Mental Health Support Worker | Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Are you looking for a new and exciting challenge? Are you highly motivated, innovative, and compassionate about mental health care? We are looking to recruit a number of skilled Mental Health Support Workers to support our patients with mental health needs. The role will primarily be to provide enhanced engagement and observations of patients with mental health needs in the Emergency Department setting.

You will also need excellent engagement, de-escalation, and communication skills. A good knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act is essential. This is a very challenging role, and you will need to be confident, compassionate, flexible, and willing to learn and adapt in a rapidly changing medical environment.

The role of the Mental Health Support Worker is to be responsible for delivering high quality, patient-centred, compassionate, and trauma-informed care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, usually an ED RMN, and the Departments Nurse in Charge.

• Have proficient attitudes and behaviours compatible with NHS and the Trust PROUD values.
• Be an accountable professional.
• Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual.
• Carry out specific clinical and care tasks and responsibilities to a high standard and competency, under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
• Have the ability to work with minimal direct supervision, at times delivering care independently in line with the individuals care plan.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex. We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Mental Health Support Workers (MHSWs) provide support to patients with significant, complex, or challenging mental health needs who may present with additional behavioural challenges in the Trust, ensuring their safety within clinical areas and/or during escort duties. MHSWs are a vital part of the team and will be involved with the day-to-day management of patients in the Emergency Department requiring mental health care and support.

They are expected to follow the patients’ Mental Health Risk Management Plan as devised by the Emergency Department RMN, Psychiatric Liaison staff, Clinical Lead/Deputy Clinical Lead – Mental Health, Duty Psychiatrist, CAMHS Team, Eating Disorders Team, or Perinatal MH Team. However, they are also expected to utilise their experience and knowledge to manage patients as safely as possible using their own clinical judgement at times.

Adhere to plans put in place by the assessing Mental Health Team, including Psychiatric Liaison Services, though the post-holder is expected to be relatively autonomous as lone working and minimal direct supervision, in a non-Mental Health setting, are intrinsic to this role. To work within established policies and procedures but willing and able to use own decision-making skills and discretion as required. To use critical skills to address new or ambiguous matters/circumstances and importantly to seek support as required.