Senior Healthcare Assistant

Job summary
Internal applicants only LWSW employees only

This post is available to LWSW employees only. Please do not share these details outside of the organisation.

22.5 hours per week

This is a wonderful opportunity to join a settled and high performing team. We are very proud of our achievements at Greenfields and continue to build a great reputation. We consistently receive positive feedback and have had huge success with our work with the Culture of Care project.

We are looking for a motivated HCA to compliment a full staffing team for Greenfields Unit on the Mount Gould Site.

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for recovery-focused practice, who is committed to helping people achieve their optimum level of functioning. You will work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team, utilise therapeutic resources within the inpatient setting & engage proactively with community services to support seamless transitions in care.

Main duties of the job
Greenfields delivers a wide range of rehabilitation interventions and treatments to people experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems. The care is typically longer-term. Professionals gain huge job satisfaction supporting patients through their recovery journey. The overall aim is to prepare patients for community living. We have close working links with the Specialist Outreach Recovery Team, the Glenbourne (female acute) Bridford Unit and Specialist Community Forensic Team,

You will be required to work shifts across seven days, including nights.

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job Share(s) Considered

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities
The role of the Health Care Assistant is to assist the trained registered nurse in delivering physical, social, and psychological care to people with mental health problems / illness, admitted to the Unit.

The post holder will be required to work both within the Unit or community setting and with people in the community. This will involve contact with relatives, carers and other agencies. They will carry out interventions as part of the care plans and record information using the Personalised Care Framework on electronic patients notes.

The post holder will be directed to undertake tasks once adequate instruction has been given by the registered trained nurse and both parties are confident that the task can be fulfilled competently. However, the registered trained nurse is required to carry the responsibility for decision making and direction.

Develop and maintain a good working relationship with people through regular contact and ensure their safety and well-being.

Please see attached Job Description for more details.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Relevant Experience in a Mental Health setting, Band 2 level or equivalent or Band 3 level or equivalent.
• Awareness of vulnerable adult / protection issues and guidance.
• Ability to work with minimum of supervision.
• To undertake baseline physical observations.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Experience of variety of Mental Health settings.
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Working within an NHS setting.
• Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting.

Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ level 3, QCF level 3 in Health and Social care or equivalent experience or qualification.
• Care certificate.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.
• Ability to participate in activities with patients.

Desirable

• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of mental health.
• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches and application to people with a learning disability/mental health problems.
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.
• Basic IT skills.
• A basic understanding of physical health presentation.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Continual assessment of patient.
• Organisational skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• An awareness to maintain professional Boundaries .
• Awareness of own limits and boundaries in relation to own job role.
• Good written communication.
• Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/ equal opportunities.
• Resilience.
• Willingness to positively share your own life experiences, personal experiences of your own ill health with service users and carers.
• Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower patients and carers.
• Demonstrates an empathy of people.

Desirable

• Has the ability to provide supervision / mentoring to junior staff.
• Knowledge of government initiatives that shape mental health practice.
• Willingness to undertake training in relation to required skills
• Knowledge of the triangle of care.
• Knowledge of PCF.

Additional Requirements
Essential

• Friendly and caring manner.
• Approachable.
• An appreciation of working with a wide age group of clients.
• Flexible approach.
• To work rotational shift pattern over 24 hours.

Specific skills
Essential

• Demonstrate effective communication skills with a range of people in various situations where there may be barriers in understanding for clients/carers.
• Ability to engage patients in activities off the Unit.
• Ability to manage time and plan work.
• To complete clinical records.
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff.
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability to work in a team effectively.
• Should have ability to demonstrate basic IT skills.
• Awareness of personal safety.
• Able to work in challenging and unpredictable environmental conditions alone and with others effectively managing dynamic risks of our individual patient group.
• Physical Intervention in a ward environment.
• Care plans and risk assessments.
• Confidentiality.
• De-escalation skills.
• Motivated.
• Compassionate.
• Empathetic.
• Reliable.
• Confidence in dealing with patients.
• Ability to work in stressful conditions.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Desirable

• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
• Flexible approach to working arrangements.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).