Senior Healthcare Assistant

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Chelmsford is seeking a Senior Healthcare Assistant to support women suffering from acute mental illness during the perinatal period. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work within a specialized team focusing on care excellence. A NVQ Level 3 qualification in care and relevant experience in inpatient mental health services are essential. This role offers competitive benefits, including flexible working from day one.

Benefits

27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years

Excellent pension of up to 14.5%

Staff discounts including Blue Light Card

£8K relocation package

Interest-free season ticket loans

Responsibilities

• Support within the specialist care of women suffering acute mental illness during the perinatal stage.
• Support in service development and treatment for Mothers and their babies based on evidence-based practice.

Skills

Experience working within inpatient mental health services

Understanding of the Mental Health Act

Experience working within perinatal mental health

Education

NVQ Level 3 qualification in care or equivalent

GCSE level qualification or above

Training in parent/infant therapy

Basic training in psychological interventions

Completed Care Certificate

Job description

Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all of our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form be rejected from the process.

Please note this vacancy requires a face to face interview with the Recruiting Manager. Applicants that are unable to attend a face to face interview need not apply.

Rainbow Mother and Baby Unit is a 6 bedded specialised inpatient service that supports women within the perinatal period challenged with mental health concerns.

Perinatal care is a fulfilling area to work within where you can support not just the individual but the family as a whole.

Accepting admissions from the 3rd trimester of pregnancy up until infants are 1 years of age, this role invites passionate professionals to join a dynamic team in providing care excellence.

Main duties of the job

• Support within the specialist care of women suffering acute mental illness during the perinatal stage
• Support in service development and treatment for Mothers and their babies based on evidence based practice
• The applicant would ideally have experience in perinatal work, working with families and have completed training in parent/infant interventions.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and person specification for further details in regards to the role and requirements

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a one workforce cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

To support this one workforce model the successful candidate for this post will be required to attend our5 day (Monday to Friday) face to face Induction Programme at our MSE ICS Education Hub at Brentwood Community Hospital. Your start date will therefore fall on one of two of the HCA Academy induction dates across the month, which will be discussed and agreed during the recruitment process.

Our HCA Academy Induction programme has been designed to train and support the successful candidate through the early stages of their employment at EPUT and will provide opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge and experience.

Further information will be provided post interview.

This will be followed by an additional 5 day (Monday to Friday) EPUT corporate / mandatory training welcome. (EPUT Welcome will be varied between face to face and virtual delivery).

Person Specification

Educational

• GCSE level qualification or above
• NVQ Level 3 qualification in care or equivalent experience
• Training in parent/infant therapy
• Basic training in psychological interventions
• Completed Care Certificate

Experience

• Experience of working within inpatient mental health services
• An understanding of the Mental Health Act
• Experience working within perinatal mental health

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust