Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 24 January 2026

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Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed staff member to join our existing community service. The aim of the service is to provide recovery-focused treatment and support via personalised care plans for individuals who are presenting with a range of mental health disorders: supporting them from diagnosis to recovery, to enable them to lead the lives they wish to live. You will work with the Multi-Disciplinary Team: a spectrum of clinical professionals which includes Nurses, Psychologists, Doctors, Social Workers, Occupational Therapist and support staff.

We are looking for a positive team player who has a specialist interest in working compassionately with individuals and their wider support networks.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all of our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form be rejected from the process.

Main duties of the job

Working alongside qualified mental health clinicians to support service users to attain their optimum level of recovery via individualized care plans.

A key component of this position is that of supporting the Associate Practitioner with undertaking physical health assessments for individuals who are receiving care and treatment via the Multi-Disciplinary Team: this includes phlebotomy and participating in clinics such as the Clozapine Clinic.

Visiting service users within their home environments; providing support to carers and liaising with a range of system partners.

Completing of clinical documentation following each service user contact; ensuring that progress/concerns are shared with the Multi-Disciplinary Team.

To undertake all mandatory training, required for this post.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, plus 5% HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9713

Job locations

Latton Bush Centre

Southern Way

Harlow, Essex

CM18 7BL


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work collaboratively with key partner organisations, Service

Users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the

Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver high quality, recovery care

interventions.

You will be responsible for assisting in the management and care of Service Users based upon individual needs, under the care planning and guidance of senior qualified staff.

To support the service and Associate Practitioner by conducting physical health assessments for service users.

Provision of practical support to Service Users in performing

day to day activities, guidance and education in accordance

with the agreed care plan and for a dedicate period of time

Produce accurate and timely documentation, conduct and manage the maintenance of records on all Service User under your care in line with Trust policy.

To attend the weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting.

Report and document incidents, as required.

Provide education and support to develop Service Users understanding of mental illness.

Provide psychosocial interventions, education and support to

develop service users and their carers understanding of

mental illness with the aim to prevent relapse and admission to

hospital.

Support process: implementing care packages and reviewing

these, as required.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a one workforce cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

To support this one workforce model the successful candidate for this post will be required to attend our5 day (Monday to Friday) face to face Induction Programme at our MSE ICS Education Hub at Brentwood Community Hospital. Your start date will therefore fall on one of two of the HCA Academy induction dates across the month, which will be discussed and agreed during the recruitment process.

Our HCA Academy Induction programme has been designed to train and support the successful candidate through the early stages of their employment at EPUT and will provide opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge and experience.

Further information will be provided post interview.

This will be followed by an additional 5 day (Monday to Friday) EPUT corporate / mandatory training welcome. (EPUT Welcome will be varied between face to face and virtual delivery).

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work collaboratively with key partner organisations, Service

Users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the

Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver high quality, recovery care

interventions.

You will be responsible for assisting in the management and care of Service Users based upon individual needs, under the care planning and guidance of senior qualified staff.

To support the service and Associate Practitioner by conducting physical health assessments for service users.

Provision of practical support to Service Users in performing

day to day activities, guidance and education in accordance

with the agreed care plan and for a dedicate period of time

Produce accurate and timely documentation, conduct and manage the maintenance of records on all Service User under your care in line with Trust policy.

To attend the weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting.

Report and document incidents, as required.

Provide education and support to develop Service Users understanding of mental illness.

Provide psychosocial interventions, education and support to

develop service users and their carers understanding of

mental illness with the aim to prevent relapse and admission to

hospital.

Support process: implementing care packages and reviewing

these, as required.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a one workforce cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

To support this one workforce model the successful candidate for this post will be required to attend our5 day (Monday to Friday) face to face Induction Programme at our MSE ICS Education Hub at Brentwood Community Hospital. Your start date will therefore fall on one of two of the HCA Academy induction dates across the month, which will be discussed and agreed during the recruitment process.

Our HCA Academy Induction programme has been designed to train and support the successful candidate through the early stages of their employment at EPUT and will provide opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge and experience.

Further information will be provided post interview.

This will be followed by an additional 5 day (Monday to Friday) EPUT corporate / mandatory training welcome. (EPUT Welcome will be varied between face to face and virtual delivery).

Person Specification

Transport

Essential

  • Valid UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Access to own car for work purposes

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of previous work in mental health

Desirable

  • Phlebotomy training

Desire

Essential

  • Evidence of passion to work in mental health field

Desirable

  • Awareness of carer needs
Person Specification

Transport

Essential

  • Valid UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Access to own car for work purposes

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of previous work in mental health

Desirable

  • Phlebotomy training

Desire

Essential

  • Evidence of passion to work in mental health field

Desirable

  • Awareness of carer needs

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Latton Bush Centre

Southern Way

Harlow, Essex

CM18 7BL


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Latton Bush Centre

Southern Way

Harlow, Essex

CM18 7BL


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

Gina McKenzie

gina.mckenzie@nhs.net

01279637400

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, plus 5% HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9713

Job locations

Latton Bush Centre

Southern Way

Harlow, Essex

CM18 7BL


Supporting documents

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