Band 3 Physical Health Care Assistant

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 3 Physical Health Care Assistant to support physical health care for adults with serious mental illness, across hospital and community settings.

You will perform health monitoring, venepuncture, ECGs, and contribute to health plans, working with nurses, doctors and allied health staff to improve overall wellbeing.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
• Direct care or support experience in health or social care.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently in community services.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
• Previous NHS clinical record systems experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist in service users care to support recovery and wellbeing in hospital and community settings.
• Assess service users for basic health parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, respirations.
• Plan, organise and lead groups independently in the community (e.g., smoking cessation, exercise, healthy lifestyle).
• Contribute to physical health care plans and keep records up to date.
• Monitor groups and report issues to physiotherapy staff, GP and senior nurses.
• Participate in screening using tools developed by supervising clinical staff.
• Support service users in healthy lifestyle choices and signpost to community services.
• Use ECG equipment and provide trace readings for review.
• Undertake venepuncture on request for screening.

Skills

Direct care experience

Flexible working

Literacy/numeracy/IT

Mental health services

Venepuncture/ECG competencies

NHS clinical records

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent experience)

Job description

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Band 3 Physical Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 05 November 2026

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.

About us

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.

Job 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 clients 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.

Blood Glucose monitoring

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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Depending on experienceDependant on experience