Mental Health Care Assistant - Bank

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in Guildford is seeking a Mental Health Care Assistant to provide compassionate and individualised care for patients experiencing mental health challenges. You will work in a multidisciplinary team, ensuring safety and dignity while delivering high-quality care and engaging therapeutically with patients. Previous care experience is essential, alongside NVQ qualifications. This position offers a salary between £24,795 and £25,275 annually, pro-rated.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and wellbeing program

Investments in professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 months care experience needed.
• Experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent.
• Must have ability to provide quality care with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Support clinical staff in managing mental health patients.
• Deliver compassionate care ensuring dignity of patients.
• Engage therapeutically with patients experiencing distress.

Skills

Empathy for individuals with mental health problems

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Ability to handle challenging behavior

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent

Care Certificate

Job description

This will be a 24/7 service and staff will need to work flexibly to support the clinical areas.

The role will include:

To support/advise clinical staff in the safe management of patients who present with mental health difficulties whilst in the hospital setting.

To be responsible for patient assessment, planning of care, implementing and supervising safe and compassionate care, and evaluating the effectiveness of care. You will demonstrate leadership qualities and be open, transparent and trustworthy.

As a Trust employee, act with integrity and uphold the values and beliefs of the trust and NMC Code of Conduct.

To provide a high standard of individualised patient care reflecting individual needs that involves relatives/carers as appropriate.

To be responsible for the co‑ordination, assessments, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for people with mental health problems in the inpatient setting. To provide nursing care to a defined group or to individual patients.

Main duties of the job

The role of a MHCA is a very privileged role, you will provide personal care and support to patients at their most vulnerable times. You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team to provide a compassionate, caring and safe environment for our patients.

Mandatory Requirements for this role include:

• Minimum of 12 months care experience
• Care Certificate in receipt of
• Restraint training

Providing enhanced care and continuous observations to patients with mental health conditions or patients experiencing psychological distress. Deliver therapeutic interventions that will reduce agitation and distress and promote recovery. To identify factors that increase and decrease agitation/distress for the patient. To always deliver care according to the principles of least restriction.

Carrying out assigned tasks as part of clinical team in support of registered nurses and to undertake some aspects of care provision without direct supervision. Ensuring the safety and well being of service users, and always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centred care principles.

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

• Therapeutically engage with patients who have a mental health condition or are experiencing psychological distress.
• Always deliver care in accordance with the principles of least restriction and in line with national guidance including NICE guidelines for managing disturbed behaviour.
• Understand continuous risk assessment of the patient and escalates any increase in risk.
• Identify when patients are experiencing anxiety/distress and therapeutically engage with them to alleviate these symptoms.
• Identify escalation of risk and actively de‑escalate the situation.
• Undertake therapeutic activities with the patient that are appropriate to their presentation.
• Identify an issue that prevents the therapeutic engagement of the patient.
• Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.
• Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.
• Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Provide support and assistance to professionals in the implementation of plans of care for individual patients.
• Assist with fluid and dietary needs of patients including completion of menu cards and recording intake and output of fluids and solids.
• Collect specimens from patients and record routine observations of weight, blood, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate. Report any abnormalities and concerns to a Registered Nurse.
• Recognise when patients are in pain and discomfort and report to nurse in charge.
• Under the direction of trained staff maintain and develop own skills including:
• Monitoring and recording of vital signs to include blood pressure
• Monitoring and recording of blood glucose levels
• Respond appropriately to clinical emergencies to ensure the patient receives appropriate and safe care.
• Undertake physical interventions (restraint) as a last resort only and maintain up to date training in this area.
• Assist the Registered Nurse with the safe handling and mobilisation of patients and when necessary to assist in the transportation of patients.
• Chaperone patients to other clinical departments, following assessment by a registered nurse, to maintain patient safety.
• Participate in the assessment, admission, discharge and handover of patients.
• Provide reassurance, support to patients, carers and family.
• Ensure own actions help to maintain quality.
• Respond to patient requests for non‑clinical information to improve communication.
• Establish and maintain communication with people on routine and operational matters.
• Act always in a manner which promotes positive working relationships and maintains the professional image of the Trust.
• Understand and adhere to all Trust polices, guidelines and procedures in particular, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Waste Management and Resuscitation policies to maintain a safe working environment for patients and staff.

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
• Care certificate

Knowledge and Experience

• 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
• 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.

£24,795 to £25,275 a year pro‑rated, per annum