Job summary
We are looking for a motivated and passionate individual to join our team in the challenging role of a support worker. This role offers the opportunity to provide a comprehensive package of care to inpatients from day one. Working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, you will be able to take advantage of their skills and experience to create an individualised and specialised programme to help patients on their road to recovery.
Applewood House is an Acute Psychiatric admission ward based in Swindon. As an acute inpatient service, we provide high quality, multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled treatment to people whose health care needs cannot be managed in their own homes due to their level of complexity, intensity and unpredictability. The ward is currently an all male ward with 15 beds for adults with a wide range of mental health conditions.
To support you in your role, you will be allocated a supervisor to offer guidance and direction as well as a buddy to settle you into Applewood House and support you through your role.
This role is on a ward that operates on a 24/7 shift basis and applicants will need to be happy to participate in the 24 hours, 7 day a week rota to meet the needs of the people who use our services.
Main duties of the job
Working closely with our multi disciplinary teams, supporting service users, you will receive training to complete the NHS Care Certificate and request a Level 3 Healthcare apprenticeship. If you have some experience of caring work already that would be great - but if not, we will support you to develop the skills and experience needed.
Staff will qualify for unsocial enhancements in addition to their basic pay.
You will have excellent communication skills.
We expect you to be able to demonstrate how you have worked effectively in a multi-disciplinary team setting. You will need to demonstrate your commitment to personal development.
Your attitude is crucial. At Applewood House, we deliver person-centred care. We believe that with our help, people can improve their mental health, to promote independence .
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger
Job description
Job responsibilities
To deliver high quality care and recovery interventions for service users within designated clinical areas, in collaboration with, and under the indirect supervision of, registered care staff. These may include:
Supporting individuals with fluids and nutrition, physical wellbeing, and personal care.
Assisting service users with financial or accommodation issues.
Escorting or accompanying service users for planned periods of leave on hospital grounds and in the community facilitating social inclusion.
Encouraging service users to talk about their experiences in one-to-one or group discussions.
To help maintain a clean, well-organised, safe and therapeutic environment that meets the needs of service users, carers and colleagues, and to support registered care staff to perform standardised environmental assessments to monitor and improve the care setting.
To deliver psychosocially-informed one to one and group interventions aiming to positively impact service users cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. To assume lead or link roles on core practice initiatives and priorities (e.g. Essence of Care, Safewards and carer engagement) under the supervision of registered staff. To integrate areas of personal interest with clinical practice to enhance the diversity of the teams provision of care.
To practise planned care, and to directly participate in the development of recovery-focused interventions that address service users and carers needs and preferences. To proactively review, record and assess the on-going impacts of such interventions.
To participate in the on-going care planning, CPA and risk assessment processes in collaboration with service users, their carers, and other members of the care team and to contribute to all aspects of clinical record keeping.
To maintain a basic working understanding of both the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act (2005), and any other relevant legislation, as required by mandatory and statutory training (MaST).
To adhere to AWPs Code of Conduct for unregistered practitioners; promoting and embedding it through the delivery of peer support and supervision to junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers.
To observe and record interactions with service users and carers both verbally and in writing via clinical records and staff handovers.
To deliver a wide range of fundamental care interventions using evidence based clinical tools, to monitor and improve physical health and personal wellbeing and to model a high standard of dignity, respect and candour.
To engage in reflective practice to maintain and promote ongoing clinical practice.
To promote and enhance a positive learning culture, being proactive in the induction, orientation and support of junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers, seeking to embed core care values into practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To deliver high quality care and recovery interventions for service users within designated clinical areas, in collaboration with, and under the indirect supervision of, registered care staff. These may include:
Supporting individuals with fluids and nutrition, physical wellbeing, and personal care.
Assisting service users with financial or accommodation issues.
Escorting or accompanying service users for planned periods of leave on hospital grounds and in the community facilitating social inclusion.
Encouraging service users to talk about their experiences in one-to-one or group discussions.
To help maintain a clean, well-organised, safe and therapeutic environment that meets the needs of service users, carers and colleagues, and to support registered care staff to perform standardised environmental assessments to monitor and improve the care setting.
To deliver psychosocially-informed one to one and group interventions aiming to positively impact service users cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. To assume lead or link roles on core practice initiatives and priorities (e.g. Essence of Care, Safewards and carer engagement) under the supervision of registered staff. To integrate areas of personal interest with clinical practice to enhance the diversity of the teams provision of care.
To practise planned care, and to directly participate in the development of recovery-focused interventions that address service users and carers needs and preferences. To proactively review, record and assess the on-going impacts of such interventions.
To participate in the on-going care planning, CPA and risk assessment processes in collaboration with service users, their carers, and other members of the care team and to contribute to all aspects of clinical record keeping.
To maintain a basic working understanding of both the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act (2005), and any other relevant legislation, as required by mandatory and statutory training (MaST).
To adhere to AWPs Code of Conduct for unregistered practitioners; promoting and embedding it through the delivery of peer support and supervision to junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers.
To observe and record interactions with service users and carers both verbally and in writing via clinical records and staff handovers.
To deliver a wide range of fundamental care interventions using evidence based clinical tools, to monitor and improve physical health and personal wellbeing and to model a high standard of dignity, respect and candour.
To engage in reflective practice to maintain and promote ongoing clinical practice.
To promote and enhance a positive learning culture, being proactive in the induction, orientation and support of junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers, seeking to embed core care values into practice.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- If not held, willingness to complete NHS Care Certificate
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as a healthcare support worker in a clinical team.
- An understanding of how mental health issues can affect the lives of individuals, their families and their community.
- Knowledge of, and experience of working with, a range of mental health issues
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly in both written and verbal form about routine matters
- Ability to use computer systems efficiently and effectively to record data clearly and accurately.
- Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and tactful manner, and to champion core care values such as dignity, compassion and safety.
- Possession of attitudes and behaviours that promote recovery, diversity and equality, and ability to retain these under pressure.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- If not held, willingness to complete NHS Care Certificate
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as a healthcare support worker in a clinical team.
- An understanding of how mental health issues can affect the lives of individuals, their families and their community.
- Knowledge of, and experience of working with, a range of mental health issues
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly in both written and verbal form about routine matters
- Ability to use computer systems efficiently and effectively to record data clearly and accurately.
- Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and tactful manner, and to champion core care values such as dignity, compassion and safety.
- Possession of attitudes and behaviours that promote recovery, diversity and equality, and ability to retain these under pressure.
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.
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.
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).