Health Care Assistant - Band 2
About us
At Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust we provide a range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, primary care and other specialist services designed around the needs of people in our city.
We have a dedicated and skilful team of people caring in Sheffield, which you could become a part of.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. These are: working together for our service users, respect and kindness, everyone counts, commitment to quality, improving lives.
Job overview
As a Band 2 Healthcare Assistant on our acute mental health wards, you will play a vital role in providing high-quality, compassionate care and support to individuals experiencing a range of mental health conditions. Working under the direct supervision of registered nurses, you will assist patients with their daily living needs, contribute to a safe and therapeutic environment, and actively participate in the delivery of person-centered care.This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and experience within a supportive and dynamic mental health setting.
Main duties of the job
Direct patient care
Communication and teamwork
Maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment
Engaging in therapeutic activities
Monitoring and observing patients
Communicating effectively
Supporting the nursing team
Assisting with basic observations
Adhering to policies and procedures
Working for our organisation
At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front.However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- Direct patient care: assist patients with personal care needs, observe and monitor patient's wellbeing, engage patients in therapeutic activities, support patients in their ADL's, maintain a safe environment, assist with basic physical observations .
- Communication and teamwork: Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, families and carers, contribute to the effective handover between shifts, work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, participate in ward meetings and contribute to care planning discussions.
- Maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment: Adhere to Trust Policies and procedures such as infection control, safety and security, maintain confidentiality of patient information at all time, report any incidents or concerns in line with Trust Policy
- Personal and Professional development: Actively participate in mandatory training and development, undertake further training and development as identified through appraisal and service needs, maintain a professional attitude and appearance at all times, reflect on own practice and identify areas for improvement
Person specification
VISA
Essential criteria- To have an active VISA
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Mental health knowledge
work experience
Desirable criteria- Previous work as a HCA
Please think about your personal values and how these align with our values when you are applying. Find out more about our organisation through our website.
We are a Disability Confident employer level 2 and hope to achieve level 3 this year. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for a role. When you apply you will have the opportunity to let us know if you require adjustments to be made, please contact us if you are not sure or if you require adjustments to the application process itself.
Our six staff network groups welcome new members, these are:
- The Ethnically Diverse Staff Network Group
- The Disability Staff Network Group
- The Lived Experience Staff Network Group
- The Rainbow Staff Network Group
- The Staff Carers Staff Network Group
- The Women’s Staff Network Group
We know how important flexible working can be to applicants and therefore we encourage you to discuss any working arrangements as part of this process. We will always aim to accommodate requests, wherever possible.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children and as part of our safe recruitment practice the successful applicant(s) will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if it is deemed appropriate for the role.The cost of the DBS check (currently up to £48.23) must be met by the successful applicant(s).
When applying for this post you will redirected to complete your application in our preferred applicant management system, Trac. If you are successfully offered a role, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.In addition, in submitting an application, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.
Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement.
While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice.
Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by SHSC and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.
For example, AI responses…- usually lack relevance and fail to address the key criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.
- may come across as generic and fail to distinguish you from other applicants.
- may be ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Without careful review and editing, the supporting statement could convey messages that are unclear or misconstrued by hiring managers.
- may include qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience that you do not possess, potentially leading to misrepresentation.
Supporting Statement
The supporting statement is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.
Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. Managers will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations.Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.
Consider structuring your statement with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.