Healthcare Assistant

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve. As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
• Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants must have an existing right to work in the UK and be able to maintain that right for the duration of employment without sponsorship from the Trust.

An opportunity has arisen for a Part-Time (22.50 hours per week) Health Care Assistant to join our team. Are you a compassionate respectful team player committed to promoting excellence, and accountability in mental health services? Do you have excellent communication skills that would enable you to work within a challenging inpatient mental health unit? The Unit provides assessment and interventions for clients, operates seven days a week and is accessible 24hrs per day. Ramsey is a 15 bedded unit supporting individuals with an organic illness.

Ideally you should have at least six months previous experience of working within mental health settings or in a care setting. You should be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the issues that contribute to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. We are committed to staff development and provide encouragement and support to staff to continue their lifelong learning. You will be expected to fully engage in the supervision process for yourself and provide support to others as appropriate.

Main duties of the job

• The successful post holder will be expected to work shifts covering 24 hours, seven days a week and both full and part time contracts are available.
• Mental health services at Dane Garth, Furness General Hospital, Barrow are designed to meet the holistic needs of service users/patients and carers, in a working environment conducive to staff development and wellbeing.
• The post holder would support the delivery of care in the inpatient units.
• Work as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), working within a rotational shift system to support patients according to their care needs, some of whom may present with problematic or challenging behaviour.
• Contribute to, and participate in, the ongoing support of patients and their carers.
• Contribute to the protection of patients from abuse.
• Contribute to the health, safety and security of patients and their environment.
• Obtain, transmit and store information relating to the delivery of a care service.

For more information or to arrange an informal visit please contact us using the details provided.

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

Benefits and support

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time. The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• An interest in completing NVQ Level III or higher in Health or the completion above and Social Care or QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care training or can demonstrate the equivalent skills and knowledge gained through work (paid/unpaid).

Knowledge

• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues surrounding mental illness.
• Understands their duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act with regard to patient confidentiality.

Experience

• Working in a caring environment, e.g. nursing home, care home, hospital ward, home carer etc.
• Working as part of a team.

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).