Health Care Assistant

Job overview

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and flexible Healthcare Assistant to join our established team of nursing staff based on Upnor Ward.

The role involves providing care and support to in-patients currently experiencing acute mental health difficulties requiring an inpatient admission

Commitment to meeting the needs of people with mental health problems and valuing their rights is a pre-requisite.

You will be required to adopt a flexible working pattern and be committed to self development and training. There will be the prospect of undertaking an NVQ and Health Care Worker Certificate.

Main duties of the job

Consistently delivering a patient focused service, which promotes optimum independence.

Providing and receiving routine information orally, in writing or electronically to inform work colleagues, patients, clients, carers, the public or other external contacts.

Offering appropriate support and advice to patients and their carers.

Enabling patients to maintain and improve their independence by promoting involvement in therapeutic activity.

Giving physical health care and physical health checks as required or instructed documenting the physical health checks on the early warning scoring system (NEWS2), chart and reporting changes to the nurse/healthcare professional in charge.

Undertaking day to day tasks as allocated by Nurse/healthcare professional in Charge

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Recording and reporting accurately any changes related to the patient’s current behaviour and/or risks to Nurse/healthcare professional in Charge in a timely manner.

Recording care given and reporting omissions accurately and in a timely manner.

Supporting and carrying out therapeutic observations as required and instructed.

Promoting a healthy, safe and secure environment by adhering to Trust statutory health and safety requirements and maintaining confidentiality of information at all times in compliance with Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidance.

Supporting new team members.

Demonstrating a professional approach to work, and abide by the Trust values.

To provide comfort, compassion, empathy and time to patients and their carers, family and loved ones.

Undertake and maintain all essential training to role.

Working confidently in a variety of environments which present different challenges whilst continuing to act in a professional manner.

Balancing all aspects of the job role across the 7 day working pattern.

Being flexible and responsive to competing demands.

Please see job description for full details.

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Computer literate

Care certificate or ability to work towards

Experience

Essential criteria

An interest in working in mental health services

Desirable criteria

NHS Experience

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

To have a working understanding of mental health conditions appropriate to the setting

Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing

Be able to escalate problems when required and report back to supervising nurse

Ability to travel between Trust sites in a timely manner

To participate in Quality Improvement, Audits, Research, etc.