Healthcare Support Worker
Welcome from our Chief Executive
Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care.This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job overview
As a Senior Support Worker, your main responsibilities are:- Up hold the core values of the ward promoting openness, transparency and learning
- Accurate and timely clinical documentation
- Work under the supervision of qualified staff to support our service users by being a member of care teams
- Support our service users to assess the community under supervision and accurately feedback your assessment
- Raise any concerns to senior staff
The Hellingly Centre is a Secure Hospital, comprising of three Medium Secure Wards and one Low Secure Ward. Situated in rural East Sussex, close to Hailsham, Eastbourne and Lewes, we enjoy the benefits of both beautiful countryside and the convenience and amusements larger town links provide.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Support Worker, you will be pivotal in providing care to our service users and will work closely with our team of qualified nurses and our wider disciplines to provide agreed care, based on the service users assessed needs.
As a Senior Support worker you duties will include working collaboratively with our service users, patients, families and friends in a fashion that promotes the sound recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.You will apply recognised recovery based models to your engagement with patients such as The Secure Recovery Model and apply approaches such as Trauma informed care and relational security.
As a member of our team you will use your own knowledge and acquired life skills to explore how best to support our service users on their individual pathways and journey.
As a Senior Support Worker, your main responsibilities are:- Up hold the core values of the ward promoting openness, transparency and learning
- Accurate and timely clinical documentation
- Work under the supervision of qualified staff to support our service users by being a member of care teams
- Support our service users to assess the community under supervision and accurately feedback your assessment
- Raise any concerns to senior staff
Working for our organisation
he Hellingly Centre is a Secure Hospital, comprising of three Medium Secure Wards and one Low Secure Ward. Situated in rural East Sussex, close to Hailsham, Eastbourne and Lewes.
Working in Forensic Healthcare Services: Forensic mental health is a unique and fascinating field which provides both challenge and opportunity.
Being curious, creative, self-aware and assertive are important skills that you will build on, as you are often required to think ‘outside the box’.
We play a crucial part in supporting and advocating service users towards recovery, while maintaining the legal requirements within the MHA and of public protection.Our Trust:
We provide mental health and learning disability care for all ages across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.
We’d love you to join our organisation, rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A support worker in forensic settings plays a vital role in assisting individuals who are involved with the criminal justice system, typically those with mental health issues, learning disabilities, or other complex needs. A Support worker helps to bridge the gap between clinical treatment and rehabilitation, ensuring that the individuals in their care receive the necessary support to lead a more stable and functional life.
The Key responsibilities of a support worker in forensic settings are as follows:- Monitoring and observation: Support workers monitor individuals' behaviours, emotional states, and overall well-being, ensuring they are adhering to treatment plans and any behavioural or security protocols in place.
- Emotional and psychological support: Offer emotional reassurance and guidance to individuals under stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, providing a supportive and safe environment.
- Promote rehabilitation: Assist individuals in developing life skills, coping mechanisms, and strategies for reintegration into society, with a focus on reducing the risk of reoffending.
- Work with mental health professionals: Collaborate with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to create and implement care plans.
- Documentation and reporting: Record incidents, behaviours, and progress of individuals, and provide necessary updates to relevant authorities or healthcare teams.
- Managing risk: Forensic support workers must be vigilant in managing individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others. This includes following strict security protocols and de-escalating potentially violent situations.
- Compliance with regulations: Ensure that safety, legal, and ethical standards are maintained while caring for individuals within a secure environment.
- Encouraging positive behaviours: Reinforce positive social behaviours and provide opportunities for activities that can help improve social skills, confidence, and well-being.
- Assisting with daily tasks: Help individuals with basic daily activities like personal hygiene, meal preparation, and other tasks that foster independence.
- Linking to community resources: Support workers may help connect individuals with external community services that can aid in their rehabilitation and transition back into society, such as housing, employment, or further education.
- Supporting discharge planning: Assist with the planning and transition for individuals being released from forensic settings, ensuring continuity of care and community support.
- Understanding of mental health and criminal justice: Knowledge of mental health disorders, learning disabilities, and how they intersect with the criminal justice system is crucial.
- Communication skills: Strong interpersonal skills are needed to communicate effectively with both individuals in care and the multidisciplinary team.
- De-escalation techniques: Ability to manage challenging behaviours and de-escalate potentially violent or high-stress situations.
- Patience and empathy: A strong sense of empathy and patience is important in providing the emotional and practical support necessary for individuals facing complex issues.
- Empathy and Active Listening: The ability to build rapport and trust with clients is crucial, as they may have experienced trauma or abuse.
- Strong Communication: Effective verbal and written communication is essential for interacting with clients, families, and other professionals.
- Patience and Resilience: Support workers often face challenging situations and need to remain calm, patient, and resilient.
- Problem-Solving: The ability to think critically and adapt to changing situations is important in managing complex cases.
- Teamwork: Working closely with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Good general education
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of working with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
- Experience of working collaboratively i.e. with colleagues, wider teams, service users etc
- An understanding of confidentiality
Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.
We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children’s social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people.It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.
Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.