Health Care Support Worker

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

Are you looking for a rewarding role with excellent career opportunities? An exciting opportunity has arisen for compassionate and motivated Band 3 Mental Health Support Worker to join our dedicated Multi-Disciplinary Team at NELFT.

The successful applicant will be part of our inpatient acute ward based at Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford. The ward offers recovery and rehabilitation focused treatment, care and discharge planning, clinical and risk assessments and provides a safe and therapeutic environment for adults with acute mental health needs. If you are passionate about what you do, we would like to hear from you

Our Acute and Rehabilitation Directorate is currently delivering a large programme of transformation aimed at improving the experience of service users, carers and staff and making the directorate an excellent place to work and receive care. This includes a detailed development programme to promote career development for staff at all grades. This role presents an exciting opportunity to make a real contribution and develop your skills.

Main duties of the job

You will be joining a multi-disciplinary team that is committed to the provision of high-quality recovery focused and patient-centred care, staff development, and collaboration. The successful applicant will work with the team to promote a culture that fosters high employee engagement and a progressive attitude to service improvement. You will also work collaboratively with others to meet needs of patients and their families, demonstrating a passion for helping those experiencing mental health concerns.

Key Responsibilities:

The post holder will be responsible for caring for a defined group of patients with complex needs, including a wide range of physical disabilities as well as cognitive, perceptual and mental health problems. They may have acute or chronic conditions and will be treated individually at home or in a ward setting using evidence based practice as defined below:

Work as part of the relevant team to provide care to patients in the community setting either in their own home, clinics or inpatient units. Responsible for own work and that of others within a broad framework. Carrying out and monitoring treatment programmes as directed. Forming part of an interdependent multi-disciplinary team helping to ensure that their input is integrated in to the patients overall care & treatment plans. Promoting the recovery of patients and maintain their independence in the community. Working a 24 hour, 365 day shift pattern including night shifts.

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High-Cost Area Supplement - London

This post also attracts payment for High-Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735).

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership

Be responsible for a delegated patient group following initial assessment by the registered nurse, carrying out interventions, including goal setting, outcomes, risk assessment and discharge. Undertake duties identified in each client’s individual care plan which the post holder is trained, competent and confident to perform. Monitor patient’s progress, taking account of their environment and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly. Follow the treatment plan and feedback on the patient’s progress and highlight need for re-assessment when needed. Implement, evaluate and modify nursing interventions as directed.

Clinical Skills

Work alone at times in the clinical environment and in the community, under the direction of the registered nurse and always with access to support and supervision. Modify intervention as needed depending on risk assessment, the situation and own skills and knowledge. Refer back to the registered nurse for support and advice ensuring that they are aware of any modifications made. Support patients by identifying early signs of relapse and alert appropriate staff involved in the patients care. Provide support with regards to daily living, including self-care. Inform patients of facts using empathy, understanding and reassurance, adjusting communication style to the needs of the patient. This includes promoting and upholding the rights and diversity of individuals. Deal calmly and professionally with direct/indirect exposure to angry or distressed patients or highly distressing or emotional information ( complaints and serious incidents) about services and staff performance. Demonstrate an understanding of nursing and apply this using specific knowledge and skills. Develop knowledge of nursing techniques and clinical skills, using competency frameworks as appropriate to the setting, and to patients with a wide range of conditions. Understand and deliver care in line with NELFT Safeguarding Policies (Adults and Children) and the Whistle Blowing Policy. Discuss issues of safeguarding with staff and ensure appropriate advice is sought and received when required. Work collaboratively with other services, which may include children’s services. Ensure robust communication and liaisons where relevant information, relating to a child or young person (12-18), is obtained during the course of their work. Order equipment & resources as agreed or directed by the registered nurse. Understand and apply the eligibility criteria for services and adhere to organisational standards of practice. Reflect on and evaluate your own values, priorities, interests and effectiveness. Promote health, safety and security in the work setting. Understand how to enable, move and position individuals in accordance with their plan of care. Demonstrate, and instruct, on the use of equipment to ensure safety. Advise family on prevention of accidents. Report any incident/untoward incidents/near misses to self, patients or carers to the manager. Minimise the risk of spreading infection by cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining environments. Perform hand hygiene and use personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of infection. Recognise the need for further advice, guidance and support as appropriate.

Computer/Administration

Organise own day to day activity in liaison with the registered nurse, including co-ordinating patient appointments, organising home visits, liaising with patients, carers and transport services. Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance. Manage frequent interruptions to respond to requests from other staff. Analyse basic patient information to make informed decisions. Maintain accurate and complete patient records (RIO). Keep up to date with relevant Health and Social Care developments. Participate in the planning, reviewing and development of services. Contribute to research and development being carried out, collect information and evidence as requested. This includes maintenance and dissemination of information (written and electronic). Undertake and assess risk assessments providing feedback to the team as necessary in relation to lone working. Manage risk effectively within various settings. Maintain stocks of equipment and ensure safe, competent and efficient use of equipment which is well maintained. Report any defects.

Communication

Form professional relationships with patients and carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

Communicate with other staff and agencies as appropriate in written and oral format to report on patient performance and progress. Contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings and case conferences, helping to ensure that there is an integrated approach, which benefits the patient’s overall care and discharge plans. Ensure that service users engage effectively with the agreed care plan and access appropriate services. Constructively manage barriers to effective communication. Assist in obtaining valid patient consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Instruct and guide individuals/groups of patients in therapeutic programmes and activities. This includes, where appropriate, facilitate in the orientation of newly transferred clients in the ward/community recording their property and supporting them as they settle in (when working in in-patient settings). Report effectively to the relevant team on patients’ performance and progress. Attend meetings and feedback relevant information.

Training

Participate in the Trusts Performance Appraisal scheme and be responsible for own personal CPD (continuous personal development) by identifying own areas of development, and undertaking relevant activities to meet objectives. Keep a record of own training and development. Share knowledge and experiences both formally and informally. Take a flexible approach in supporting colleagues during times of workload pressures. Participate in the training, induction and teaching of related skills and techniques to other support staff. Actively participate in clinical supervision. Actively participate in management supervision. Actively participate in Children’s Safeguarding Supervision.

In return for your commitment, the Trust offers a wide and varied range of fantastic benefits that will help support you in your work and home life throughout your time with us. This includes, subsidised gym membership, generous annual leave entitlement, salary sacrifice car scheme, cycle to work scheme and a commitment to flexible working. You will find our full benefits offering on our website. We also provide you with access to an array of training and development opportunities, to help you achieve your goals whilst developing the needs of the service.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification when completing your application

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to GCSE level

Desirable criteria

Basic IT skills

Communication

Essential criteria

NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy

Desirable criteria

Able to communicate well verbally and in writing

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in an NHS environment

Desirable criteria

Experience in mental health setting desirable

team work

Essential criteria

Experience of working within a team

Desirable criteria

Ability to work efficiently alone and as part of a team

accountability and standards

Essential criteria

Experience of working to/being accountable to more than one person

Desirable criteria

Ability to prioritise and to work under pressure whiles maintaining standards

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.

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