Healthcare Support Worker - HMP Deerbolt

Break into prison healthcare! Are you looking for a new challenge in an environment where no two days are the same? Patient care is at the centre of what we do and we are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking and committed health care professional who wants to make a difference to our patients' lives.

HMP Deerbolt is a Cat C prison holding male adults ages 18 and over located in Barnard Castle, County Durham. We provide primary care, GP surgery provision alongside access to mental health and substance misuse services. Prisons are challenging yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If you want a role where you can develop your existing skills and learn something new every day in an environment that never stands still, then this is it!

As a health care assistant, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, whilst being a support and resource to other staff. You will be working as part of a larger multi-disciplinary team, alongside the substance misuse team and mental health teams. There are great opportunities for training and development and the opportunity to work with interesting patients and learn new skills.

If you are self-motivated and able to work autonomously as well as showing plenty of initiative when it comes to handling a wide range of situations, then this could be the right role for you! This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job as a Healthcare Support Worker include:

• All aspects of daily care
• Wound care
• Venepuncture
• ECGs
• Supporting other staff
• Assisting in medication administration
• NHS Health Checks
• Health promotion

We’re looking for passionate individuals to join our diverse and innovative team. Whether you are starting out in your healthcare journey or are an experienced healthcare professional looking for a new challenge, we’ve got a role for you!

Access to NHS Pension, Annual leave on your Birthday, Refer a friend scheme, Training and Development opportunities, Flexible Working, Access to Employee Assistance and Health and Wellbeing programmes, Up to 33 days annual leave.

Spectrum Community Health CIC provides a range of award-winning healthcare services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authority Public Health services, and other partners across substance misuse, sexual health, and health and justice settings. As a not-for-profit social enterprise and Community Interest Company, our focus is centred on people – our patients, service users, staff and partners.

We are building on our ambition to deliver the best in health and wellbeing on a values-driven ethos and to maintain the highest standards of patient care and service. We are an expanding organisation, but we aim to grow without compromising on quality and social value.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information on the role.

Person specification:

• Education and Training: NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or currently studying in the final year of a degree in nursing.
• Knowledge and Experience: Demonstration of experience of working with people with complex health needs, in a health or social care setting. Knowledge of nursing standards gained through NVQ qualification or equivalent experience. Experience of nursing practice and clinical procedures. Understanding and application of confidentiality. Knowledge or experience of working within a prison or secured environment setting. Experience of work in a multi-disciplinary team setting. Experience in responding to emergency situations. Experience in using SystmOne.
• Skills and Abilities: Well-developed verbal and written communication skills. The ability to work effectively as part of a team, maintaining effective working relationships and mitigating conflict. The ability to complete tasks under delegated responsibility and ability to escalate concerns to senior clinical staff as appropriate. Promote and support patients to manage their own mental and physical needs. Able to maintain contemporaneous clinical records following clinical activities. Keyboard skills - computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office. Good patient assessment skills - knowledge of signs and symptoms of a range of mental and physical disorders and its effects on individuals. Extended scope of practice e.g., Phlebotomy, ECG etc. Experience in simple wound care management. Experience in monitoring and support with the management of long-term conditions.

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.