Job summary
We are looking for a highly motivated and conscientious clozapine clinical support worker.You will already have a relevant healthcare qualification underpinning your experience, such as a Psychology degree or a Foundation degree, with knowledge, values and skills gained as a senior support worker, an OT Assistant or a similar role. In turn, we will provide you with the training and support required for you to flourish in this job role.
You will be involved in the care of over 300 patients across the county attending clinics each week to which you will need to be able to travel - clinics are held in Wokingham, Newbury, Reading, Bracknell, Slough and Maidenhead. The patients range from those newly started on clozapine to patients who have been on clozapine treatment for many years. Where applicable you will also take blood samples for analysis (training will be provided). As part of our commitment to providing holistic patient centered care you will also support with the physical health monitoring of patients on clozapine treatment.
The role forms part of our commitment to providing modern, high quality, evidence-based care whilst offering great development opportunities for skilled and experienced support staff.
The working hours will be Monday to Friday 9-5pm, and you will be based across various sites across Berkshire during those hours.
Main duties of the job
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Experience of working in healthcare settings.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Have a flexible approach to work to meet the developing needs of the clozapine service
- Must be able to travel independently to each of the clinic sites, use of a car for work would be beneficial.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
This is a fixed term role for 10 months to cover maternity leave.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about any questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Charlotte Lister, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in SMI Health Checks & Clozapine on 07976 652914 or email: charlotte.lister@berkshire.nhs.uk, or contact either of the Specialist Clozapine Clinic Nurses: Namwai Danieli (email Namwai.Danieli@berkshire.nhs.uk) and Colin Bradshaw (email colin.bradshaw@berkshire.nhs.uk) on 0118 960 5296 wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Experience of working in healthcare settings.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Have a flexible approach to work to meet the developing needs of the clozapine service
- Must be able to travel independently to each of the clinic sites, use of a car for work would be beneficial.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
This is a fixed term role for 10 months to cover maternity leave.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about any questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Charlotte Lister, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in SMI Health Checks & Clozapine on 07976 652914 or email: charlotte.lister@berkshire.nhs.uk, or contact either of the Specialist Clozapine Clinic Nurses: Namwai Danieli (email Namwai.Danieli@berkshire.nhs.uk) and Colin Bradshaw (email colin.bradshaw@berkshire.nhs.uk) on 0118 960 5296 wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Good general educational qualifications including English & Maths at GCSE grade C or above or equivalent.
- IT literate
- Health related qualification, eg. NVQ in Health and Social Care or higher
- Significant relevant experience in mental health settings together with relevant short courses
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Commitment to undertake further required training, professional development and self-improvement to support patient care and experience.
- Must have undertaken phlebotomy training or be willing to complete this training.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Robust and relevant experience within healthcare settings
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake training)
Desirable
- Experience working in mental health settings, whether in inpatients or in the community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing at all levels including with patients, carers and MDT members/Trust employees.
- Demonstrable understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Ability to take on and complete delegated tasks.
- To be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills.
- Able to work effectively with colleagues, patients and their families.
- Able to work under pressure
- Ability to work in a stressful environment.
- Ability to understand and evaluate risk to maintain patient safety
- Honest, trustworthy and reliable.
- Understand the limits of your abilities.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel across all Trust sites within Berkshire Healthcare - having a car for use at work would be beneficial.
- Ability to work in hot desk areas as and when required.
- Flexible approach to work patterns in line with the needs of the service.
- This role requires the candidate to have an enhanced DBS check (which will be organised as part of recruitment)
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Good general educational qualifications including English & Maths at GCSE grade C or above or equivalent.
- IT literate
- Health related qualification, eg. NVQ in Health and Social Care or higher
- Significant relevant experience in mental health settings together with relevant short courses
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Commitment to undertake further required training, professional development and self-improvement to support patient care and experience.
- Must have undertaken phlebotomy training or be willing to complete this training.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Robust and relevant experience within healthcare settings
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake training)
Desirable
- Experience working in mental health settings, whether in inpatients or in the community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing at all levels including with patients, carers and MDT members/Trust employees.
- Demonstrable understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Ability to take on and complete delegated tasks.
- To be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills.
- Able to work effectively with colleagues, patients and their families.
- Able to work under pressure
- Ability to work in a stressful environment.
- Ability to understand and evaluate risk to maintain patient safety
- Honest, trustworthy and reliable.
- Understand the limits of your abilities.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel across all Trust sites within Berkshire Healthcare - having a car for use at work would be beneficial.
- Ability to work in hot desk areas as and when required.
- Flexible approach to work patterns in line with the needs of the service.
- This role requires the candidate to have an enhanced DBS check (which will be organised as part of recruitment)
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.
