Health Care Support Worker

Job overview

Whilst we welcome all applications from all suitable candidates, unfortunately, we will not be offering sponsorship for this role.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Health Care Support Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services in Bishop's Stortford.

This is an excellent opportunity in a community setting, working closely with colleagues in a small supportive team, and making a real difference to the quality of services.

You must hold a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes – including business insurance – is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be undertaking physical health checks and wellbeing assessments for people with severe mental health illness. Promote and encourage healthy lifestyles and will assist people to access the support they need to recover from their mental health and physical health problems, promoting and maintain recovery. They will also support the locality in ensuring the Severe Mental Illness (SMI) registers are updated.

In return we offer regular supervision, access to training and development, an individual personal development plan to enable you to explore your own career and development options within the health and social care environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To support clinical staff in the smooth running of the Clozapine and Depot clinics.

To escalate any concerns and issues to the Clinical Nurse Specialist when required.

To ensure that the clinic room is kept clean as per infection control guidelines.

The post holder will have a caseload of clients who are under the clinic team and support them with their needs.

The post holder will contribute to assessment of both physical and mental health needs. Focusing on the physical health and wellbeing of our patients with mental health needs and have an understanding of the relationship between physical and mental wellbeing.

To work with other agencies to deliver a systems approach in ensuring patients physical health and wellbeing needs are met.

The post holder will carry out venepuncture for requested blood tests and partake in the physiological assessment of our patients who have been identified as having severe mental illness. They will take and record physical health checks including blood pressure, pulse, weight and BMI.

The post holder will have a good understanding of the clinical health guidelines of physical health monitoring and recognise when action needs to be taken.

Assessing patients holistically. Assessing lifestyles – exercise and activities, eating and drinking, smoking, alcohol and drug use and giving advice on healthy lifestyles and signposting our patients to other services.

The post holder will work alongside other professionals within primary care and community mental health services, and will be participate in team working.

The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team.

The post holder will arrange physical health assessments with the service user in clinics or other locations where appropriate.

To provide information on health promotion including healthy eating, exercise and smoking cessation, presented in a way that is meaningful for the patient.

To work with patients and relevant staff to develop physical health care plans and complete the electronic physical health assessment form on care notes, ensuring the information is shared with patients and GP’s.

To promote positive physical health to patients, carers, families and staff.

To contribute in regular audit to demonstrate effectiveness of physical health clinics and interventions offered, with the support of colleagues.

To support patients to think more about their physical health needs and identify their own physical health goals, and to support monitoring goals identified with other members of the team.

To provide regular input to physical health Quality Improvement Meetings, in order to continue to support service improvement in promoting positive physical health with our patients and staff.

To work with patients and relevant staff to develop physical health care plans and complete the electronic physical health assessment form on

care notes, ensuring the information is documented and shared with patients, GP’s and the Community Mental health services.

To form professional relationships with clients and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

To maintain electronic records in an accurate and timely manner.

Work closely with the physical health team leader to set up clinics across the locality and communicate progress effectively with local teams.

Report regularly to the clinical supervisor to discuss any concerns or issues.

Make good use of clinical supervision to discuss casework, make plans for action, reflect on and implement best practice.

To ensure the required referral response times are adhered to and that allocated activity levels are met.

To input own activity returns to assist in the reporting of daily patient and non-patient contact information and is returned on time.

To demonstrate effective communication, sharing of information and participation in developments within the service.

To work within clinical protocols and guidelines.

To provide information to assist in the investigation of complaints, safeguarding vulnerable adults/children and serious incidents.

To actively engage with patients, obtain their views and encourage their involvement in service delivery.

To ensure adherence to Trust policies and procedures relating to health and safety at work.

To be responsible for safe storage and maintenance the secure maintenance of equipment to carry out duties ensuring standards of infection control and health and safety are maintained.

To be responsible for own use of Trust property, e.g. mobile phone, laptop and other equipment.

To monitor stock levels for use in own service and request new equipment as appropriate.

All staff should comply with the Trust’s Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.