Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week (minimum of 3 LD shifts per week)
- Job ref
- 354-AB-20994
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Langley Green Hospital
- Town
- Crawley
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Community Health Care Support Worker
NHS AfC: Band 3
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
Rapid Response is a new service, based on the success of Blue Light Triage team who successfully worked with both police and ambulance colleagues to meet the needs of those in mental health crisis which, with very few exceptions has been in their own homes, therefore avoiding a conveyance to A&E and the use of S136 within its operational hours.
Due to the development of this service we are looking for community support workers who will be willing to work flexibly across sites, but primarily based in Crawley. The role is to assist the mental health professionals to carry out their duties and the functions of the team. The mental health professionals role is to carry out person centred interventions and assessments and develop care plans that can address a mental health crisis, including a self-defined crisis. This could be on the telephone, virtually or 'at scene'. The role of the support worker will be to drive the mental health professional to the location required if they are required 'on scene'. To be able to provide basic first aid if required and assist the mental health professional by providing support to carers. Prior to, and following an intervention support the mental health professional with administrative tasks.
Main duties of the job
The Rapid Response will operate every day of the week between midday and midnight, with staff working a long day shift. Rapid Response Teams will also work in partnership with Blue Light Line who provide a single point of access to Paramedics and Police giving information and clinical advice to ensure that patients achieve the best outcomes and reduce the need for conveyance to A&E and alternatives to the use of S136
Main duties of the job
• To be an active team member supporting the Rapid Response Practitioner to fulfil the requirements of their role.
• To be confident in communicating with Police and Paramedics and to accurately record messages and conversations.
• Support carers and loved ones at scene if required, enabling the Rapid Response practitioner to focus on their assessment/intervention.
• To assist the Rapid Response Practitioner with administrative tasks including data entry, care note requirements and clinical entries.
• To contribute to improving access to supportive services for persons in mental health crisis
Working for our organisation
Working in Sussex:
• Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
• Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
• With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure
We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In order to be a successful member in our team you will be:
- Experience working in mental health services or a care setting and willing to enhance your skills
- Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety and service user experience
- Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety for emergency service colleagues.
Shifts are long days and evenings over 7 days but we will consider flexible working. The shift requirements ensure this post has generous enhancements attached to it.
It is essential you have:
- Either experience in an Urgent Care setting, ideally a CRHT or psychiatric liaison
- Or experience of crisis assessment in any setting that provides a safety care plan.
See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person specification
written and verbal
Essential criteria
- To hold a full driving license and feel competent and be willing to drive across the Trust in the vehicle provided
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs or difficulties in a paid or voluntary capacity y
- Experience of working as part of a team, and the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with external teams and colleagues
- Have excellent verbal and written communication skills, relating information to people on routine and operational matters
- Ability to deal with conflicting demands and prioritise workload with support
- Assist in maintaining own and others’ health, safety and security
- Monitor and maintain physical and/or financial resources for a work area
- Ability to use basic computer skills to collect, collate and record information and data.
- Ability to use basic computer skills to collect, collate and record information and data.
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt to each person as appropriate to their needs, communicating in a sensitive and reassuring manner.
- Demonstrate support for Trust values, working in a recovery orientated way, promoting social inclusion and challenging stigma
- Provide and receive confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature
- Assist in routine assessment tasks related to individual’s wellbeing and recovery.
- The ability to relay information to mental health professional with any concerns or disclosures post an intervention at scene or on the telephone any concerns or disclosures as they may require further action.
- Liaise with other teams and services including external agencies to signpost those in mental health crisis to community services.
- Ability to be creative in finding solutions
- Ability to deal directly with distressing or emotional circumstances when they arise.
- Fit to undertake any duties related to the role. including interventions for the management of violence and aggression
- Ability to work in a variety of settings, such as a team base, people's homes and in a public place, which may include occasional unpleasant working conditions
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Desirable criteria
- Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3
- Basic First Aid knowledge
- Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jill Robinson
- Job title
- Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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