Healthcare Assistant

Location: Torquay, TQ2 7AA
Salary: £22816.00 to £24336.00
Date posted: 18th April 2024
Closing date: 5th May 2024

Our professional responsibility is to reduce the risk of infection to others as far as possible. Getting vaccinated against diseases that can be passed person-to-person in healthcare settings is part of this responsibility. The Trust will provide advice, guidance and support on vaccinations and access to vaccinations where requested.

Job Description:

An opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic individual to join our inpatient teams based at the South Devon & Torbay Mental Health Centre as a Healthcare Assistant.

Whether you have years of experience or are simply looking for a change in career we are looking to appoint people who are passionate about nursing care. The job offers a challenging yet rewarding environment with opportunities to consistently learn.

Both Haytor and Salus Ward provide high quality care and treatment for people who have complex mental health needs. We provide a multi disciplinary assessment of patient need to inform their current needs and future care needs.

The team are an enthusiastic and highly motivated team, with a passion for working with adults of all ages. We work closely as a multi-disciplinary team and work well together allowing us to better support our patients and one another. We aim to support the overall health and wellbeing of our staff, keeping them physically and psychologically well which is important in these current times.

Main duties of the job

This is a great opportunity to join a well-established team, who work together to deliver high quality service to all patients. The team hold shared values and encourage staff to learn and develop their existing skills. Devon Partnership Trust runs excellent development courses that are available to all staff.

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.

Our values

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values 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 & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.

Job responsibilities

Communication & Working Relationships

• Tocommunicate effectively with people using services taking into account anycommunication difficulties they may have and responding appropriately.
• To formand maintain therapeutic relationships with individuals and otherprofessionals and agencies.
• Tomaintain accurate and complete records consistent with legislation,policies and procedures.
• Tocommunicate in a professional manner that is consistent with relevantlegislation, policies and procedures.
• Taking,recording and reporting telephone messages.
• Providingand receiving routine information to assist in undertaking the role.
• Participatein ward / team meetings and discussions.

Planning & Organisation

• To beinvolved in the assessment and implementation of individual treatment programmesand the persons recovery care plan under the supervision of qualified staff.
• Toprioritise tasks and manage the shift workload in discussion with theNurse-in-Charge.
• Participatein flexible shift system, which requires you to work days, evening, nights,weekends and public holiday's dependent on the needs of the ward.
• In orderto provide comprehensive and quality services to individuals, the post holderwill if necessary be required to work in other areas of the service as directedby the Line Manager / Nurse-in-Charge.

Responsibility for Judgement & Analysis

• The postholder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.
• Takepart in the constant assessment of risk and management of risk in conjunctionwith the qualified staff.
• Takepart and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
• Bepunctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordancewith Trust Policies.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

• To be fullyaware of each individuals recovery care plan and be involved in clinicalformulation and delivery of allocated individuals recovery care plans.
• To participatefully in the allocated /associate nurse role.
• Participationin the delivery of therapeutic interventions, - assisting / facilitating in therunning of group and individual 1-1 activities, offering time in positiveactivity and engagement.
• Participate inprocedures involving intensive engagement and care of individuals who aredistressed and / or verbally or physically aggressive.
• To providesupport with daily living skills.
• Assist in allaspects of physical nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Be able torecognise signs of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalatetheir concerns.
• Provideregular and practical support to individuals and their carers.
• To maintainthe dignity and well-being of individuals and their carers at all times.
• Assisting inthe monitoring of patient nutritional needs.
• Escorting individualsunder direction of Nurse-in-Charge.
• To assistindividuals gain access to resources including benefits and welfare rights.
• Participatingin ward / team Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings and discussions.
• Keep accuraterecords of interventions and care provided as identified in patient care plansas directed by the Nurse-in-Charge and ensure all entries are validated on theelectronic records system.
• Promptlyreport any difficulties encountered whilst implementing agreed care plans tothe Nurse-in-Charge, and be able to report both verbally and in written formagainst progress of care plans.
• To comply withall DPT policies, protocols, procedures relevant to the role.
• Report anyobserved incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untowardoccurrences or faulty equipment to the Nurse-in-charge or Line Manager.
• To complete all core training requirements and other appropriate training courses, to maintain individual professional development.
• To participateprofessionally in service development and proposed service changes.
• To take partin any audit processes as required.
• Comply with universalInfection Control precautions and procedures.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

• Assist inmaintaining safety and security of the environment.
• Helping tomaintain cleanliness and tidiness of the environment (including equipment).
• To haveknowledge and understanding of counter fraud.
• To ensureTrust policies and legislation are followed regarding patient's property andmonies.
• To ensureaccurate documentation and record keeping.
• To participate in themonitoring, ordering and receipts of stock and non-stock supplies of the ward.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

• To activelyparticipate in regular supervision and an annual staff appraisal which includesservice objectives and individual learning and development needs in accordancewith Trust policy.
• To participate in andsupport students learning along with other members of the team.

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

• To effectivelyuse the Trust's IT systems (Care Notes), off duty(E-roster), learning and development (E-learning), online and any other ITsystems either current or in the future as commensurate with the role.
• Maintainingconfidentiality of information being aware of Trust policies and localprotocols and keeping up-to-date with changes.

Freedom to Act

• Works within the standardoperational procedures of the team. Uses own initiative in delivering patientcare whilst receiving supervision from the team.

Other Specific Tasks Required

• To contributeto the provision of a safe therapeutic environment for individuals, staff andvisitors to the unit.
• To take onresponsibility for duties assigned by Line Manager.
• The postholder should ensure their fitness to undertake the post they should be able todemonstrate they are able to undertake the level of general training andpersonal safety training appropriate to their role and work area, and keep thistraining up-to-date.
• If the abilityto perform Physical Intervention Techniques or Prevention of Violence,Management is a requirement of the role, the post holder must declare physicalfitness to undertake such a role.
• The postholder should act quickly to protect the safety of individuals if they havereason to believe that they or a colleague may not be fit to undertake theduties within their job role.
• Act within competency.

Person Specification Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to work changing shift patterns as required
• To be maintain confidentiality, empathy, compassion and patience, towards individuals with mental health illness.
• Good communication and listening skills
• Demonstrate an ability and awareness to maintain personal boundaries
• To demonstrate an ability to provide practical support with daily living activities, and physically perform nursing duties

Qualifications

• 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
• 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.

Experience

• 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
• Previous care experience with people who have Mental Health difficulties.

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.

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