Physical Health Care Assistant

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust; Frankley; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated Physical Health Care Assistant to join our Community Mental Health Team. You will support adults with serious mental illness to receive high-quality physical healthcare, work alongside nurses and doctors, and help monitor health indicators.

The role covers blood pressure, heart rate, BMI, venepuncture and ECGs, maintaining records, and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.

Qualifications

• Experience with health monitoring and basic clinical observations.
• Ability to perform venepuncture and ECGs after training.
• Record keeping in line with Trust policies.

Responsibilities

• Undertake physical health monitoring including blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI and other routine observations.
• Support the completion of annual physical health checks for service users.
• Perform venepuncture and ECGs (or undertake training where required).
• Record and maintain accurate clinical records in line with Trust policies.
• Support service users to engage with physical health initiatives and healthy lifestyle interventions.
• Liaise with GPs, primary care services and other healthcare professionals as appropriate.
• Escalate concerns regarding a service user's physical or mental health to the appropriate clinician.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision and mandatory training.

Skills

Blood pressure monitoring

Venepuncture

ECG procedures

Clinical observations

Record keeping

Tools

ECG equipment

Venipuncture equipment

Clinical records system

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Physical Health Care Assistant to join our Community Mental Health Team. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of high-quality physical healthcare for adults receiving secondary mental health services. You will work alongside nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and support staff to improve the physical health and wellbeing of service users with serious mental illness. The role will involve carrying out physical health assessments, monitoring physical health indicators and supporting individuals to access appropriate healthcare services. Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake physical health monitoring including blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI and other routine observations.
• Support the completion of annual physical health checks for service users.
• Perform venepuncture and ECGs (or undertake training where required).
• Record and maintain accurate clinical records in line with Trust policies.
• Support service users to engage with physical health initiatives and healthy lifestyle interventions.
• Liaise with GPs, primary care services and other healthcare professionals as appropriate.
• Escalate concerns regarding a service user's physical or mental health to the appropriate clinician.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision and mandatory training.

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation. Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To assist in service users care in order to encourage recovery and wellbeing in both, hospital and community settings.
• To assess service users for basic health parameters -core physiological measures- i.e. heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate where appropriate.
• To plan, organise and lead groups independently and unsupervised in the community setting.
• e.g smoking cessation/exercise groups/ healthy lifestyle groups
• To contribute to the client's physical health care plan, keeping all records up to date and validated by a registered staff member
• To monitor the service users attending groups and report problems with individuals to the physiotherapy staff, GP medical or senior nursing staff for evaluation if they are not comfortable advising the client appropriately.
• To participate in the screening of patients using screening tools developed by supervising clinical staff and clinical working groups.
• To support service users to make healthy lifestyle choices about exercise and nutrition.
• To signpost service users appropriately to community services where needed.
• To be part of any necessary planning or reviewing of treatment progress.
• To use ECG equipment and provide ECG trace readings for review by the medical staff.
• To undertake venepuncture on request or for screening purposes within the health and wellbeing clinic setting.
• Blood Glucose monitoring To refer clients onto other agencies as appropriate.