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Job summary

Main area
Healthcare Assistant
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week
Job ref
351-BAY805-CL
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
South Lakes CMHT
Town
Kendal
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 pa pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/07/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Healthcare Assistant

Band 3

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

Please note further to recent national updates regarding Certificates of Sponsorship issued after 9 April 2025 the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers has increased to £25,000 per year. The increase also applies to the Health and Care Visa route for those occupations paid by NHS bands. This means that entry-level Band 3 roles will not be eligible for sponsorship.

South Lakes Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) are looking to recruit a Support Worker.

The team serves the population of the South Lakes area. It is an established team with a friendly and supportive culture. There is a visible and supportive leadership team who are committed to clinical supervision and professional development.

Ideally, you will have current or previous experience in a community setting and be able to work effectively in a multi professional context. You should have a collaborative and enthusiastic approach as well as an interest in working with adults with severe and enduring mental health needs.

The service is based at Kirkstone house in Kendal The service is operational between the hours of 9.00am and 5pm however some out of hours work may be necessary to meet service demands.

Main duties of the job

The post requires that you are a good communicator, and are able to follow instruction and advice provided by the Clinical Team. 
The main job role is to perform duties as a support worker and to provide support for people who are referred into the service. As a support worker you will support a caseload of service users with a range of complex needs. You will support them to achieve their care plans alongside managing risks in the community with support from the rest of the clinical team.  

You will benefit from encouragement to continue to develop your own specialist knowledge and competence. Your development will be guided using clinical supervision, management supervision, Team/Peer support, internal and external training opportunities and the Trust’s appraisal process.

1.    Establish and maintain communication with people on routine and operational matters
2.    Contribute to own personal development
3.    Assist in maintaining own and others’ health, safety and security
4.    Assist in maintaining and developing services
5.    Ensure own actions help to maintain quality
6.    Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights
7.    Maintain knowledge of 3rd Sector providers
8.    Assist in delivering programmes of care to meet individuals’ health and well-being

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience in mental health care or relevant NVQ level 3 qualification.
  • Good level of education. Able to demonstrate competence in written and oral English.
  • To undertake a specialist package of training which will equip the post holder to work safely and effectively in this functionalised setting.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness and understanding of mental health issues

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Good keyboard skills
  • Good organisational and observational skills
  • Excellent communication skills; both verbal and non-verbal and written.
  • Experience in a mental health setting in a supportive role with service users.
  • Effective time management/prioritising skills
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria
  • Reflective, organised Innovative Flexible approach to unpredictable situations and able to adapt to changing situations.
  • Able to read, write and communicate clearly to a MDT or service user/carer or other professional agencies.
  • Ability to work with service users and their families/carers in a non-discriminatory ant-oppressive way
  • Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Cecily Shepherd
Job title
Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07940471021
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