Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for undertaking assigned tasks that involve direct care in an adolescent ward setting. The post involves supporting young people in all aspects of their care including daily living needs as is outlined in the young peoples individualised care plan. The post holder is responsible for reporting any relevant changes in the young persons condition to the qualified staff.

he post holder will assist support of people with mental health needs and challenging behaviours, such as depression or psychosis, and working with young people who have likely felt or attempted suicidal. You will be required to provide person centred care and working, whilst supporting qualified staff to ensure the highest standards of care are upheld.

Young people, relatives, carers and other staff will find the post holder flexible, approachable and with a helpful and friendly disposition, upholding the ethos of EPUT of good customer care at all times with an awareness of own attitude at all times.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To ensure that safe practice to be maintained, by a full awareness of Policies and Procedures regarding aspects of Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression

2. Promoting the recovery model of care and social inclusion

3. An awareness and to keep updated of the Care Quality commission standards

4. Aware of one own appearance, ensure the Trust uniform is worn correctly and is clean and presentable

5. The post holder will be prepared to work within the 24 hours service, 7 days per week, 365 days per year as per rota.

6. An understanding of the Mental Health Act/Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) and (MCA) Mental Capacity Assessments.

7. Take responsibility to ensure all mandatory training is up to date

8. Aware of ones own self-development needs and attend appropriate courses as agreed at appraisal.

9. Attend in-service and other training as required.

10. To be appraised once a year

11. Undertake clinical supervision to enhance practice

12. At all times be aware of the Trusts ethos and maintaining of customer care standards

13. Undertake any other appropriate duties as required.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Assist and maintaining tidiness, encouraging a welcoming, therapeutic atmosphere, clean environment within the unit

Responsible for working with your colleagues, seeking to improve the quality of services provided to our residents

Assist in planning programmes of care together with the unit team. Implementing these plans under the supervision of the designated Supervisor

Contribute to record keeping under the supervision of a qualified staff member keeping accurate records of residents care with due regard to the confidentiality of information relating to patients. It is the responsibility of the qualified staff to arrange regular reviews and to countersign all entries into records.

Flexible and co-operative and willing in undertaking allocated realistic team tasks

Undertake cleaning of spillages, including body fluids in line with Trust infection control policies and procedures

Collection specimens for investigations

The role includes working shifts including early, late and nights shifts, weekends and public holidays and rotate to other ward areas as per service need and/or annually

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

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• High Standard of Education - GCSE or above
• Good Standard of Written English
• Care Certificate based on the standards set by Health Education England, Skills for Care and Skills for Health

Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to support the team to meet their KPI and contractual targets
• Articulate
• Team Working Skills

Desirable

• Previous Experience of working with people with learning disabilities/special needs
• Working Knowledge of trust systems including Mobius and Paris

Skills/Experience

Essential

• Committed, motivated and enthusiastic
• Understanding of Learning Disabilities/ASD/Mental Health conditions and how they can affect peoples day to day life and impact upon recovery
• Experience of using an electronic information system

Desirable

• Knowledge and use of Makaton

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Longview Ward

St Aubyn Centre

Colchester

CO4 5HG

Employer's website

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