Nursing Assistant

Devon Partnership Nhs Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Haldon Eating Disorder Service at Wonford House, Exeter. You will join a multidisciplinary team delivering compassionate, evidence-based care on an inpatient ward and support patients through meals and daily activities.

The role involves assisting with therapeutic meal times, monitoring patient wellbeing, and contributing to individual care plans within a safe, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• GCSEs or equivalent education and basic IT skills.
• Care Certificate to be completed within 6 months if not already held.
• Able to work changing shift patterns as required.
• Basic knowledge of mental and physical health presentations.
• Experience helping or volunteering in care or customer service.

Responsibilities

• Help patients with everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, and moving around
• Support patients to join activities and follow their care plans
• Be friendly and respectful to patients and staff
• Notice and report changes in a patient's health or wellbeing and tell a nurse
• Keep simple and accurate records
• Help keep the ward clean, safe, and welcoming
• Follow important safety, hygiene and safeguarding rules

Skills

Therapeutic relationships

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Basic education (GCSEs or equivalent)

Care Certificate (within 6 months)

Health and Social Care qualification

NVQ Level 3 / QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Tools

Basic IT Skills

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for a Nursing Assistants to join the Haldon Eating Disorder Service based on a ward at Wonford House, Exeter.

The Haldon Unit is a specialist 10-bedded inpatient eating disorders service within Devon Partnership NHS Trust, providing assessment, treatment and recovery-focused care for adults experiencing severe eating disorders. We are a highly skilled multidisciplinary team committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care within a safe and therapeutic environment.

Our approach combines psychological, nutritional and physical healthcare interventions, supporting patients throughout their recovery journey while promoting dignity, independence and hope.

The post holder will assist with therapeutic meal times and various ward activities.

The Haldon team are compassionate and supportive, and genuinely committed to working together with the people who use our services, who come from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

Main duties of the job

Nursing Assistants play a vital role within the ward's structured daily programme. A significant part of the role involves supporting patients during six supervised dining room sessions each day, working alongside nursing colleagues to provide consistent therapeutic support before, during and after meals. Staff are involved in monitoring and documenting care, contributing to individual care plans, maintaining therapeutic relationships, and supporting patients through periods of distress or increased risk. The role requires excellent communication skills, compassion and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. The Haldon Unit offers a varied and rewarding working environment. Alongside supporting patients with their recovery goals, Healthcare Assistants are actively involved in physical healthcare monitoring and nursing interventions, making the role particularly appealing to individuals with an interest in physical health as well as mental health care. Staff also support patients on therapeutic leave in the community and participate in a range of creative and meaningful group activities each week, helping patients build confidence, develop coping strategies and reconnect with everyday life. This is an excellent opportunity to join a dedicated team where no two days are the same and where staff make a genuine difference to people's recovery.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist and secure services for the wider south west region and nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health and wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise and resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe and focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families and carers in everything we do.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity and compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves and others, and being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and applications are encouraged and welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time and flexible working applications will be considered and supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

About the job

We are looking for kind and caring people to join our inpatient teams as Healthcare Assistants.

This is a great job if you want to start a career in healthcare.

You will help patients with everyday tasks and work with nurses and other healthcare staff and support them on their journey to feel better.

What You Will Do

• Help patients with everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, and moving around
• Support patients to join activities and follow their care plans
• Be friendly and respectful to patients and staff
• Notice and report any changes in a patient's health or wellbeing and tell a nurse
• Keep simple and accurate records
• Help keep the ward clean, safe, and welcoming
• Follow important safety, hygiene and safeguarding rules

About You

You should be/know

• Kind, caring, and respectful
• How to help people safely
• Good at talking and listening to people
• Able to work well with others and well as on your own when needed
• Reliable and willing to learn
• Calm when things are busy or difficult
• Able to keep information private and behave professionally
• How to help keep people safe and what to do if you feel worried about someones well-being or safety

What you need

• Basic education (e.g. GCSEs or similar)
• Basic IT Skills
• To complete the Care Certificate within 6 months if you do not already have it
• Able to work changing shift patterns as required
• Basic knowledge of mental health and physical health presentations
• Some experience helping or working with people such as in customer service, care or volunteering)

It would be helpful if you have

• Health and Social Care qualification (such as NVQ Level 2 or 3)
• Experience in supporting people who have mental health difficulties

Why Join Us?

• You do not need to have worked in healthcare before. If you enjoy helping people and want to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.
• We will give you full training and support to help you learn new skills and do well in your

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous employment / experience of working with people in a caring situation or previous experience working in a different role within mental health services
• Awareness of safeguarding principles

Desirable

• Previous care experience with people who have Mental Health difficulties.
• Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations.

Qualifications

Essential

• Basic Education.
• To complete the Care Certificate within the first 6 months of employment unless already obtained or evidence of equivalent agreed and signed off by the appointing manager at interview. If not, this will be a trainee position until successful completion

Desirable

• NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate an ability to make and sustain professional therapeutic relationships
• Good communication and listening skills
• Ability to work with people in a group and individual basis

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.