Mental Health Support Worker

Are you passionate about helping people with dementia? The Intensive Community Support for Dementia have a unique opportunity for a Mental Health Support Worker to join our dynamic and supportive team based at Alderney Community Hospital.

ICSD are a well-resourced Specialist Community Team that offers specialist interventions at times of urgent and complex needs to help people with dementia and their carers in their place of residence safely. We offer as much care as possible within the person's living environment, with care, compassion and expertise and to strive to be better every day at what we do. You will need to have relevant skills, experience and knowledge in dementia health. As a Mental Health Support Worker passion and compassion are essential personal qualities for this role, along with excellent team-working, initiative, communication and assessment skills.

This post is full time hours however could be flexible and part time hours would be considered (minimum of 22.5 hours) ICSD is a 7 day a week service, operating from 7:30-20:00. You will be required to work a range of flexible shifts across the week. Weekends at enhanced pay.

07:30 -15:30

12:00 - 20:00

The team supports other secondary mental health services in preventing unnecessary admissions to hospital and supports families and carers as much as the person who has dementia. The mental health support worker role requires tact and confidence in equal measure and a high degree of integrity is needed.

To undertake visits as per a patients care plan completing the tasks within the care plan to assist a patient and or carer.

To assisting with personal care and looking at non pharmacological interventions to reduce distressed behaviours.

To visit and support patients in their own home or a Care Home

To be able to follow and demonstrate the delivery and implementation of care plans, under the direction of a registered nurse.

To carry out assigned tasks which have been identified by the registered nursing staff in relation to patients’ needs - this may include personal care, meal preparation, activity as a form of distraction or periods of 1:1.

To provide a level of privacy and dignity to all patients, including being able to respond effectively to patients that are displaying an act of aggressive behaviour, or patients that have inhibitions.

Participating, with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, and under the direction of a registered nurse, in providing a programme of assessment and treatment for patients.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

You will be required to undertake a Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression course, and it is a condition of your employment that you successfully complete all aspects of this course; if this is not achieved you will not be able to commence working in the post.