Health Care Support Worker - Heather Ward/136 Suite

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust; Long Lee; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health Care Support Worker (Band 2) to support women aged 18-65 in the Heather Ward & 136 Suite. The role involves compassionate, person-centred care, assisting with daily living activities and collaborating with the MDT to support mental and physical health needs.

The post requires flexibility to cover a 24-hour rota, including long days, nights and weekends, with a focus on maintaining dignity and safety.

Qualifications

• NVQ2 training or equivalent experience.
• English and Mathematics at GCSE grade D or level 1 functional skills.
• NVQ III in care or modules relevant to the area.
• Care Certificate or equivalent healthcare qualification.

Responsibilities

• Providing compassionate, person-centred care while maintaining privacy, dignity and individual choice.
• Supporting personal care, hygiene, meals and other day-to-day care needs.
• Building positive therapeutic relationships and communicating effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues.
• Supporting observations and monitoring patients' physical and mental wellbeing.
• Recognising, recording and promptly escalating changes or concerns.
• Supporting admissions, discharges and transitions in care.
• Maintaining accurate written and electronic records.
• Supporting women within the Section 136 Suite who may be distressed, anxious, frightened or confused.
• Providing reassurance and helping maintain a calm, safe environment while patients await assessment.
• Working collaboratively with nurses, doctors, Approved Mental Health Professionals, police colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Teamwork

Patient care

Verbal & written communication

Confidentiality & trust

Education

NVQ2 or equivalent

GCSE English/Maths

NVQ3 in care

Care Certificate

Job description

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Health Care Support Worker - Heather Ward/136 Suite

The closing date is 14 November 2026

Health Care Support Worker - Band 2 - Female Acute - Heather Ward & 136 Suite - Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Are you a compassionate and motivated Health Care Support Worker looking to make a genuine difference?

Join Heather Ward and the Section 136 Suite, supporting women aged 18-65 experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

As a Band 2 Health Care Support Worker, you will be at the heart of patient care, building therapeutic relationships and supporting physical, emotional and mental health needs alongside registered healthcare professionals and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Every day is different. You may support women experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis, emotional distress, trauma-related difficulties or mental health crisis, providing compassionate, safe and person-centred care.

You may also support women within the Section 136 Suite, helping maintain a calm, safe environment while protecting dignity, privacy and wellbeing.

This is a 24-hour service, and the post requires flexibility to work a rota including long days, nights and weekends.

Closing Date: 14th NovemberShortlisting Date: 16th November

Want to know more? Please see the attached advert poster, Job Description and Person Specification for further details about the role and what we're looking for.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship set by the Home Office and the skilled worker visa occupation list.

Main duties of the job

Your duties will include:

• Providing compassionate, person-centred care while maintaining privacy, dignity and individual choice.
• Supporting personal care, hygiene, meals and other day-to-day care needs.
• Building positive therapeutic relationships and communicating effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues.
• Supporting observations and monitoring patients' physical and mental wellbeing.
• Recognising, recording and promptly escalating changes or concerns.
• Supporting admissions, discharges and transitions in care.
• Maintaining accurate written and electronic records.
• Supporting women within the Section 136 Suite who may be distressed, anxious, frightened or confused.
• Providing reassurance and helping maintain a calm, safe environment while patients await assessment.
• Working collaboratively with nurses, doctors, Approved Mental Health Professionals, police colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Promoting the welfare, safety and security of patients, visitors and colleagues.
• Completing required training and developing your HCSW competencies.

You will need to work effectively within a team, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality and remain calm in challenging situations.

Want to know more? Please see the attached advert poster, Job Description and Person Specification for further details about the role and what we're looking for.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship set by the Home Office and the skilled worker visa occupation list.

About us

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -

We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference

We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs

We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :

• Increase mileage rates for > 4500
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
• A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
• Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible

Job responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust's eligibility criteria, the Trust is unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ2 training or equivalent experience, or Level 2 healthcare qualification or equivalent Care Certificate
• English and Mathematics at GCSE grade D or level 1 functional skills, or equivalent relevant experience
• NVQ III in care or modules relevant to the area.
• Experience of the speciality area (mental health issues, 3rd sector).

Experience

• Working in a caring environment (professionally or at home)
• Experience of dealing with the public.
• Able to evidence working in a caring environment or worked in a voluntary position.

Skills

• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Effective patient/client care skills.
• Excellent verbal and written & communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness and remain calm in highly charged situations
• Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and to adapt communication styles to meet all circumstances
• Motivation to meet patients/clients' care, treatment and safety needs whilst maintaining the safety of self and others.
• Act on own initiative delivering patient care and demonstrate Trust values in all areas of work and to conduct self in a professional and appropriate manner.

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

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust