Healthcare Assistant (Ward 1)

Job overview

Ward 1 is a 13 bedded male PICU based at Springfield University Hospital providing 24-hour care for adults aged 18-75 years with severe and enduring mental health problems in accordance with the recovery model.

You will be joining a multi-disciplinary team that is committed to the provision of highly quality service user centred care. Our teams are looking for a compassionate, extraordinary HCA who wants to make an impact.

It is important that you understand multidisciplinary team working, leadership and the challenges that face people with acute mental health problems. You will be passionate about mental health, believe in the recovery model and our Trust values, and work collaboratively with service users and their families. You will also demonstrate a commitment to learning and keeping yourself abreast with local and national services.

Main duties of the job

The Healthcare Assistant is the role for those who have experience and training, in clinical practice, in a ward or other clinical setting.

Healthcare Assistants provide personalised care to service users, undertaking clinical tasks with supportive supervision as required. Those in this role will spend significant amounts of time engaging with people who use our services.

Healthcare Assistants may go on to progress to become a Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner, once they have completed the necessary training and demonstrated the necessary competences.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Skills 1. Working under the guidance of a Registered Nurse/ AP/NA/B4, to implement 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. 2. Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support. 3. Supporting junior to staff and leading on providing hands-on care to service users including: a. Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way. b. 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. c. Escalating any concerns to a Registered Nurse. d. Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations, such as Physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfill the personal parameters to the relevant professional.(Band 4 or Registered Nurse). e. Implementing the principles of ‘recovery’: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, facilitating psychosocial activities and other activities of their interest. 4. Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies. 5. Facilitating the admission and discharge of service users, ensuring needs of the patient are met including activities such as property checks, orientation to services, and ensuring that community support needs are met under direction of a senior clinician. 6. Advocating for service users’ needs and rights within Trust policy.