Physical Health Support Worker

Devon Partnership Trust; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a committed Physical Health Support Worker to join the Riviera Core Team. You will deliver high quality, person-centred physical health care, support routine monitoring, phlebotomy pathways, ECGs and health promotion activities in the community setting across coastal areas.

The role emphasises recovery-oriented practice, empathy and resilience within a multidisciplinary team to enable equitable access and improved health outcomes for service users.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine physical health observations including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight and BMI
• Support phlebotomy pathways and blood sampling
• Assist with ECGs and wider clinical monitoring requirements
• Promote healthy lifestyle interventions and signpost to services
• Support the hub and spoke PHM model to ensure access across localities
• Work with nurses, GPs and MDT colleagues to ensure high quality, person-centred care
• Record results accurately in the PH Launchpad/SystmOne/EMIS and keep documentation up to date
• Provide personalised, recovery-focused care and support patients to engage with monitoring

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting people to improvetheir physical wellbeing?

We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Physical Health SupportWorker to join our dedicated team, where you'll play a key role indelivering high quality, person centred care to the individuals we support.This is a truly rewarding opportunity to promote physical health, empowerservice users, and contribute to safe, effective and holistic care every day.

You'll be joining Devon Partnership NHS Trust,working across a diverse mix of urban, rural and coastal communities that makethis a uniquely inspiring place to build your career. As part of the dynamicand skilled Riviera Core Team, you'll help us build on the excellentwork already underway and continue driving forward positive outcomes for thepeople we serve.

This is a hands on, relationship focused role requiringempathy, resilience and a strong commitment to recovery oriented practice. As aPhysical Health Support Worker, you'll help create a supportive environmentwhere individuals feel listened to, respected and empowered to make meaningfulsteps toward improved health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Main duties of the job

As a Physical Health Support Worker, you will play a keyrole in supporting the delivery of high quality physical healthcare. Your main responsibilities will include:

Carrying out routine physical health monitoring: includes completing observations of blood pressure, pulse,temperature, height, weight and BMI, in line with the Physical HealthMonitoring (PHM) Model.

Supporting phlebotomy pathways and blood samplingYou will take bloods and support blood taking processes.

Conducting ECGs and contributing to wider clinicalmonitoring requirements: assist with ECG recording and support timely screening forindividuals prescribed medication.

Promoting healthy lifestyle interventionsproviding advice and support to encourage positive health behaviours.

Supporting the delivery of the Physical Health Hub& Spoke modelhelping ensureequitable access to physical health monitoring across localities

Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary teamYou will liaise with nurses, practitioners, GPs, and wider community colleaguesto ensure high quality, person centred care.

Accurately recording and maintaining clinicalinformation: to ensure timely documentation of results,observations and follow-up actions

Supporting service users with personalised, recovery focusedcare helping individuals understand their physical health needs, buildconfidence, engage with monitoring, and access further support where required.

About us

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

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

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & 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 & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

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

Job responsibilities

The purpose of this role is to provide high quality, person centred physical health support to individuals under the care of Core Mental Health Services (CMHTs). This includes undertaking routine physical health monitoring, supporting phlebotomy pathways, assisting with ECGs and physical observations, promoting healthy lifestyle interventions, national screening programmes and delivering care in line with the Physical Health Monitoring (PHM) Model for the North, Mid, South, and Torbay localities. Quality, person-centred physical health support to individuals under the care of these teams.

This role supports the capacity for physical health monitoring in line with Trust expectations that CMHTs provide timely and standardised monitoring for people with severe mental illness, including those prescribed antipsychotic medication, depot injections, mood stabilisers or Clozapine. This role forms part of the wider workforce expansion, recognising the need for additional Physical Health skills capacity across community services.

