Healthcare Support Worker

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust; Ashton-under-Lyne; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading mental health trust as a Health Care Support Worker, providing essential care in various inpatient settings. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact on patients' lives while receiving support for your professional development. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we welcome applications from all backgrounds to help shape the future of mental health care in Greater Manchester.

Benefits

Generous NHS pension scheme

Flexible working options

Mentoring and coaching opportunities

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Qualifications

• Experience in a care setting as a nursing assistant or healthcare support worker.
• Ability to engage with patients experiencing mental health issues.
• Knowledge of care procedures and clinical observations.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care and support to patients.
• Document care and observations accurately.
• Assist patients with personal hygiene and daily activities.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Basic IT skills

Education

GCSE in English and Maths

Completion of Fundamental Care Certificate

Job description

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Main area Mental Health Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (full time and part time available) Job ref 311-P001-25

Site Pennine Care NHS Town Trustwide Salary £24,625 - £25,674 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 26/07/2025 08:00

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our#PennineCarePeople

Are you passionate about making a difference in people's lives?

Join our dedicated team at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust as a Health Care Support Worker in our Inpatient Services.

What we offer

• Mentoring and coaching opportunities to support your growth
• Flexible working options to support your work-life balance
• Generous NHS pension scheme and staff benefits package
• A Trust-wide commitment to diversity, inclusion and psychological safety

As a Health Care Support Worker, you will be an essential part of our team, providing compassionate care and support to our patients. You'll work closely with our qualified nursing staff to deliver high-quality care and help establish care plans.

This role is perfect for someone who is empathetic, dedicated, and eager to contribute to the well-being of our patients.

We’re recruiting across a range of inpatient settings, including:

• Adult and older adult acute mental health wards
• Psychiatric intensive care wards
• Rehabilitation and high support wards

You’ll be working alongside dedicated multidisciplinary teams, using your skills to deliver person-centred care in line with our values of kindness, fairness, ingenuity and determination.

Whether you're early in your career or looking to grow, this is your chance to shape the future of mental health care in Greater Manchester – and experience the difference of working in a Trust that puts staff and patients first.

Main duties of the job

• Engage with Patients: Build meaningful relationships with patients and their carers, providing emotional support and effective communication.
• Document Care: Accurately record observations and nursing care in line with Trust policies, using Electronic Patient Records (EPR) or PARIS.
• Promote Safety: Ensure the safety, well-being, and interests of clients, staff, and visitors.
• Assist with Personal Care: Help patients with personal hygiene, bathing, toileting, and dressing, always respecting their privacy and dignity.
• Support at Mealtimes: Assist patients with their meals, ensuring they receive adequate nutrition and hydration.
• Mentor New Staff: Act as a role model and mentor for new Health Care Support Workers, supporting them in completing their Care Certificate.
• Clinical Observations: Undertake and report clinical observations, therapeutic observation
• Maintain Cleanliness: Participate in maintaining a clean, tidy, and safe ward environment, adhering to infection control policies.
• Professional Development: Engage in mandatory training and take responsibility for your personal development

Working for our organisation

Why choose Pennine Care?

• Top mental health trust to work for in the North of England – NHS Staff Survey 2024
• A culture that supports professional autonomy and values nursing leadership
• A clear commitment to safe staffing levels and quality patient care
• A forward-thinking Trust focused on creating the conditions for great nursing care to thrive
• A genuinely supportive environment where your skills and compassion are recognised

You might currently be in another NHS Trust, the private sector, or working through an agency. You might be based in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, or the wider North West. Wherever you are in your career – if you’re looking for safer staffing, better support, and meaningful development, Pennine Care is ready to welcome you.

Make the move to a Trust that listens, supports and invests in you.
Apply now and help us build a better future for mental health care.

We’re proud to deliver high-quality mental health and learning disability services to people across five boroughs in Greater Manchester: Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside & Glossop.

Our vision is simple but powerful: A happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities.

To make that happen, we support our staff to do their best work - every day. Whether you’re working on our inpatient wards or out in the community, you’ll be part of a compassionate, forward-thinking team that’s focused on delivering great care and improving lives.

