Nursing Support Worker (Mental Health)

NHS; Llanelli; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Hywel Dda University Health Board is seeking a Nursing Support Worker to join the Older Adult Mental Health Assessment Unit. You will work under Registered Nurses to deliver compassionate, person-centred care to older adults with dementia, depression, anxiety, or cognitive impairment, supporting daily living activities and treatment engagement.

This is a full-time post within a multidisciplinary team. Welsh language ability is desirable, and applicants from Welsh and English speakers are

Qualifications

• Level 3 health care qualification or equivalent work-based competency.
• Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales and All Wales Delegation Guidelines (HEIW).
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults/children, GDPR and related policies in healthcare.
• Ability to complete certified/accredited PMVA training during induction.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, person-centred care to older adults with mental health conditions.
• Support activities of daily living, therapeutic engagement and recovery-focused interventions.
• Monitor and report changes in patients’ mental and physical wellbeing to the MDT.
• Contribute to care planning, treatment and discharge processes.
• Maintain a safe, respectful ward environment and support teamwork with families and carers.

Education

Level 3 qualification in a health care related subject

Job description

Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.

Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.

Job overview

The Nursing Support Worker is a valued member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team within the Older Adult Mental Health Assessment Unit, working under the direction of Registered Nurses to provide compassionate, person-centred care to older adults experiencing mental health conditions such as dementia, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and cognitive impairment.

The post holder supports patients with activities of daily living, delivers direct care, undertakes physical health observations, and assists in monitoring mental and physical wellbeing. Working in line with care plans, risk assessments, and relevant policies, they support patients throughout assessment, treatment, and recovery.

A key aspect of the role is developing therapeutic relationships, providing emotional support, promoting dignity and independence, and encouraging engagement in meaningful activities. Nursing Support Workers contribute to assessment and care planning by observing and reporting changes in patients’ presentation, behaviour, cognition, mood, and physical health.

Working closely with nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, families, and carers, they help maintain a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment that promotes recovery, wellbeing, and positive outcomes for older adults.

This is a full-time post.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will primarily work within the Older Adult Mental Health Assessment Unit and may be required to work across Adult Mental Health inpatient services to meet service needs.

Key responsibilities include providing high-quality, person-centred care to older adults with mental health conditions, dementia, cognitive impairment, and complex physical health needs. The post holder will support patients with activities of daily living, therapeutic engagement, recovery-focused interventions, and meaningful activities that promote independence and wellbeing.

They will monitor and report changes in patients' mental and physical wellbeing, contributing to multidisciplinary assessments, care planning, treatment, and discharge processes. The role involves supporting patients experiencing distress, anxiety, confusion, or challenging behaviour, using compassionate, person-centred approaches and working in accordance with risk assessments, observation policies, safeguarding procedures, and individual care plans.

The post holder will help maintain a safe, therapeutic ward environment, promote dignity, equality, inclusion, and patients' rights, and develop effective relationships with patients, families, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

Interviews will be held on 29/10/2026

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Person specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Level 3 qualification in a health care related subject Or Equivalent experience and can evidence work based competency demonstrating theoretical knowledge, and the ability to undertake clinical care duties relevant for the role which is gained through experience and worked based training/short courses
• Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales and All Wales Delegation Guidelines (HEIW)
• Knowledge of relevant policies and procedures within a healthcare setting for example the principles of Safeguarding adults/children to keep patients within their care safe, and confidentiality for example General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
• Ability to be able to complete certified/accredited physical intervention training, for example Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA) during induction
• Certified /accredited physical intervention training, for example Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA)

Experience

• Experience of working within a relevant heath or social care environment, providing direct patient care
• Experience of working with patient groups relevant to area of practice
• Experience of working within the NHS

Language Skills

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.

By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable).

These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data (sensitive personal data is defined as any declared physical or mental health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, trade union membership, political opinion, religious beliefs). As an organisation, we ensure that the legislation defining confidentiality is observed such as use of data for specific, defined purposes, and use of data that is relevant and not excessive whilst practising data accuracy and security of all held personal identifiable information (PII)

If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa , unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.