Working under the daily supervision of mental health practitioners, the post holder will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, supporting the delivery of recovery focused interventions for patients with a range of mental health presentations in the community. This may involve close collaboration with multiple agencies such as Primary Care, Complex Care Teams, and Third Sector organisations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Work closely with Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, Non Medical Prescribers, GPs, VCSE partners and MDT colleagues.
• Participate in MDT meetings as required to provide physical health updates and receive guidance.
• Communicate sensitively with people who may experience anxiety, neurodiversity, psychosis or health related distress.
• Record all results in the Physical Health Launchpad, SystmOne or EMIS, as appropriate.
• Ensure clear, accurate and timely documentation.
• Follow Trust procedures for blood sample labelling, ID verification, and any interim solutions referenced in PHM meeting actions.
• Communicate effectively with people using services, considering any communication difficulties and responding appropriately.
• Participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and activity programmes that improve quality of life and mental wellbeing.
• Offer emotional support, advice, information and education to people using services, their carers and families, including signposting to other services.
• Foster and maintain strong working relationships with other community teams, health and social care professionals and inpatient services, sharing relevant information appropriately.
• Provide information and assistance to people using services and their carers to ensure they understand their rights, entitlements and care plan.
• Communicate any changes in a persons presentation to the appropriate professional in a timely manner.
• Provide NHS advice on national screening programmes e.g. breast screening, bowel screening etc

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.
• Take part in the constant assessment of risk and management of risk in conjunction with the qualified staff.
• Take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
• Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Trust Policies.
• Use resources appropriate to the needs of people using services.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Deliver brief interventions and health promotion conversations, including:
• Smoking cessation or transition to safer alternatives
• Weight management
• Diet, hydration and exercise
• Medication adherence
• Engagement with structured physical activity offers
• Screening programmes
• Work alongside peer support workers, social prescribers and VCSE partners to encourage meaningful health behaviour change.
• Support individuals who require enhanced engagement due to poor health literacy, social isolation or severe mental illness, as identified within CMHT discussions.
• Maintain accurate records of all activity.
• Liaise appropriately with other agencies to support the delivery of care.
• Attend meetings and other communication events linked to the work of the team, as directed by the team leader.
• Independently or jointly monitor a persons mental health to ensure safety. This may require intensive or frequent monitoring as directed by mental health practitioners and in accordance with the care plan.
• Observe and report changes in mental health presentation to qualified staff so that the care plan remains up to date; recognise fluctuations in mental health.
• Encourage social and physical activities as outlined in the care plan.
• Promote independence and recovery.
• Recognise signs of abuse and follow appropriate procedures to elevate concerns.
• Participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to enhance quality of life.
• Record contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic care record and seek professional validation when required.
• Maintain up tod ate clinical knowledge relevant to the role and current mental health practice developments.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Carry out routine physical health observations, including:
• Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight, BMI
• NEWS2 scoring
• Waist circumference and metabolic monitoring
• Physical side-effect screening using Trust approved tools (e.g., Lester Tool)
• Support venepuncture pathways once trained, including baseline and follow up blood tests.
• Assist with ECGs, ensuring appropriate preparation, positioning and patient support.
• Support clozapine and depot monitoring clinics by collecting and recording physical health data in line with Trust SOPs.
• Escalate abnormal or deteriorating physical health parameters to registered practitioners immediately.
• Staff physical health monitoring clinics, including community hubs, CMHT bases and satellite locations.
• Provide outreach or homebased visits for individuals unable to attend clinics, ensuring equitable access when clinically appropriate.
• Support the hub and spoke PHM model, contributing to consistent practice across localities.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Contribute to improving the PHM model by identifying barriers, supporting cohort identification work, and feeding back operational issues.
• Participate in audits, data quality improvement, and evaluation of physical health services.
• To comply with all DPT policies, protocols, procedures relevant to the role.
• Report any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences or faulty equipment.
• To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.
• To complete all core training requirements and other appropriate training courses pertinent to the role, as agreed by the team leader

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Assist in maintaining safety and security of the environment.
• Helping to maintain cleanliness and tidiness of the environment (including equipment).
• To have knowledge and understanding of counter fraud.
• The post holder will have no direct responsibility for finance, but they will need to adhere to relevant Trust policies on financial issues.
• To use Trust NHS resources in a sustainable way.