Mental Health Care Assistant

NHS; Guildford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Guildford is seeking a Band 3 Mental Healthcare Assistant to join their Enhanced Care Team. The role involves providing compassionate support to patients facing mental health challenges, ensuring their dignity and safety. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience in healthcare, demonstrating empathy and strong communication skills. This position offers a blend of long days and nights, reflecting a commitment to high standards of care.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level with at least 5 A-E qualifications including Maths and English.
• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to cope with challenging behavior.

Responsibilities

• Listening and talking to patients and relatives.
• Providing enhanced observation and supporting patients with personal hygiene.
• Assisting in planned treatment plans following the multidisciplinary team approach.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Resilience

Education

GCSE or equivalent with Maths and English

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent

Job description

The Enhanced Care Team provides a higher level of supervision for patients who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, at risk of harming themselves, others, or whose safety, privacy, or dignity may be at risk. The Enhanced Care Team is made up of a Lead Nurse (RMN), Senior Qualified Mental Health Nurses and Enhanced Care Support workers.We are looking to recruit a Band 3 Mental Healthcare Assistant -Enhanced Care who can work across ward in-patient areas and is able to work flexible according to the needs of the service which will include a mix of long days and nights.

We are looking for motivated and confident staff, committed to delivering a high standard of nursing care. This will involve working with patients who may have heightened supervision or support needs.

Regrettably, visa sponsorship is not available for this position at the present time.

Main duties of the job

The job includes listening and talking to patients/relatives and carers, observing behaviour, providing enhanced observation, supporting patients with eating, drinking and personal hygiene and escorting patients out of the unit, initiating and building supportive therapeutic relationships, and managing periods of distress using de-escalation and conflict resolution skills. In addition, the role includes cohorting a group of patients who may require such a level of enhanced observation.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Job responsibilities

Recognising the patient's individuality helps to meet their social, emotional, and intellectual needs. Post holder will be involved in the delivery and coordination of activities on the ward. Ensuring basic physical needs, such as adequate diet, hygiene, warmth, comfort, and safety. Assisting in planned treatment plans following the multidisciplinary team approach.

Key Clinical Objectives:

To assist qualified nurses in setting quality standards, including monitoring and reviewing in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy. Provide person-centred, safe and compassionate care and independently escort patients on and off the ward where appropriate. Working on the direction of the qualified nurse to ensure the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 are observed, adhered to and implemented. Communicate effectively with colleagues and with patients when delivering care or providing advice. Recognise and report situations, circumstances or errors that may result in poor health outcomes and perform delegated clinical and nonclinical duties without direct supervision. Ensure information is recorded accurately, on time, on the electronic patient record, and shared with health and social care professionals, patients, carers, and families when appropriate. Recognise and value patients' privacy and dignity and ensure the care provided respects equality and diversity. Be aware of the need to safeguard patients and follow procedures if required. Maintain confidential information following Trust Policies and participate in multi-professional reviews and team meetings. Assist with the management of challenging behaviour (verbal and physical aggression). Carry out enhanced observations following Trust Policy. Responsible for participation in the Trust appraisal process, which identifies your personal development and training needs in conjunction with the appraiser. To participate in research, service modernisation, clinical governance, and the National Service Framework as appropriate under the guidance of the qualified nurse. Respect and value the different therapeutic approaches within the multidisciplinary team but ensure that the agreed philosophy approach is adopted and followed. Responsible for ensuring confidentiality is always maintained per the data protection act trust policy and good practice. Responsible for maintaining and professionally conducting oneself towards service users, carers, colleagues, and other agencies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English). NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development

Knowledge

• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others
• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient's needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans

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.

£25,883 to £26,958 a year(per annum) pro-rata -includes high cost area supplements (HCAS).