Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Healthcare Support Worker

The closing date is 26 January 2026

Job summary

We are looking for passionate and motivated Health Care worker to join our dedicated team at our low secure unit at the Allington Centre.

The Allington Centre is a 20 bed low secure inpatient service for forensic services. We specialise in the assessment and treatment of adults with complex mental health needs, who require care in a low secure setting, in response to offending, risky and/or challenging behaviours.

The ward includes a high dependency area of five beds for the assessment and treatment of those exhibiting disturbed behaviour. There is also a 15-bedded area (LSU) focusing on assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

This can be a challenging, yet rewarding environment and requires excellent organisation skills and the ability to use your initiative. If you are enthusiastic about making a difference and capable of providing a positive challenge to the status quo in the interest of service and workforce development - then we want to hear from you.

What is High Cost Area Allowance?

The High-Cost Area (HCA) allowance, also referred to as London Weighting is a payment made to employees who work in London and the surrounding areas.

As this post is based in Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley, the successful applicant will receive an additional payment each month.

5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,303 per year and a maximum payment of £2,198 per year (the agreed annual amount will be divided into 12 equal amounts and paid monthly).

Main duties of the job

The Healthcare Worker is a key member of the multidisciplinary care team and will have continuing responsibility to:

  • Deliver an effective and competent level of care under the guidance and supervision of the associate workers, senior associate workers, qualified nurses and occupational therapists, determined by the patient's care plan.
  • Be fully aware of the needs of patients over a 24-hour span of care.

About us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Details

Date posted

13 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum (inclusive of high-cost area supplement)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-FR0617-A

Job locations

Allington Centre

Bow Arrow Lane

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Support the work of the multidisciplinary team by:

  • Consistently delivering a patient-focused service, which promotes optimum independence.
  • Offering appropriate support and advice to the patients.
  • Recording accurately all care given as required.
  • Enable patients to maintain and improve their independence by promoting involvement in the therapeutic activity programme.
  • Noting and reporting accurately any care given and/or information required by the nurse in charge.
  • Give physical care as required or instructed.
  • Promote patients appearance and personal hygiene by offering support, advice and ensure that suitable requisites are available.
  • Promote a healthy, safe and secure environment by adhering to Trust statutory health and safety requirements and maintain confidentiality of information at all times in compliance with Trust and Forensic & Specialists Care Group policies.
  • Assist patients and nursing team to maintain a clean and healthy ward environment and assist patients in all aspects of daily living skills as required.

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification

Previous unsuccessful applicants need not re-apply.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Support the work of the multidisciplinary team by:

  • Consistently delivering a patient-focused service, which promotes optimum independence.
  • Offering appropriate support and advice to the patients.
  • Recording accurately all care given as required.
  • Enable patients to maintain and improve their independence by promoting involvement in the therapeutic activity programme.
  • Noting and reporting accurately any care given and/or information required by the nurse in charge.
  • Give physical care as required or instructed.
  • Promote patients appearance and personal hygiene by offering support, advice and ensure that suitable requisites are available.
  • Promote a healthy, safe and secure environment by adhering to Trust statutory health and safety requirements and maintain confidentiality of information at all times in compliance with Trust and Forensic & Specialists Care Group policies.
  • Assist patients and nursing team to maintain a clean and healthy ward environment and assist patients in all aspects of daily living skills as required.

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification

Previous unsuccessful applicants need not re-apply.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Interest in working in mental health services
  • Previous care experience

Desirable

  • Experience in working in secure services
  • NHS Experience

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • committed to high level of patient care
  • Ability to work collaboratively with others as part of a team
  • Full Driving licence

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Computer Literate -ability to use Microsoft Packages
  • Care certificate or ability to work towards
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Interest in working in mental health services
  • Previous care experience

Desirable

  • Experience in working in secure services
  • NHS Experience

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • committed to high level of patient care
  • Ability to work collaboratively with others as part of a team
  • Full Driving licence

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Computer Literate -ability to use Microsoft Packages
  • Care certificate or ability to work towards

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

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Allington Centre

Bow Arrow Lane

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Allington Centre

Bow Arrow Lane

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Akintayo Sowole

akintayo.sowole@nhs.net

01322622142

Details

Date posted

13 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum (inclusive of high-cost area supplement)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-FR0617-A

Job locations

Allington Centre

Bow Arrow Lane

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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