At a Glance
- Tasks: Support patients with Severe Mental Illness in accessing physical health checks and provide outreach interventions.
- Company: Join Pennine Care Foundation Trust, dedicated to high-quality mental health care and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, professional development opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patients' lives while gaining valuable experience in mental health care.
- Qualifications: No specific qualifications required; passion for mental health and willingness to learn is essential.
- Other info: Opportunity to work across various healthcare settings and contribute to service development.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Overview
The post holder will participate in the running and development of the GM SMI Physical Health Team, sitting alongside the treatment support team, focusing on patients identified as having Severe Mental Illness (SMI). They will support patients to access an annual primary care physical health screen, reduce barriers to services, provide outreach where necessary, and deliver physical health monitoring with escalation to senior practitioners. The post holder will support patients on the GP-held SMI register (including patients both under and not under direct care of Pennine Care) and will work across primary and secondary care settings to promote continuity of care and effective communication. They will participate in ongoing service development and contribute to the education programmes of nursing students and other disciplines.
To provide annual physical health checks as part of the Severe Mental Health (SMI) physical health function that operates across primary and secondary services. The Treatment Support Team (TST) manages the treatment of patients in the community with multiple pathways, aiming to offer a high-quality service and standard of care for patients, adhering to NICE guidelines and Pennine Care Foundation Trust policies and procedures. The SMI team sits alongside TST to support GPs in engaging clients with SMI to complete their annual physical health check.
Responsibilities
- To support and implement care that meets the mental, physical, spiritual, psychological and social needs of the patient, sensitive to age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and disability.
- To support the delivery of care to address health and wellbeing needs within the scope of the Greater Manchester SMI Physical Health project, following training on smoking, healthy eating and exercise, and refer onto expert services in the community when a need is identified.
- To support the day-to-day functioning of health/treatment clinics with guidance from nursing teams, consultants and pharmacists.
- To monitor the effects and side effects of medication with guidance from nursing teams, consultants and pharmacists; identify and respond to concerns appropriately.
- To undertake venepuncture after relevant training and ongoing guidance.
- To undertake physical health checks and respond to and report concerns appropriately.
- (No moving and handling required).
- To support the safe storage of medical equipment within the clinical setting in line with Trust policy.
- To monitor stock levels in clinic and report low stock to the team.
- To contribute to a safe clinical environment and adopt a non-judgemental approach with patients based on respect and dignity.
- To provide health promotion to patients, understanding the relationship between mental and physical health, and promote parity of esteem.
- To support multi-disciplinary meetings and contribute to information sharing and clinical decisions regarding patients.
- To support patients whose health and wellbeing are at risk, escalating concerns appropriately.
- Provide support to enable patients to engage in meeting their health needs, including arranging initial appointments and attending with the service user if required.
- To work within Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust policy, professional and legal frameworks at all times, including safeguarding and relevant mental health legislation and Care Programme Approach.
- To understand the impact of poor physical health on mental health and support carers and families in promoting wellbeing.
- To identify limitations and seek assistance from senior staff as necessary.
- To assist patients in accessing healthy activities and ensuring safety, wellbeing and interests of patients and carers.
- To recognise and respond to challenging behaviour in line with Trust policies.
- To attend and participate in team meetings and contribute to multi-professional discussions.
- To develop and demonstrate skills in supervision to support junior staff and students.
Other information
Hints and tips for completing your application can be found here. Virtual application support sessions are available monthly. Sponsorship is available for eligible applicants; not all roles are eligible. You can review eligibility on the government website. After application, you will be informed of progress via email. Shortlisting will consider the criteria listed in the person specification. If offered, a formal conditional offer will be sent by email, followed by pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. Checks include identity verification, right to work, DBS/criminal record check (dependent on role), professional registration and/or qualification check, occupational health assessment, and employment history and references. External applicants will need to provide HMRC employment history for the last three years. If sponsorship is required, eligibility will be reviewed per government guidance. If not eligible for sponsorship or unable to evidence right to work, the conditional offer may be withdrawn. Recruitment will arrange a start date and you will be invited to a Trust Welcome Session and receive Pennine Care terms and conditions.
Other important information
– We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and recognise the importance of reflecting our diverse service user population within our workforce. We welcome applications from diverse communities. – If you would like to be considered under the Disability Confidence Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. – If you require reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, please phone 0161 716 3181. We will support you to complete your application. – We cannot guarantee transfer of lease cars or cover early termination charges. – We have a policy on unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. We reserve the right to close a vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
If you are kind, fair, ingenious and determined, we want you to join our #PennineCarePeople.
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Mental Health Support Worker employer: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health Support Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by patients with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). Understanding their needs and barriers will help you demonstrate your empathy and commitment during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the mental health field, especially those working in primary and secondary care settings. This can provide you with insights into the role and may even lead to referrals or recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss how you would promote continuity of care and effective communication within a multidisciplinary team. Highlighting your teamwork skills will be crucial for this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Consider reaching out to Sally Jones, the Health Support Team Manager, for an informal chat about the role. This shows initiative and can give you valuable information that sets you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Mental Health Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take time to thoroughly read the job description for the Mental Health Support Worker position. Understand the key responsibilities, such as supporting patients with Severe Mental Illness and providing physical health checks.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in mental health support or related fields. Include specific examples of how you've helped patients access services or provided outreach work.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for mental health care. Mention your understanding of the challenges faced by patients with SMI and how you can contribute to their well-being and access to services.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since the role involves working across primary and secondary care settings, emphasise your communication skills. Provide examples of how you've effectively communicated with healthcare professionals and patients in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Mental Health Support Worker. Familiarise yourself with the Severe Mental Illness (SMI) framework and how it integrates with physical health checks. This will help you articulate your understanding during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role, especially when working across primary and secondary care settings. Be prepared to discuss examples of how you've successfully communicated with patients and other healthcare professionals in the past.
✨Demonstrate Empathy and Compassion
The nature of this job requires a high level of empathy and compassion. Think of specific instances where you've supported individuals facing challenges, particularly in mental health contexts, and be ready to share these experiences.
✨Prepare Questions
At the end of the interview, you'll likely have the chance to ask questions. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, and how success is measured in this role. This shows your genuine interest in the position.