Mental Health Care Assistant (AfC Band 3) - Mental Health - Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Employer Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Town Guildford Salary £25,883 – £26,958 (per annum) pro-rata includes high cost area suupplements Salary period Yearly Closing 09/07/2025 23:59

Mental Health Care Assistant

AfC Band 3

Job overview

The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation trust are looking to recruit into a new team which will offer support to mental health patients. The team will comprise of a Lead Nurse, Band 6 RMNs and Mental Health Care Assistants who have/ are working towards a care certificate. If you are interested and available please apply today or email directly to speak to our recruitment team – we are looking forward to hearing from you!

This will be a 24/7 service and staff will need to work flexibly to support the clinical areas
The role of the Band 6 RMN will be to offer support to the clinical areas.
The role will include-To support/advise clinical staff in the safe management of patients who present with mental health difficulties whilst in the hospital setting. To be responsible for patient assessment, planning of care, implementing and supervising safe and compassionate care, and evaluating the effectiveness of care. You will demonstrate leadership qualities and be open, transparent and trustworthy. As a Trust employee, act with integrity and uphold the values and beliefs of the trust and NMC Code of Conduct.
• To provide a high standard of individualised patient care reflecting individual needs that involves relatives/carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for the co-ordination, assessments, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for people with mental health problems in the inpatient setting.

To provide nursing care to a defined group or to individual patients

Main duties of the job

The role of a MHCA is a very privileged role, you will provide personal care and support to patients at their most vulnerable times. You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team to provide a compassionate, caring and safe environment for our patients.

Main duties of the job

Mandatory Requirements for this role include:
• Minimum of 12 months care experience
• In receipt of the Care Certificate
• Restraint training

The job includes listening and talking to patients/relatives and carers, observing behaviour, providing enhanced observation, supporting patients with eating, drinking and personal hygiene and escorting patients out of the unit, initiating and building supportive therapeutic relationships, and managing periods of distress using de-escalation and conflict resolution skills. In addition, the role includes cohorting a group of patients who may require such a level of enhanced observation

Working for our organisation

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn\’t the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Recognising the patient\’s individuality helps to meet their social, emotional, and intellectual needs. Post holder will be involved in the delivery and coordination of activities on the ward. Ensuring basic physical needs, such as adequate diet, hygiene, warmth, comfort, and safety. Assisting in planned treatment plans following the multidisciplinary team approach.

Key Clinical Objectives:

• To assist qualified nurses in setting quality standards, including monitoring and reviewing in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy.
• Provide person-centred, safe and compassionate care and independently escort patients on and off the ward where appropriate.
• Working on the direction of the qualified nurse to ensure the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 are observed, adhered to and implemented.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and with patients when delivering care or providing advice.
• Recognise and report situations, circumstances or errors that may result in poor health outcomes and perform delegated clinical and nonclinical duties without direct supervision.
• Ensure information is recorded accurately, on time, on the electronic patient record, and shared with health and social care professionals, patients, carers, and families when appropriate. • Recognise and value patients\’ privacy and dignity and ensure the care provided respects equality and diversity.
• Be aware of the need to safeguard patients and follow procedures if required.
• Maintain confidential information following Trust Policies and participate in multi-professional reviews and team meetings.
• Assist with the management of challenging behaviour (verbal and physical aggression).
• Carry out enhanced observations following Trust Policy.
• Responsible for participation in the Trust appraisal process, which identifies your personal development and training needs in conjunction with the appraiser.
• To participate in research, service modernisation, clinical governance, and the National Service Framework as appropriate under the guidance of the qualified nurse.
• Respect and value the different therapeutic approaches within the multidisciplinary team but ensure that the agreed philosophy approach is adopted and followed.
• Responsible for ensuring confidentiality is always maintained per the data protection act trust policy and good practice.
• Responsible for maintaining and professionally conducting oneself towards service users, carers, colleagues, and other agencies.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English). NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development

Knowledge

• At least one year’s experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others
• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient\’s needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

For any queries related to this post, please contact Anthony Gartland on 01483 571122 Ext 2456

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