Healthcare Assistant-Inpatient | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Care Foundation Trust; Barrow-in-Furness; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is looking for a compassionate Health Care Assistant to work in a mental health unit. The role involves supporting individuals with mental health challenges in a team environment, contributing to patient care and safety. Applicants should have at least six months experience in a relevant setting. Flexible working patterns are encouraged for a better work/life balance.

Qualifications

• At least six months previous experience in mental health or care setting.
• Understanding of mental health issues.
• Commitment to ongoing staff development.

Responsibilities

• Support patients in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Work shifts covering 24 hours, seven days a week.
• Contribute to the health and safety of patients.

Skills

Compassion

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Job description

Overview

Are you a compassionate respectful team player committed to promoting excellence, and accountability in mental health services? Do you have excellent communication skills that would enable you to work within a challenging inpatient mental health unit, in teams that strive to provide the best possible experience for our service users and their carers? The Unit provides assessment and interventions for clients, operates seven days a week and is accessible 24hrs per day. An opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Assistant post to join our team. Ramsey is a 15 bedded unit supporting individuals with an organic illness. Ideally you should have at least six months previous experience of working within mental health settings or in a care setting. You should be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the issues that contribute to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. We are committed to staff development and provide encouragement and support to staff to continue their lifelong learning. We are also passionate about the supervision process. You will be expected to fully engage in the process for yourself and provide support to others as appropriate. The successful post holder will be expected to work shifts covering 24 hours, seven days a week and both full and part time contracts are available.

Please note further to recent national updates regarding Certificates of Sponsorship issued after 9 April 2025 the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Workers has increased to £25,000 per year, The increase also applies to the Health and Care Visa route for those occupations paid by NHS bands. This means that entry-level Band 3 roles will not be eligible for sponsorship.

Mental health services at Dane Garth, Furness General Hospital, Barrow are designed to meet the holistic needs of service users/patients and carers, in a working environment conducive to staff development and wellbeing. The post holder would support the delivery of care in the inpatients units.

• Work as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), working within a rotational shift system to support patients according to their care needs, some of whom may present with problematic or challenging behaviour
• Contribute to, and participate in, the ongoing support of patients and their carers
• Contribute to the protection of patients from abuse
• Contribute to the health, safety and security of patients and their environment
• Obtain, transmit and store information relating to the delivery of a care service

Working for your organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.

This advert closes on Thursday 18 Sep 2025