Healthcare Assistant
We love what we do and we think you will, too!
At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county.
We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.
We’re passionate about making sure that everyone can contribute to achieving our mission and we are continually working to support healthy and happy high-quality teams in all areas of the Trust.
Our application process aims to understand each candidates knowledge, skills and experience. We have found that candidates that use AI to generate their answers can lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.
It is really important to personalise your application to convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively and for us to understand why you are applying for this role with GHC. We discourage over reliance on AI-generated applications as it will lessen your chances of success in securing an interview with us .
Job overview
Assertive Outreach Teams have been implemented across England since 1999 as part of the National Service Framework for Mental Health. These teams target people with severe and enduring mental health problems who are high users of inpatient care and have problems engaging with standard mental health services.Assertive Outreach has developed to support service users who are considered to be at high risk of disengaging from services.
The Support Worker role includes providing interventions with specific plans of clinical care, carrying out assigned tasks as part of the clinical team and supporting registered staff to facilitate engagement with patients, families and carers.
Main duties of the job- To assist trained nurses in the provision of care, including health promotion, as detailed in individual care plans.
- Participate in the performing of appropriate tasks necessary to meet the needs of the team.
- Assist service users in the community to establish and maintain social contacts.
- Assist in the preparation and delivery of social, sports and recreational activities for patients.
- Attend team meetings and complete mandatory training as required.
- Liaise with external organisations to enable opportunities for services users to participate in new activities.
- Be aware of own limitations, seek support if and when need arise
Liaise effectively with nursing colleagues, and other health professionals
Working for our organisation
We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.
The annual NHS Staff Survey gives our people the opportunity to tell us about their experience working at the Trust. For the 2023 survey just over 2800 colleagues gave us their views (58.5%). It was great to see from the results that colleagues are saying that:
- 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
- 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
- 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisations priority;
- 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative
Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Attached Job Description and Person Spec documents for detailed descriptions.- Under the supervision and direction of senior practitioners develop therapeutic relationships with clients and carers within appropriate and transparent boundaries.
- To engage service users effectively with the agreed care plan and to ensure access to appropriate services are obtained on needs led basis.
- To promote social inclusion and recovery in all aspects of planned care with a commitment to empowerment and promoting independence within a climate of safe practice.
- Participate in the provision of identified group work.
- To deliver medication and facilitate wellbeing by supporting with Outpatient Appointments/Bloods/Physical Examinations etc., when necessary and in accordance with any Trust training and policy.
- To use petty cash monies needed for service user activities in line with trust policies and procedures
- To maintain accurate service user records in line with trust policy.
- To input all activity with service users onto RiO or equivalent data base in order to enable the collection of accurate statistics, as required by the Trust.
- To identify barriers to social inclusion and work to resolve the issues.
- To build partnerships with other community agencies.
- To respond sensitively to the cultural norms of differing communities.
- Attend and participate in identified training and the staff appraisal process.
- Comply with, and be aware of, Trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Liaise and communicate effectively with other disciplines, agencies and others under the guidance of relevant staff ensuring integrated approach to care.
- Plan and organize own daily work activities in an effective and efficient way, under the supervision of senior practitioners.
- Feed back to the team and others involved in the care, information regarding any changes observed in client’s mental state or social circumstances analysing any immediate risks and taking appropriate action.
As a Health Care Assistant/ Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care / services to patients and service users as part of a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. Health Care Assistant, Social Care Workers and other Healthcare Support Workers employed by the Trust are required to follow the guidance set out in Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants/ Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.
You will receive direct supervision and partake in reflective practice / training on a regular basis and be required to meet the Care Certificate standards. All successful applicants will also have the opportunity to discuss the prospect of undertaking a Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship alongside their substantive post.This apprenticeship would include the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3 in a health or social care or related setting e.g. promoting independence or equivalent level of competency-based training in relevant area. Or Completed a relevant Health Care Assistant transition & development programme.
- Formal NVQ 3 in relevant health related subject
skills
Essential criteria- Significant experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
- Significant experience of working in a team
- Understanding of how mental illness has an impact on motivation, social skills and Activities of Daily Living
- Experience of working with patients with severe and enduring mental illness
- Experience in the assessment of patients
- Experience of providing social and recreational activities
When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:
- Free car parking at many of our sites
- 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
- A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
- A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
- Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours
- Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities
- Recognition and long service awards
- Fast Track physiotherapy
- Our Wellbeing line
- Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.
For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document.