Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Emergency Department Engagement Support Worker

The closing date is 12 March 2026

Job summary

This position is an excellent opportunity for experienced health care support workers to join Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) within the Emergency Department (ED) at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI). The role involves providing therapeutic support to individuals experiencing mental health distress within the ED. The support worker will play a vital part in ensuring that patients receive appropriate care while establishing a therapeutic relationship with them.

The successful candidate will work alongside the ED team, aiding patients throughout their assessment, treatment, and potential discharge. The role requires strong interpersonal and communication skills to assist those who may feel overwhelmed whilst receiving care with the ED. CHFT has a strong focus on personal and professional development, offering a dynamic working environment with a commitment to improving service delivery and patient care.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of this role include providing therapeutic support to individuals in mental distress and collaborating with the ED team to ensure patient well-being. The support worker will work closely with the mental health liaison team under supervision from the ED and play a role in improving patient care and experience.

Main duties include:

Provide compassionate support to patients with mental health conditions, ensuring their needs are understood and they receive personalised, respectful care throughout their time in the ED.
Work under supervision to develop enhanced engagement skills and advocate for patients.
Communicate effectively with colleagues to support patient care.
Complete and maintain accurate care documentation.
Promote a safe and clean environment in line with Health and Safety policies.

About us

We employ more than 6,500 staffwho deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals,Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, healthcentres and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.

We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children's and young people's services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.

We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.

We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation.Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS- yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boardslisten to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members - patients, staff andthe local community.

Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in thechanges to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.

Date posted

09 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2571

Job locations

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary - Emergency Department

Acre Street

Huddersfield

HD3 3EA

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a member of the ED team, the support worker will assist in the overall care of patients with mental health conditions and learning disabilities/autism. This includes providing emotional and therapeutic support, maintaining accurate care records, and ensuring that care plans are followed.

Main responsibilities include:

Develop enhanced communication skills to engage with patients in distress.
Monitor patient conditions and report changes to the ED nurse in charge.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including mental health liaison staff, to provide holistic care.
Ensure a safe and clean working environment, adhering to infection control policies.
Participate in ongoing training and development, including mandatory courses in de-escalation and mental health communication.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main responsibilities include:

Develop enhanced communication skills to engage with patients in distress.
Monitor patient conditions and report changes to the ED nurse in charge.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including mental health liaison staff, to provide holistic care.
Ensure a safe and clean working environment, adhering to infection control policies.
Participate in ongoing training and development, including mandatory courses in de-escalation and mental health communication.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

Health specific NVQ level 2 or 3 (or equivalent) or equivalent acute health care experience
GCSE English grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent
Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role

Desirable

Customer care
Resuscitation
Food hygiene

Knowledge, Experience & Expertise

Essential

Previous employment within a healthcare environment, working with older people
Experience of working with patients with dementia.
Understand the importance of record keeping
Experience of working with or devising group activities
Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession

Desirable

Experience of working with patients with dementia.
Knowledge of the conditions of delirium and dementia
Awareness of delirium prevention & management strategies
Experience of record keeping

Communication & Relationships

Essential

Ability to work as a team member
Ability to work in a busy environment
Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
Able to use own initiative as necessary
Aware of own limitations/ level of competence

Desirable

Plan delegated workload

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

Health specific NVQ level 2 or 3 (or equivalent) or equivalent acute health care experience
GCSE English grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent
Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role

Desirable

Customer care
Resuscitation
Food hygiene

Knowledge, Experience & Expertise

Essential

Previous employment within a healthcare environment, working with older people
Experience of working with patients with dementia.
Understand the importance of record keeping
Experience of working with or devising group activities
Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession

Desirable

Experience of working with patients with dementia.
Knowledge of the conditions of delirium and dementia
Awareness of delirium prevention & management strategies
Experience of record keeping

Communication & Relationships

Essential

Ability to work as a team member
Ability to work in a busy environment
Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
Able to use own initiative as necessary
Aware of own limitations/ level of competence

Desirable

Plan delegated workload

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary - Emergency Department

Acre Street

Huddersfield

HD3 3EA

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary - Emergency Department

Acre Street

Huddersfield

HD3 3EA

Employer's website

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