Job summary
- Main area
- Inpatient
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3* will be paid at Band 2 until completion of the NHS care certificate
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- 37.5 hours per week (Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Day/ Nights/ Weekends))
- Job ref
- 334-NUR-7321104-LF
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bethlem Royal Hospital, Spring Ward, River House
- Town
- Beckenham, Kent
- Salary
- £28,720 - £30,225 Per annum plus HCAS depending on allocation (Inner or Outer )
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Care Support Worker
NHS AfC: Band 3* will be paid at Band 2 until completion of the NHS care certificate
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
Job Purpose:
The Healthcare Support Worker is the ‘entry-level’ clinical role in a ward or other clinical setting. The job is designed to introduce staff, who have little or no experience of caring work but who demonstrate the values of the organisation, in a clinical environment.
Healthcare Support Workers provide hands on personalised care to service users, always under supervision, and with the support of more senior staff.
The job is designed to help the post holder gain some clinical experience, under close and supportive supervision and to ensure our service users and carers receive care from people with the right values.
Our values and commitments:
Main duties of the job
What we need:
- A positive and caring attitude
- Enthusiasm
- A determination to do a good job
- Willingness to learn and undertake training
Every day, you will make a huge difference to the lives of the people we care for, delivering a high standard of care alongside your colleagues.
Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate to support the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
This role will require the post holder to provide hands on care in the prevention, management, and de-escalation of violence in in-patient settings, using approved techniques. The potholder(s) will be required to be physically fit to undertake be assessed as competent in Seni Lewis training to obtain the required skills in the prevention, management and de-escalation of violence.
Working for our organisation
Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars.
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites.
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other Staff Benefits Include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate
- Undertake activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
- Provide hands-on care to service users including:
- Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non- judgmental way.
- Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of maintaining the service user’s respect and dignity at all times and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
- Escalating any concerns to a Registered Nurse.
- Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations as directed by a Senior Clinician/Registered Nurse/ B4, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional.
- Implementing the principles of ‘recovery’: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.
See enclosed JD for details on main responsibilities.
Please note we do not offer sponsorship for these roles
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Care Certificate.
- English and Mathematics basic qualifications (e.g. GCSE at grade C or above) or equivalent.
Desirable criteria
- Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- At least one year as a Healthcare Support Worker, or equivalent level of experience.
Desirable criteria
- Lived experience of mental health problems
Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user’s needs, without close supervision, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans.
- Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potential difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role including distress and agitation.
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
- Communications skills – receiving and conveying information accurately with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records.
Desirable criteria
- Experience in facilitating groups.
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Flexibility to work 24hr Shifts, 7 days a week and across all clinical areas.
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
- Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical requirements).
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Imani Adaja
- Job title
- Spring Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02032288415
- Additional information
Job Title:
Healthcare Support Worker, Forensic Services
Band:
2
Hours:
37.5
Department:
Croydon Adult and Behavioural & Developmental Psychiatry Operations Directorate
Location:
Spring Ward (Female MSU) Bethlem Royal Hospital
Reports to:
Ward manager
Responsible for:
Nursing
Accountable To:
Director of Nursing and Education
1. Job Overview:
Spring Ward: Based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham, Kent, within London Borough of Bromley, South East London. Spring Ward is a female medium secure ward with 15 beds, caring for female adults aged 18 and over.
Spring Ward supports patient pathway to recovery through a series of carefully managed stages. Spring Ward is part of the Croydon Adult and Behavioural & Developmental Psychiatry Operations Directorate. These beds form part of the full 120 forensic estates, including a Medium Secure Unit and Open Rehab.
Our inpatient secure service supports people who, as a consequence of their mental health needs, have had contact with the criminal justice system and require a safe and secure environment that enables them to receive a wide range of treatments, therapies and care to assist in their recovery. The patient, at the centre, is supported holistically by a truly multi-professional clinical team who work collaboratively with the patient, their carers; friends and family and other partner organisations.
Our Forensic Offender Health pathway provides care and treatment for individuals with complex mental health needs and some with complex personality needs, who may also pose a risk to the public. Our aim is to provide patient focussed care through on-going assessment; treatment which covers a series of interventions to support the patients through recovery and safe transition to less secure services and the community. Risk assessment and management is therefore paramount.
The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) forensic services work in collaboration with the South London Partnership (SLP). The SLP is a partnership between Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, (Oxleas) South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, (SLaM), and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG). The partnership brings together clinical expertise, experience, and innovation, aiming to improve quality, use resources most effectively, and deliver best practice consistently to all patients.
The SLP provides a single point of access for referrals with the aim to provide care closer to patients’ homes, families and communities across south London; with patients benefiting from improved recovery and rehabilitation in the least restrictive setting clinically appropriate.
2. Main duties of the role:
Working under the direct supervision and guidance of senior nursing staff to support the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise, ensuring your engagement with service users is honest, open and transparent at all times. Recognising and valuing service users as individuals and treating them with dignity and respect, whilst ensuring that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
Escalating any concerns to a Registered Nurse.
Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations as directed by senior nursing colleagues such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate.
Implementing the principles of ‘recovery’: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.
Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies, under guidance and supervision of Senior Healthcare Support Workers, Nursing Associates, Assistant Practitioners or Registered Nurses.
3. Job Description:
The Healthcare Support Worker is the ‘entry-level’ clinical role in a ward or other clinical setting. The job is designed to introduce staff, who have little or no experience of caring work but who demonstrate the values of the organisation, in a clinical environment.
Healthcare Support Workers provide hands on personalised care to service users, always under supervision, and with the support of more senior staff.
The job is designed to help the post holder gain some clinical experience, under close and supportive supervision and to ensure our service users and carers receive care from people with the right values.
Career Progression pathways and development opportunities:
We are committed to get the very best out of our staff and support staff in their career aspirations. We have career pathways available, where you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience to progress into other roles across different specialties. For this role, we offer career pathways to RMN level. In addition, we offer ongoing training and development for a future career in mental health nursing.
1. About our location:
Bethlem Royal Hospital
The Bethlem Royal Hospital is based in a beautiful setting in over 200 acres of green space in the London Borough of Bromley, South East London. The hospital has easy access to nearby main roads and offers free parking. The site is within walking distance from of Eden Park and West Wickham BR stations. Bus links include: 356; 194; 358; 198; 119.
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