Senior Health Care Support Worker

Job overview

Senior Health Care Support Worker - Enhanced Supervision Team

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker to join our Enhanced Supervision Team at Weston General Hospital.

This role is particularly suited to individuals with experience in mental health and/or learning disabilities, who are confident supporting patients who may present with challenging behaviours and require 1:1 direct supervision.

The Enhanced Supervision Team supports patients of all ages across the hospital who require an increased level of observation due to risks to themselves or others. Patients may be experiencing mental health distress, cognitive impairment, delirium, or learning disabilities. Your role will be to promote safety, reassurance and dignity, while providing person-centred, compassionate care.

You will work closely with patients to maintain a calm and safe environment, using de-escalation techniques and creative, meaningful activities to support emotional wellbeing and reduce distress. The role also involves assisting patients with their personal care needs, including hygiene, nutrition and hydration, in line with individual care plans.

Prior experience working as a Healthcare Support Worker / Nursing or Care Assistant is essential.

Please note: this advert may close early if a high volume of applications is received.

Main duties of the job

You are required to follow Trust policies such as infection control and manual handling and will carry out a range of clinical tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered Nurse.

Supporting patients who require a higher level of observation, undertaking a range of duties with direct/indirect supervision of the RN. The SHCSW will be competent to provide compassionate care to agreed quality standards and will continue to develop further skills, knowledge and competencies that will be determined through assessment.

They must have an understanding of the Enhanced Care Observation (ECO) policy and the relative assessment documents. They will support individuals to participate in conversation and activities such as reminiscence-based activities, games & puzzles, simple crafts; together with supporting independence in activities of daily living. This may also include activities outside of the ward environment if deemed appropriate.

They will also be expected to support the band 2 Health Care Support Workers and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners and others Visitors to the ward/unit.

You will provide compassionate care, maintain patient assessments, records and documentation adhering to Trust policies and procedures and practice area specific competencies to an agreed quality standard.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.