Mental Health Support Worker

Job overview

We are looking for compassionate Mental Health Support Workers to join us in an exciting new opportunity to work as part of the “Allocate on Arrival” . This team will work according to service need across our mental health wards and units; including Psychiatric Intensive Care Units, Adult and Older persons Acute Assessment and Treatment wards, and Health Based Place of Safety.

You will provide care to those experiencing acute episodes of mental illness, often in distressing and vulnerable time in their lives. All wards aim to promote a calm and therapeutic environment where our patients are supported by friendly, skilled and enthusiastic teams to enable them to move forwards with their recovery.

This role requires the experience, willingness and skills to adapt to working in different clinical wards and environments, and take a positive approach in team working and supporting the patients within the designated area of work. We are looking for people who are able to support patients in a calm and therapeutic manner, especially in difficult or distressing circumstances, in accordance with their care plans and under supervision of registered practitioners.

Full or part time (minimum 22.5) hours available – post requires shift working including nights, weekends and Bank Holidays.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Main duties of the job

You will carry out assigned tasks identified by the trained nursing staff in relation to the service user’s needs.

You will participate, with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, in providing a programme of care and treatment for service users; helping to create a therapeutic environment for service users, monitoring serve user's personal hygiene standards and ensuring that these are maintained.

You will escort service users’ outside of the hospital unit on journeys, as directed by the nurse in charge, where access to a means of communication directly to the unit is available. i.e., mobile phone, walkie-talkie or radio.

You will report to the designated trained member of staff any observed change in physical/behavioural state in the service use.

You will be required to maintain high standards of record/case note recording, including computerised records as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.  When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.  Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application.  However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience.  If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety.  If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [email protected]