Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Bank Healthcare Assistant, Mental Health

The closing date is 01 February 2026

Job summary

Are you compassionate, confident, and passionate about making a difference in mental health care? Somerset Foundation Trust is seeking dedicated Mental Health Healthcare Assistants to join our Bank team.

In this rewarding role, you will deliver highquality, personcentred care, support recovery journeys, and help create a safe, respectful, and nonjudgemental environment for service users.

We're looking for individuals who demonstrate empathy and understanding, remain professional and positive, and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Why join our Bank team?

Flexible working - Choose shifts that fit around your lifestyle and improve worklife balance.

Varied experience - Gain exposure across a range of mental health services and settings.

Extra income - Boost your earnings by picking up additional shifts.

Weekly pay option - Access up to 50% of earned pay through the Wagestream app, without waiting for payday.

If you're passionate about mental health care and want the freedom and variety that bank work offers, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note: Successful candidates will complete a comprehensive induction, including weekday training sessions and shadow shifts, to ensure full support and confidence in the role.

Main duties of the job

The job includes listening and talking to patients/relatives/carers, observing patients' behaviour, providing close observation to ensure patient safety (one to one), encouraging them with eating, drinking, personal hygiene. Involving them in diversional activities, escorting patients out of the unit, dealing with anger (explanations, negotiation and de-escalation), assisting in the management of violent episodes, helping in the administration of medication.

Full details of duties can be found in the job description.

Please be advised - this vacancy may close early if we reach a sufficient amount of applications.

About us

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, and not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

We work hard to make sure that inclusion is part of everything we do. We know that true inclusion means we're able to provide the best care for our patients and provide a fulfilling career for all our colleagues.

We have six active and impactful colleague networks. These networks provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from one another, but also influence change across our trust:

Multicultural Network

Women's Network

Armed Forces' Network

LGBTQ+ Network

Lived Experience Network, for colleagues living with disabilities

Autistic Colleague Network

We offer a form of weekly pay via Wagestream. Bank Pay is an easy way to automatically get paid a percentage of the money you've already earned from any bank shifts completed the previous week. It means you don't have to wait until the end of the month for your bank shift pay, giving you more flexibility.

Don't worry - the remaining portion of your pay is set aside to make sure your tax contributions are paid in full and if your tax contributions amount to less than the money set aside you'll receive it all back at the end of each month.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£12.75 to £13.60 an hour per annum, pro rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

184-OL-BA-4139

Job locations

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details and further information about the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details and further information about the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic literacy & numeracy.

Experience

Essential

  • Care Experience

Desirable

  • Experience within a mental health setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Understanding of Confidentiality
  • Knowledge of mental health
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic literacy & numeracy.

Experience

Essential

  • Care Experience

Desirable

  • Experience within a mental health setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Understanding of Confidentiality
  • Knowledge of mental health

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Emily Ashford

bankrecruitment@somersetft.nhs.uk

01823217830

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£12.75 to £13.60 an hour per annum, pro rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

184-OL-BA-4139

Job locations

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)