Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Healthcare Support Worker

This job is now closed

Job summary

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Healthcare Support Worker to join our Acute female Inpatient Unit in Canterbury.

Individuals may be expected to work 24 hour shift pattern seven days a week.

Working in an Acute ward is very rewarding but we want to be honest and share that it is demanding too. It is likely to be needed by people with severe and complex mental health conditions (e.g. Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and may be associated with Personality Disorder, Substance Misuse and PTSD).

While emotionally challenging, the opportunity to support critically unwell women back to their communities, ensuring 'right care, in the right place, at the right time', is immense, and your skilled, multidisciplinary, team will be there to support you.

You would be working as part of a team of mental health experts, dedicated to making sure the most unwell women in our communities have the same access to specialist care as men.

Main duties of the job

Consistently delivering a patient focused service, which promotes optimum independence.

Providing and receiving routine information orally, in writing or electronically to inform work colleagues, patients, clients, carers, the public or other external contacts.

Offering appropriate support and advice to patients and their carers.

Awareness of different challenging situations where communication needs to be adapted to the needs of the individual.

Enabling patients to maintain and improve their independence by promoting and facilitating therapeutic activity.

Giving physical health checks and physical health care as required or instructed documenting the physical health checks on the early warning scoring system (MEWS), chart and reporting changes to the nurse/healthcare professional in charge.

Undertaking day to day tasks as allocated by Nurse/healthcare professional in Charge.

Undertaking all relevant training as directed and participating in regular management/clinical supervision and appraisal.

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.

Check out our Canterbury site

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-AC0763-A

Job locations

St Martins Hospital

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1TD

Job description

Job responsibilities

We also offer ongoing professional development to help you adapt and progress your career, including bespoke training and a comprehensive induction program.

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

We also offer ongoing professional development to help you adapt and progress your career, including bespoke training and a comprehensive induction program.

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

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

Good general education, competent in literacy and numeracy
NVQ or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. Health and Social Care) or be prepared to work towards this

UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicl

Essential

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with individuals with complex mental health problems.
Experience of working in a community mental health setting.

Desirable

Experience of implementing rehabilitation plans.
Experience of individual and group work.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Computer literate, Numeracy and English literacy skills
Health & Social Care Qualification (level 3 or equivalent).
A varied and considerable experience of working within Mental Health/Learning Disabilities setting.
To have a good understanding of mental health conditions appropriate to the setting.
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team, under the direction and supervision of a registered practitioner
Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people.
Able to record interventions in a timely manner
A working knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
Ability to act as a role model, support and delegate to others
Ability to undertake physical health checks and document on NEWS
To participate in Quality Improvement, Audits, Research, etc.

Desirable

Care certificate completed/willingness to work towards
NHS Experience

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

Good general education, competent in literacy and numeracy
NVQ or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. Health and Social Care) or be prepared to work towards this

UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicl

Essential

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with individuals with complex mental health problems.
Experience of working in a community mental health setting.

Desirable

Experience of implementing rehabilitation plans.
Experience of individual and group work.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Computer literate, Numeracy and English literacy skills
Health & Social Care Qualification (level 3 or equivalent).
A varied and considerable experience of working within Mental Health/Learning Disabilities setting.
To have a good understanding of mental health conditions appropriate to the setting.
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team, under the direction and supervision of a registered practitioner
Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people.
Able to record interventions in a timely manner
A working knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
Ability to act as a role model, support and delegate to others
Ability to undertake physical health checks and document on NEWS
To participate in Quality Improvement, Audits, Research, etc.

Desirable

Care certificate completed/willingness to work towards
NHS Experience

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

St Martins Hospital

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1TD

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

St Martins Hospital

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1TD

Employer's website

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