Community Healthcare Support Worker

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Thornicombe; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organisation in Thornicombe is seeking a compassionate Community Healthcare Support Worker to join their Blandford Older Persons Community Mental Health Team. The successful candidate will support adults over 65 with mental health conditions, developing individualised care plans and promoting quality of life. Essential skills include strong communication and the ability to prioritise tasks. Candidates must be drivers and have a current Enhanced DBS check. Full-time hours are Monday to Friday, with flexible timings.

Qualifications

• Experience as a support worker or in mental health is desirable.
• Current Enhanced DBS check required.
• Must be a driver.

Responsibilities

• Assess changes in service users during visits and monitor progress.
• Make decisions using own initiative and refer to other agencies when necessary.
• Follow up regularly with service users to maintain rapport.
• Help identify barriers to accessing services and enable client access.
• Support patients’ wishes using wellbeing and recovery approaches.

Skills

Strong communication

Organisational skills

Ability to work alone

Task prioritisation

Job description

Overview

Are you a caring individual with previous background in a mental health environment? Our Blandford Older Persons Community Mental Health Team would love for you to join their team! Being a driver is essential for this role.

As a Community Healthcare Support Worker you will work in a multi‑disciplinary team supporting adults over 65 with mental health conditions. You will help to support patients’ wishes and promote quality of life by utilising wellbeing and recovery approaches. Together with qualified staff and other care networks you will develop holistic, individualised plans of care. Essential skills include strong communication, organisation, confidence working alone, and the ability to prioritise daily tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess changes in service users during visits (including use of formal testing scales) to identify early indicators of relapse by monitoring progress, level of functioning and mental state, and communicate alerts to appropriate staff.
• Make decisions using own initiative while recognising limitations and knowing when to refer to other agencies.
• Follow up with service users regularly, developing good rapport and serving as a source of information regarding health and wellbeing.
• Help identify potential barriers to accessing services and groups, work with clients to enable access, and take the lead from clients when issues arise to find solutions.
• Support patients’ wishes and promote quality of life using wellbeing and recovery approaches.

Key Requirements & Eligibility

• Full‑time role Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00, with flexible start and finish times.
• Desirable: experience as a support worker or in mental health, preferably in ward or community settings.
• Must have a current DBS check (Enhanced) – the Trust will cover the cost.
• Applications from candidates requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are ineligible.
• Being a driver is essential for this role.

Contact

Becky Evans, Team Leader
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]