Mental Healthcare Assistant

Priory Group; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Enhanced maternity pay

Birthday Holiday – your birthday off

Contributory pension scheme

Flexible benefits (gym, IT schemes, &/

Private healthcare

Development opportunities

Sponsorship for professional quals

Leadership & management development

Long service award

Refer-a-friend bonuses

Job summary

Priory Burgess Hill is recruiting Mental Healthcare Assistants to join our experienced team. The role is full-time with a salary of £28,288.26 per year and a £1,000 joining bonus if you apply before 16 October 2026.

Shift times include 7.30am–8pm days and 7.30pm–8am nights, with 4- or 3-day week patterns and both day and night work. We offer progression opportunities from entry-level HCA roles to senior positions, funded nursing apprenticeships, and a supportive environment focused on

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a caring nature.
• Empathy, understanding and patience.
• Ability to work on your own and as part of a team.
• Ability to understand and follow policies and procedure.
• The ability to anticipate and respond to challenges.
• Competent in verbal and written English.

Responsibilities

• Supporting qualified staff with the assessment and implementation of individual care plans.
• Carrying out routine care tasks to promote patient dignity, wellbeing and comfort.
• Providing responsive, practical support for personal care needs including dressing, bathing and toileting, in line with relevant care legislation.
• Observing and monitoring patient wellbeing, reporting any unusual physical, mental or emotional changes promptly to senior staff or the primary nurse.
• Helping maintain a safe, structured and therapeutic environment.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Team collaboration

Policy adherence

Proactive problem solving

English communication

Job description

Priory Burgess Hill is looking to recruit Mental Healthcare Assistants to join our experienced team.

Salary: £28,288.26 per year for Full time -£1,000 joining bonus if you apply before 16th October 2026 (T&C's apply)

Contract: Full Time

Shift times:

7.30am – 8pm (Days)
7.30pm – 8am (Nights)

Shift Patterns:

4 day week: Monday, Tuesday Saturday & Sunday working
3 day week: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday working
There is a need to work days and night shifts

Set in attractive grounds on the edge of the South Downs National Park, Priory Hospital Burgess Hill is a purpose-built facility with strong links to the local community. We provide Acute mental health and PICU services for adult males, and have just opened our first BTP (Bespoke Therapeutic Placement) supporting the NHS to deliver care closer to home and reduce out-of-area placements. As part of our exciting growth, including the opening of new wards, we offer excellent development opportunities—from entry-level HCA roles through to Senior HCA positions—with clear progression pathways, including the chance to undertake fully funded nursing apprenticeships. Whether you’re a graduate or new to care, you’ll benefit from hands‑on clinical experience and structured development, helping you build a rewarding career while contributing to high-quality, patient-centred care

As an HCA, you will play a key role in supporting our patients’ recovery, wellbeing and independence.

What You'll Be Doing

You will be part of a compassionate, person‑centred team committed to helping patients move forward with confidence. Your role will include:

• Supporting qualified staff with the assessment and implementation of individual care plans
• Carrying out routine care tasks to promote patient dignity, wellbeing and comfort
• Providing responsive, practical support for personal care needs including dressing, bathing and toileting, in line with relevant care legislation
• Observing and monitoring patient wellbeing, reporting any unusual physical, mental or emotional changes promptly to senior staff or the primary nurse
• Helping maintain a safe, structured and therapeutic environment

Further details can be found in the full job description.

What You'll Bring to the Role

Working in mental health is incredibly rewarding—but it can also be challenging. Resilience, empathy and a genuine commitment to supporting others are key.

You will bring:

• A caring, compassionate and patient‑focused approach
• The ability to build positive relationships with patients and colleagues
• A willingness to undertake the Care Certificate as part of your probation (even if previously completed)
• Strong observational skills and the ability to act calmly under pressure

Experience in a care setting is desirable, but what matters most is your values, attitude and willingness to learn.

Benefits

We want you to thrive in your role and develop your career with us. You’ll be supported with training, development pathways and regular career conversations.

With the opportunity to apply for funded nursing apprenticeships when embedded in an HCA role, typically after 12–18 months.

Healthcare Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Birthday Holiday – your birthday off as an extra day’s annual leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Flexible benefits including gym membership, IT technology schemes and private healthcare
• Access to development opportunities
• Sponsorship for professional qualifications
• Leadership & management development
• Long service award
• Refer-a-friend bonuses

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a caring nature
• Empathy, understanding and patience
• Ability to work on your own and as part of a team
• Ability to understand and follow policies and procedure
• The ability to anticipate and respond to challenges
• Competent in verbal and written English

#healthcareassistant #HCA #brighton #burgesshill #carework #mentalhealth

About Priory

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and adult social care. With 13,000 colleagues across 280 services, we support over 26,000 people each year. We treat more than 70 conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and children’s mental health, and we provide residential and supported living services for autistic adults, people with learning disabilities, Prader–Willi Syndrome, brain injuries and older adults.

We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Learn more about our support here:
https://jobs.priorygroup.com/accessibility

All roles are subject to a successful disclosure from the DBS, Access NI or Disclosure Scotland (cost covered by Priory).
Recruitment agencies: please do not contact us regarding this vacancy.

Shortlisting may begin upon receipt of applications. This vacancy may close early if enough suitable candidates are identified.

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