Healthcare Assistant (Maple Ward) | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual for the pivotal role as Healthcare Assistant at our values‑driven Trust. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of mental health services while developing a career in a supportive and innovative environment committed to inclusion, equity and being actively anti‑racist. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative Short Stay mixed gender Psychiatric Ward operating on a maximum 28‑day admission framework.

The model integrates evidence‑based approaches including robust gatekeeping processes, intensive multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, the Red to Green discharge facilitation approach, and strong integration with Home Treatment Teams (HTT) for both admission prevention and early supported discharge.

The Healthcare Assistant is the role for those who have experience and training in clinical practice, in a ward or other clinical setting. The postholder will provide personalised care to service users, undertaking clinical tasks with supportive supervision as required. Those in this role will spend significant amounts of time engaging with people who use our services. Healthcare Assistants may go on to progress to become a Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner, once they have completed the necessary training and demonstrated the necessary competences.

• Work under the guidance of the Registered Nurse/AP/NA to implement the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery‑focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities.
• Lead on undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamental standards of care are met, including nutrition, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
• Undertake 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, non-judgmental and open way.
• Maintain service user dignity and respect at all times and ensure that care provided respects equality and diversity.
• Escalate any concerns to the Registered Nurse.
• Monitor and record clinical observations, i.e. physical observations and vital signs and escalate any concerns appropriately.
• Implement the principles of recovery through engaging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles and facilitate psychosocial activities.
• Escort service users in line with Trust policies.
• Facilitate the admission and discharge of service users, including activities such as property checks and orientation to services.
• Advocate for service users’ rights and needs within Trust policy.
• Demonstrate an understanding of mental health signs and symptoms and an understanding of how these may present in practice, including recognition of impact of patient presentation and behaviour with risk factors.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the MHA, MCA and DOLS and other legislation applicable to the practice area and how they are implemented in practice.
• Contribute to an effective communication process with appropriate and accurate information to patients, carers, family, friends and colleagues.
• Engage and listen carefully and actively, responding using appropriate language and accessible communication methods and skills.
• Demonstrate effective clinical communication and documentation: effective verbal and written handover of relevant and objective information, ability to determine key information, ability to recognise and describe effectively symptoms of mental illness, distress or a deteriorating patient, and ability to escalates concerns effectively and in a timely manner.
• Report, without delay, any safety or security concerns to maintain the safety of service users, carers, staff and others to appropriate authorities and organisations.
• Report safeguarding concerns to a Registered Nurse.
• Protect service users, self and others by maintaining a clean and healthy environment in accordance with health and safety and infection control policies, supporting senior staff in ensuring audit and compliance activities and reports are kept up to date.
• Work in ways that support shared responsibility within the team: demonstrating support, respect and courtesy towards colleagues; working in a professional manner and with Trust values always in mind, respecting the boundaries of the relationship with service users/patients, carers and staff.

Location: Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Closing date: This advert closes on Sunday 17 May 2026.