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Job summary

Main area
Healthcare Assistant - Male PICU
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (3 shifts week one, 4 shifts week two)
Job ref
311-F714-24
Employer
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Walkerwood Unit
Town
Ashton-Under-Lyne
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust logo

Healthcare Assistant - Male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

NHS AfC: Band 3

About the Trust

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

Our ambition is to maximise people’s potential and we aim to promote an inclusive environment and improve the diversity of our workforce so our people truly represent the communities we serve.  

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post.  We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

  1. Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
  2. Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
  3. Access to Continued Professional Development
  4. Involvement in improvement and research activities
  5. Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
  6. Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/values

Job overview

Do you enjoy working in a compassionate environment, want to learn and develop new skills, enjoy working with a variety of service users, all with very different needs and work with people in crisis to help them with their recovery, then this job is for you!

An opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Assistant to join our Psychiatric Intensive Care Team (Walkerwood)  on our purpose built unit which opened in 2022. 

Upon joining our team, we will ensure that successful candidates undergo both mandatory and bespoke training, to fully equip them with the skills required to work within our PICU environment.

Main duties of the job

- To have a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and to be aware of relevant MHA information when carrying out observations, to support leave appropriately for detained patients under the approval of a qualified practitioner. 

- To undertake and record clinical observations(e.g temperature, pulse, blood pressure) as required. Recording the observations accordingly and escalating any concerns to a qualified practitioner as appropriate.
- To undertake and record therapeutic observations in accordance with the Trust’s Observation & Engagement Policy (for example general, 1:1 and 2:1 
observations) as required and instructed with access to supervision from a qualified member of staff. 

-To be competent in all aspects of reducing restrictive practices, which includes the early prevention of violence and aggression using least restrictive approaches, positive behaviour support through to physical manual restraint as a last option. This can be part of planned interventions set by a qualified member of staff or as an intervention to manage challenging behaviours as they occur, immediately alerting a qualified practitioner for support and supervision.
- To ensure that security protocols and procedures are carried out over a 24-hour period and any possible breaches should be reported to the senior nurse immediately. 

Working for our organisation

Our team provides short-term intensive assessment, treatment, and support to Service Users, who maybe experiencing a mental health crisis crisis, and often present with a variety of complex mental health needs.

To maximise Service User recovery, the teams will be working in a trauma informed way and utilising the RAID model of care. Our aim is to work in the least restrictive way as possible whilst maintaining patient safety.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be eligible for shortlisting you need to ensure you meet the essential qualifications for this role, as you will be asked to provide your certificates at interview and pre-employment checks. 

When completing your application, please ensure you read the job description and person specification. You will need to give examples of how you meet each of the criteria listed on the person specification. You can use the supporting information section or career history to do this. 

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE (or equivalent level of education) with grade D/E (2/3) or above in English and Maths or functional skills level 1
  • Level 2 Vocational (or equivalent) qualification in Care, plus demonstrable experience equivalent to Level 3
  • Completion of Care Certificate or willingness to complete
Desirable criteria
  • Assessor in CC

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with diverse groups of people developing a range of basic care skills.
  • Previous experience of working in a care setting as a nursing assistant/healthcare support worker developing competencies in basic clinical care
  • Experience of being able to plan and prioritise own work under the direction of a qualified member of staff
  • Experience of how to build up trust and rapport with people
  • Previous experience with people with Mental Health or Learning Disabilities or experience in a clinical setting related to mental heath
  • Experience of carrying out clinical observations
  • Range of work procedures and practices, base level of theoretical knowledge
  • Experience of Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression techniques

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation
  • Awareness of Mental Health and Mental Illness, its effects on the individual, family and friends. Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act with willingness to learn
  • Awareness of the effects of illicit drug use.
  • Some awareness of early prevention of violence and aggression using least restrictive interventions and practices with willingness to undertake & complete PMVA training and engage in techniques as required
  • Able to recognise changes in a patient’s mental and physical condition and act appropriately by alerting the qualified practitioner or nurse in charge
  • An awareness of stigma and discrimination of people with mental health issues
  • Awareness of ward procedures and clinical observations

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Basic IT skills – ability to use MS outlook, word, and willing and able to be trained to use Trust IT systems and applications such as Electronic Patient Records or PARIS
  • Able to impart knowledge, supervise and direct the work of others under supervision
  • Can demonstrate good interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills
  • Good command of the English language both written and in spoken word
  • Ability to engage with people who are experiencing mental ill health and communication barriers.
  • Able to respond sensitively to emotional distress and utilise communication skills to deescalate people who are angry or distressed
  • Ability to remain calm in challenging situations displaying patience and empathy
  • Ability to keep confidential information, and awareness of Data Protection and GDPR.
  • Commitment to self-development

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyDisability confident employerNorth West BAME

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
Emily kerr
Job title
Unit Manager
Email address
[email protected]

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181
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