Release Time to Care Assistant

An exciting opportunity has arisen on Pinewood Ward, a 16 bedded Acute Mental Health Ward.

We are looking for dedicated Releasing Time to Care Assistant to join and be part of our forward thinking, progressive service, that invest in staff through continuous development and career progression.

This exciting role will support the multi-disciplinary ward team in attending to important care linked tasks through a range of administrative and customer care skills. In doing so, clinicians’ capacity to offer acute intervention is enhanced. The job role comprises of both administrative and clinical tasks and you will be working closely with the Ward Manager with tasks that consist of supporting with completion of audits, Duty Rota support, referrals to outside agencies and supporting patient carers & families.

If you are educated to NVQ 3 or equivalent and have had previous experience in healthcare/therapy and/or administrative role we would love to hear from you.

Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.

Be willing to develop knowledge and skills.

Previous experience of working with people with severe mental health problems and experience or knowledge of caring for people in a mental health setting is desirable.

Providing both clinical and administrative support to the ward. Clinical tasks that would be undertaken include completing therapeutic observations, supporting with patient escorts, their self-care and physical health monitoring.

Administrative tasks would involve supporting nursing staff and the ward manager with audits, referrals to other care providers, ensuring shifts are covered and supporting with maintaining the duty rota.

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.

The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Meet and greet - welcoming visitors and service users in courteous/prompt manner + check contact details up to date
- Be involved in the facilitation of a service user’s admission and discharge to a Ward under the direction of the Nurse in Charge
- Assist the Ward Staff in the serving of service users’ meals
- Support the Ward Manager in liaising with NHS Professionals and helping to cover sickness and vacant shifts.
- Liaises with internal and external stakeholders on behalf of line manager, colleague or team member including GP’s for missing information
- Answer calls and enquiries from service users or carers, prioritising urgency and referring to most appropriate person
- Ensure KMPT standards are adhered to in terms of all communications and timescales when answering the phone, the message to the caller and promptly redirecting where appropriate
- May accompany/escort service users with low risks
- Gathering information from RIO to input into Nursing Metrics Tool and Safety Thermometer Tool
- Compiling duty rotas though accountability for cover arrangements will lie with Inpatient Clinical Quality and Development Lead
- Assisting Ward Managers through the organising of and calculating of annual leave, sickness absence etc.