Bank Mental Healthcare Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and wellbeing

Professional development support

Job summary

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Bank Mental Healthcare Assistants to support clinical staff in the hospital's inpatient mental health setting. The role focuses on enhanced care, continuous observations, and therapeutic activity to keep distress low while minimizing restrictive interventions.

Shifts require flexible availability across clinical areas as the service operates around the clock; prior induction is mandatory, and visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• GCSE level or equivalent with Maths and English (minimum five A-E grades).
• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent, or demonstrated experience and development.
• Care Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Provide enhanced care and continuous observations to patients in inpatient mental health settings.
• Deliver therapeutic interventions to reduce agitation and distress and promote recovery.
• Apply least restriction principles following NICE guidance on managing disturbed behaviour.
• Assess continuous risk, escalate when needed, and actively de-escalate situations.
• Carry out delegated clinical care under registered nurse direction, sometimes without direct supervision.
• Contribute to patient assessment, care planning, delivery and evaluation, ensuring safe and compassionate care.

Skills

Restraint training

Education

GCSE-level qualifications

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Care Certificate

Job description

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting bank Mental Healthcare Assistants to support clinical staff in the hospital's inpatient mental health setting. The work centres on enhanced care and continuous observations, using therapeutic activity to reduce agitation and distress while keeping restrictive interventions to a minimum. The service runs around the clock, so bank shifts require flexible availability across the clinical areas. Visa sponsorship is not available, and three weeks of full-time care induction are mandatory before starting.

What the job involves

• Provide enhanced care and continuous observations to patients with mental health conditions or psychological distress
• Deliver therapeutic interventions to reduce agitation and distress and promote recovery
• Apply least restriction principles, following NICE guidance on managing disturbed behaviour
• Assess continuous risk, escalation any increase, and actively de-escalate situations
• Carry out delegated clinical care under registered nurse direction, sometimes without direct supervision
• Contribute to patient assessment, care planning, delivery and evaluation, supervising safe and compassionate care
• Undertake therapeutic activities suited to each patient’s presentation
• Use physical intervention (restraint) only as a last resort and keep training up to date
• Respond to clinical emergencies to ensure patients receive appropriate and safe care
• Monitor fluid and dietary intake, record observations and report abnormalities, developing vital signs, dressing and glucose skills under trained staff direction
• Chaperone patients to other departments after registered nurse assessment, and assist with handling and mobilisation
• Take part in admission, discharge and handover under healthcare professional direction, and reassure patients, carers and family

What’s required

Qualifications

• GCSE level or equivalent, with at least five A-E grades including Maths and English
• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent, or demonstrated experience and development
• Care Certificate

Experience

• At least 12 months' care experience
• At least one year as a Healthcare Support Worker in an NHS hospital

Skills & knowledge

• Restraint training

Nice to have

• Able to provide quality care without close supervision, using initiative within protocols and care plans
• Empathy for people who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives

What’s offered

• Comprehensive health and wellbeing programme
• Support for professional development and career progression