Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Healthcare Support
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (rotational shifts from days and nights)
Job ref
310-OPAC-6390880
Employer
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Denbigh Ward
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust logo

Healthcare Assistant - Mental Health Inpatients

Band 3

Job overview

We are currently looking for a proactive Healthcare Assistant, who will join our team, here on Denbigh Ward, this is an inpatient unit for the assessment and treatment of patients with the primary diagnosis of dementia and behaviours that challenge and Dementia. 

If you are looking for a dynamic role where you are able to showcase your high level of patient care, as well as your strong team work ethic, this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate added value in a challenging environment.

Reporting to the Denbigh Ward Manager, you will assist the team to deliver personal care to our patients who have a variety of Mental Health care needs for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

Working with a team of passionate and dedicated Health Care professionals, you will be responsible for delivering a high level of care to the patients in our wards.

This post is open to professionals with the right attributes to enhance a team. This post involves rotational shifts across a 24 hour period.

Main duties of the job

  • Ensure that the ward environment is clean and tidy at all times. To liaise with the ward housekeeper regarding cleanliness.
  • To promote and support registered staff with the physical health, comfort and wellbeing of service users, including physical observations and taking blood pressure, temperature and pulse under their guidance and supervision.
  • To ensure good working relationships with colleagues by contributing to the effective running of the ward, through engaging in clinical discussions and attending appropriate meetings including contributing to ward hand-overs.
  • Empower service users by ensuring that they receive relevant information about their treatment, medication, available services, advocacy services, ward routines and safety procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse.
  • To ensure food and fluids are served to service users according to policy

You may be required to undertake and successfully complete the new national Care Certificate within a 12 weeks’ timeframe if you meet our criteria. You will receive full training and support and The Care Certificate sets out 15 national care standards that must be achieved by all health and social care staff to demonstrate that they have the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe and excellent quality of care. It is a foundation programme which can provide the first steps to career development within the NHS.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and personal specification for full details of responsibilities.

  • Support the nurse in charge in inpatient units in maintaining essential clinical stocks.
  • To promote a positive service user experience throughout their stay through proactive listening, being responsive to issues raised and through resolving issues and concerns raised by service users with colleagues and senior members of the team.
  • To be responsible for maintaining and conducting oneself in a professional manner towards service users, carers, colleagues and other agencies, at all times.
  • To participate in working collaboratively with other Trust services and external agencies to provide seamless care for service users.
  • To observe and report to a registered member of the team, any changes which may indicate an alteration in the general well being and safety of a service user. This would include observations around the service user’s presentation, behaviour, mood and verbal content.
  • To provide service users with personal care, where and when required, and demonstrate empathy, dignity, respect and compassion at all times.
  • To understand the importance of the relatives/carers contribution to care and conversing with the service users and their relatives/carers, establishing their needs and assisting them as necessary.

Person specification

Education/Qualification

Essential criteria
  • Must be willing to work towards NVQ level 3 in direct care or Certificate in Care if not already held
Desirable criteria
  • Training and experience e.g. lifting, first aid, food handling, care work

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with people e.g. in a caring situation, dealing with the general public
  • Ability to think quickly and deal with situations in a calm and sensible manner
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of working in mental health services
  • Basic understanding of Recovery Model, issues of dignity and privacy
  • Basic understanding of risk

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives remaining sensitive and empathetic
  • Listens to others’ views respecting and valuing individual patient needs
  • High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgeStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Prince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Raminder Chohan
Job title
Ward Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01223 219571
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies