East London NHS Foundation Trust

Health Care Support Worker

The closing date is 24 September 2025

Job summary

Health Care Assistants for Mental Health

An opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and caring people to work as health care support workers within our adult and older adult wards. There are a number of mental health wards across ELFT and we are seeking enthusiastic people with the right mindset to come and join our supportive and progressive teams.

We are looking for caring and compassionate people, both experienced and inexperienced, to join our dedicated teams.

Main duties of the job

To be successful in a Health Care assistant or Support Worker role, you will need to be forward thinking and have a keen interest in working with patients being nursed in a mental health settings. You will be working within a supportive multidisciplinary team, caring for patients with a wide range of needs.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

05 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum inc HCAS (Hcas to be confirmed on appointment)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

363-L&B-HCSW-SEP2025

Job locations

Multiple sites across Luton and Bedford

Luton

LU1 2PJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our care and treatment programmes are underpinned by principles of recovery and social inclusion and much of our work is co-produced with patients. You will help to ensure that the people we care for always have a strong voice. If you are committed to providing outstanding patient care with a sound knowledge of best practise, this is the opportunity for you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our care and treatment programmes are underpinned by principles of recovery and social inclusion and much of our work is co-produced with patients. You will help to ensure that the people we care for always have a strong voice. If you are committed to providing outstanding patient care with a sound knowledge of best practise, this is the opportunity for you.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE level of equivalent
  • Completed or the willingness to undertake Care certificate

Desirable

  • GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Working in a care setting

Desirable

  • Dealing with challenging situations
  • Working with Mental Health Service Users
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to manage time to meet deadlines
  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Be able to respond with compassion and empathy Demonstrate an understanding of caring for people with mental health problems
  • Demonstrate a degree of emotional intelligence and self-reflection

Desirable

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the specialty
  • Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
  • Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
  • Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE level of equivalent
  • Completed or the willingness to undertake Care certificate

Desirable

  • GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Working in a care setting

Desirable

  • Dealing with challenging situations
  • Working with Mental Health Service Users
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to manage time to meet deadlines
  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Be able to respond with compassion and empathy Demonstrate an understanding of caring for people with mental health problems
  • Demonstrate a degree of emotional intelligence and self-reflection

Desirable

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the specialty
  • Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
  • Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
  • Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Multiple sites across Luton and Bedford

Luton

LU1 2PJ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Multiple sites across Luton and Bedford

Luton

LU1 2PJ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

ELFT Recruitment team

ELFT Recruitment team

elft.recruitment@nhs.net

02076554000

Details

Date posted

05 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum inc HCAS (Hcas to be confirmed on appointment)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

363-L&B-HCSW-SEP2025

Job locations

Multiple sites across Luton and Bedford

Luton

LU1 2PJ


Supporting documents

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