with Trust policies.
• Support service users to engage with physical health initiatives and healthy lifestyle interventions.
• Liaise with GPs, primary care services and other healthcare professionals as appropriate.
• Escalate concerns regarding a service user's physical or mental health to the appropriate clinician.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision and mandatory training.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To assist in service users care in order to encourage recovery and wellbeing in both, hospital and community settings.
• To assess service users for basic health parameters -core physiological measures- i.e. heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate where appropriate.
• To plan, organise and lead groups independently and unsupervised in the community setting.
• e.g smoking cessation/exercise groups/ healthy lifestyle groups
• To contribute to the client’s physical health care plan, keeping all records up to date and validated by a registered staff member
• To monitor the service users attending groups and report problems with individuals to the physiotherapy staff, GP medical or senior nursing staff for evaluation if they are not comfortable advising the client appropriately.
• To participate in the screening of patients using screening tools developed by supervising clinical staff and clinical working groups.
• To support service users to make healthy lifestyle choices about exercise and nutrition.
• To signpost service users appropriately to community services where needed.
• To be part of any necessary planning or reviewing of treatment progress.
• To use ECG equipment and provide ECG trace readings for review by the medical staff.
• To undertake venepuncture on request or for screening purposes within the health and wellbeing clinic setting.
• To refer clients onto other agencies as appropriate.

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

We are unable to support applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work the United Kingdom (UK)

Person specification

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent experience).
• Experience providing direct care or support within a health or social care environment.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently within community services.
• Good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills.
• Previous experience within mental health services.
• Venepuncture and ECG competencies.
• Knowledge of physical health inequalities affecting people living with severe mental illness.
• Experience using NHS clinical record systems

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months.

All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust’s induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your second week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed. Our selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship.

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

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.