Healthcare Assistant (Montpellier Unit, Wotton Lawn Hospital)

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 3 Health Care Assistant to work with the Gloucester Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust in our award-winning Wotton Lawn Hospital.

The Montpellier Unit is a 12 bedded Low Secure Unit for males suffering from a mental disorder and reaching the threshold for this level of security. The Unit is run by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and is a member of the Devon Partnership New Care Model for Secure Services in the South West Region of England.

We are now seeking a highly motivated and committed band 3 Health Care Assistant for Montpellier Unit. The ideal candidate for this post would be seeking an opportunity to make a real difference to people\’s lives, with excellent communication skills and a passion for helping those experiencing a mental health concern.

We provide a service to our patients 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so we are looking for flexible people who would like to work on this rewarding service to cover shifts throughout the week at varying times of the day.

Wotton Lawn Hospital tour – YouTube

Main duties of the job

To assist trained nurses in the provision of nursing care including health promotion as detailed in individual care plans.

Participate in the performing of appropriate tasks necessary to meet the needs of the unit.

Assist service users outside the ward environment to establish and maintain social contacts.

Assist in the preparation and delivery of social, sports and recreational activities for ward patients and other suggestions outlined in Star Wards.

To work collaboratively with staff other departments within Wotton Lawn Hospital and within the Trust.

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

About Us

We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.

The Annual NHS Staff Survey Gives Our People The Opportunity To Tell Us About Their Experience Working At The Trust. For The 2023 Survey Just Over 2800 Colleagues Gave Us Their Views (58.5%). It Was Great To See From The Results That Colleagues Are Saying That:

• 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
• 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
• 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisations priority;
• 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative

Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.

Details

Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

327-25-164-A

Job locations

Wotton Lawn

Horton Road

Gloucester

GL1 3WL

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• On a daily basis, assist qualified nurses in the provision of care as detailed in the individual care plans, undertake tasks that facilitate the smooth running of the ward as directed by qualified nurses, and liaise with other departments to ensue ward environment is safe and welcoming, e.g. hotel services. Tasks can include: assisting with the giving of medication and medical dressings; holding the pagers for first response; preparing for admissions; escort and driving duties.
• Make appropriate objective written entries in patient notes to ensure that these are up to date and accurate.
• Actively participate in team handovers, providing verbal report or making presentations to the immediate team or the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Provide practical assistance and support in maintaining patients social network to include family relationships and cultural needs. This may include periods without direct supervision off the ward.
• Frequently use interpersonal and communication skills to de-escalate and reduce aggressive behaviour if encountered from users and carers.
• Ensure a range of social and recreational activities are always available on the ward for patients which can be implemented by staff at other times.
• Successfully initiate and develop rapport with the patient group to enable patients to balance periods of activity, socialisation and rest.
• Be aware of own limitations, seek support if and when need arises.
• Liaise effectively with nursing colleagues, and other health professionals.
• Ensure feedback is continually sought from users to inform development of services.
• Ensure that health promotion information is available in a variety of forms for individuals or small groups of users.
• Liaise with external organisations to enable opportunities for services users to participate in new activities.

As a Health Care Assistant/ Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care / services to patients and service users as part of a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. Health Care Assistant, Social Care Workers and other Healthcare Support Workers employed by the Trust are required to follow the guidance set out in Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants/ Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.

You will receive direct supervision and partake in reflective practice / training on a regular basis and be required to meet the Care Certificate standards. All successful applicants will also have the opportunity to discuss the prospect of undertaking a Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship alongside their substantive post. This apprenticeship would include the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• On a daily basis, assist qualified nurses in the provision of care as detailed in the individual care plans, undertake tasks that facilitate the smooth running of the ward as directed by qualified nurses, and liaise with other departments to ensue ward environment is safe and welcoming, e.g. hotel services. Tasks can include: assisting with the giving of medication and medical dressings; holding the pagers for first response; preparing for admissions; escort and driving duties.
• Make appropriate objective written entries in patient notes to ensure that these are up to date and accurate.
• Actively participate in team handovers, providing verbal report or making presentations to the immediate team or the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Provide practical assistance and support in maintaining patients social network to include family relationships and cultural needs. This may include periods without direct supervision off the ward.
• Frequently use interpersonal and communication skills to de-escalate and reduce aggressive behaviour if encountered from users and carers.
• Ensure a range of social and recreational activities are always available on the ward for patients which can be implemented by staff at other times.
• Successfully initiate and develop rapport with the patient group to enable patients to balance periods of activity, socialisation and rest.
• Be aware of own limitations, seek support if and when need arises.
• Liaise effectively with nursing colleagues, and other health professionals.
• Ensure feedback is continually sought from users to inform development of services.
• Ensure that health promotion information is available in a variety of forms for individuals or small groups of users.
• Liaise with external organisations to enable opportunities for services users to participate in new activities.

As a Health Care Assistant/ Support Worker you will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care / services to patients and service users as part of a Mental Health and Social Care Health Service. Health Care Assistant, Social Care Workers and other Healthcare Support Workers employed by the Trust are required to follow the guidance set out in Code of Conduct for Health Care Assistants/ Health Care Support Workers to provide safe and compassionate care of a high standard, and to challenge others who are not.

You will receive direct supervision and partake in reflective practice / training on a regular basis and be required to meet the Care Certificate standards. All successful applicants will also have the opportunity to discuss the prospect of undertaking a Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship alongside their substantive post. This apprenticeship would include the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in a health or social care or related setting e.g. promoting independence or equivalent level of competency-based training in relevant area. Or Completed a relevant Health Care Assistant transition & development programme.

Desirable

• Formal NVQ 3 in relevant health related subject

Skills

Essential

• Significant experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
• Significant experience of working in a team
• Understanding of how mental illness has an impact on motivation, social skills and Activities of Daily Living

Desirable

• Experience of working with patients with severe and enduring mental illness
• Experience in the assessment of patients
• Experience of providing social and recreational activities

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
• Significant experience of working in a team
• Understanding of how mental illness has an impact on motivation, social skills and Activities of Daily Living

Desirable

• Experience of working with patients with severe and enduring mental illness
• Experience in the assessment of patients
• Experience of providing social and recreational activities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wotton Lawn

Horton Road

Gloucester

GL1 3WL

Employer\’s website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wotton Lawn

Horton Road

Gloucester

GL1 3WL

Employer\’s website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)

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