Mental Health Care Assistant

NHS; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A public health organization is seeking Mental Health Support Workers to join their team at Southampton General Hospital. This role requires supporting patients with mental health difficulties and assisting with their daily activities. Candidates should have a minimum of 12 months experience in a similar role and hold a valid PMVA certification. The position offers flexible day shifts, with pay rates between £12.51 and £22.90 per hour, depending on the day. This is a bank contract with the potential for career development.

Benefits

Flexible shifts

Learning & Development opportunities

Access to a large NHS staff bank

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 months experience working as a Mental Health HCA in NHS or private mental health hospital in the UK.
• Must hold valid PMVA certification.
• Willingness to work day shifts ideally Monday-Friday.

Responsibilities

• Support patients with mental and emotional issues under supervision.
• Assist patients in daily activities and monitor their progress.
• Maintain confidentiality in all patient matters.
• Participate in a clean and safe environment.

Skills

Experience working in mental health

Valid PMVA Certification

Communication skills

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Job description

Job summary

If you are looking for work that suits your lifestyle and needs, becoming a Mental Health Support Worker, for the bank at University Hospital Southampton could be right for you. NHS Professionals are currently recruiting for Mental Health Care Assistants at Southampton General Hospital.

As a bank worker you can work flexibly to support the team with patients with Mental Health difficulties.

Pay Rates are as follows:

Monday-Friday - £12.51 per hour

Saturday - £17.64 per hour

Sunday - £22.90 per hour

The demand is for DAYS so please only apply if you can work DAY SHIFTS

Main duties of the job

Supporting patients with mental and emotional issues under the supervision of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Assisting patients in performing their daily activities, monitoring their progress, and observing their personal and social behaviours.

About us

Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

NHS Professionals (NHSP), owned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), works in partnership with hospital trusts to provide a bank of highly skilled temporary workers who want to work flexibly within the NHS.

Working through the NHSP bank means Trusts dont have to rely on expensive agencies. Right now, we have over 130,000 members registered on our bank from various roles, grades, and specialities, saving the NHS over £70 million each year. This money is then reinvested back into the NHS.

Details

Date posted

12 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£12.51 to £22.90 an hour Rate dependant on day/shift time - DAYS ONLY AVAILABLE

Contract

Bank

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

M0042-25-1601

Job locations

Southampton General Hospital

Tremona Road

Southampton

SO16 6YD

Job description Job responsibilities

• To listen and talk to patients and their carers and develop therapeutic relationships
• To undertake and accurately document observations and nursing care in line with Trust policy
• To accurately report and feedback any concerns
• To understand the importance of, and maintain the need for confidentiality in all patient matters
• To participate in the maintenance of a clean, tidy, and safe environment
• To value diversity and promote equality of opportunity for all and to ensue individuals are treated fairly
• Attend to patients personal hygiene, including bathing, toileting, and dressing, promoting quality of life and independence
• To act as a positive role model to the patients and staff
• To demonstrate appropriate de-escalation skills in managing aggression exhibited by service users, subject to achieving agreed training and competency in Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression techniques
• Escort patients as appropriate to other areas of the hospital or the hospital grounds as delegated by a trained member of staff
• Completion of regular physical health observations, including the recording of these. Also completing the physical health paperwork within the admission process, including smoking/alcohol recording forms

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• MINIMUM OF 12-MONTHS EXPERENCE WORKING AS A MENTAL HEALTH HCA WORKING IN NHS MH HOSPITAL OR PRIVATE MH HOSPITAL IN THE UK.
• MUST HOLD VALID PMVA CERT
• WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR HCA WHO CAN WORK DAYS IDEALLY MONDAY-FRIDAY

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 details

NHS Professionals Limited

Southampton General Hospital

Tremona Road

Southampton

SO16 6YD

Employer's website

https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/