We’re proud of our #PennineCarePeople - and we work hard to be a place where people feel supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive, supportive environment for everyone. We particularly encourage applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, people from LGBTQ+ communities and people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, either personally or as a carer.

If you share our values and want to make a difference - we’d love to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• GCSE (or equivalent level of education) with grade D/E (2/3) or above in English and Maths or functional skills level 1.
• Completion of Fundamental Care Certificate or willingness to complete

Experience

• Experience of working with diverse groups of people developing a range of basic care skills.
• Previous experience of working in a care setting as a nursing assistant/healthcare support worker developing competencies in basic clinical care
• Experience of being able to plan and prioritise own work under the direction of a qualified member of staff
• Experience of how to build up trust and rapport with people
• Previous experience with people with Mental Health or Learning Disabilities or experience in a clinical setting related to mental heath
• Experience of carrying out clinical observations
• Range of work procedures and practices, base level of theoretical knowledge

Knowledge

• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation
• Awareness of Mental Health and Mental Illness, its effects on the individual, family and friends. Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act with willingness to learn
• Awareness of the effects of illicit drug use.
• Some awareness of early prevention of violence and aggression using least restrictive interventions and practices with willingness to undertake & complete PMVA training and engage in techniques as required
• Willing and able to undertake and complete the required PMVA training and engage in techniques as required, with a commitment to maintain skills in practice and attend regular update training
• Able to recognise changes in a patient’s mental and physical condition and act appropriately by alerting the qualified practitioner or nurse in charge
• An awareness of stigma and discrimination of people with mental health issues
• Awareness of ward procedures and clinical observations

Skills and abilities

• Basic IT skills – ability to use MS outlook, word, and willing and able to be trained to use Trust IT systems and applications such as Electronic Patient Records or PARIS
• Able to impart knowledge, supervise and direct the work of others under supervision.
• Can demonstrate good interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills.
• Good command of the English language both written and in spoken word
• Ability to engage with people who are experiencing mental ill health and communication barriers.
• Able to respond sensitively to emotional distress and utilise communication skills to deescalate people who are angry or distressed
• Ability to remain calm in challenging situations displaying patience and empathy
• Ability to keep confidential information, and awareness of Data Protection and GDPR.

Sponsorship - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship.You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

What happens after your application has been received?

You will be informed about the progress of your application following shortlisting via email. Only applicants who clearly demonstrate the criteria listed in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. Interview invites will be sent out via email.

What happens if I am offered the position after interview?

The hiring manager will make contact with you to verbally offer you the position. The hiring manager will then inform Recruitment of the decision and provide relevant paperwork. You will be sent a formal conditional offer via email.

What pre-employment checks will I need to complete?

By conducting pre-employment checks, the recruitment team will verify that you meet the pre-conditions of the role you have been offered. Pre-employment checks will be carried out according to NHS Employment Check Standards . The checks are:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to NHS will be required to provide HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years. This information will used to validate employment history and references as part of pre-employment checks.

If you are offer a position with is and you require sponsorship to support your right to work, we will review your eligibility in line with government guidance . If the role you have been offer is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not able to evidence your right to work, your conditional offer could be withdrawn.

What happens when pre-employment checks are complete?

Recruitment will liaise with you and the hiring manager to arrange a start date for your new position. You will then be booked on to a Trust Welcome Session and be sent your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.

Other important information

• We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and recognise the importance of ensuring our diverse service user population is reflected within our workforce. Unfortunately, we know that, at present, there is underrepresentation of our communities in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from diverse communities to help us grow, learn, be better and consider brilliant innovation diverse people bring.
• If you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria on the person specification for the post.
• If you require reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please phone us on 0161 716 3181 at the earliest opportunity. We will support you to complete your application.
• Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee the transfer of lease cars, or cover the costs of early termination charges.
• We have a strict policy on unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Please do not contact our hiring managers directly.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of applications have been received. To ensure you application is considered, please submit at the earliest opportunity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.