Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Children's Family and Mental Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 30 June 2025

Job summary

We are excited to have an exciting new opportunity for Children's Family and Mental health assistant nurse to join our team. The post holder is a key member of the direct care team who is additionally skilled in communication and therapeutic engagement with young people who have difficulties directly communicating their care needs.

The post holder is responsible for providing care and therapeutic support to patients and their families in conjunction with the Registered Nurse and directed by members of the wider multidisciplinary network, including Mental Health Practitioners from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Training will be provided.

Our 22 bedded Unit at Bedford supports medical and surgical and Mental health admissions including high dependency care, and is supported by a variety of clinical nurse specialists and practice development nurses. The unit supports both medical and nursing students and there is a big focus on staff education and development.

Main duties of the job

  • Demonstrating caring, compassionate, professional behaviour fostering trust and confidence in the service for people in your care.
  • Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives and members of the Multidisciplinary network of professionals regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
  • Engage with and gather information from young people and carers to support a multidisciplinary formulation and care plan, recognising and responding appropriately to the emotional needs of young people and their families.
  • Contribute to a full range of routine care tasks such as supporting self-care and completing routine observations, including physical observations when required.
  • Work cohesively with all members of the ward team and promote effective liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary care network in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.
  • Contributing to risk assessment and risk management planning by identifying and reporting issues of concern to the named nurse/ nurse in charge and supporting multi-disciplinary review.
  • Contribute to assessment and support the development and implementation of care plans in conjunction with a Registered Nurse/Practitioner and the Mental health Practitioners.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

16 June 2025

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

418-NUR2321-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide on-going continuous assessment and adjustment of interventions, develop and implement new activities in response to young peoples needs, recording and escalating concerns relating to care accurately and in a timely way. Maintaining a good standard of record keeping that meets the expected standards in the nursing notes and to ensure that a qualified member of staff countersigns entries. To participate in the management of challenging or disturbed behaviour in accordance with the Trust procedures. Maintaining a safe clinical environment, prevention and control of infection by ensuring compliance with policies, standards and procedures and undertaking delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the ward and service. To contribute to discharge planning in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Team, young people and carers. To form professional relationships with young people and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture. Participate in patient assessment (under the direction of and after appropriate delegation from the Registered Nurse) to deliver high standards of care. Obtain informed consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies. To monitor and record progression, highlight concerns and report any perceived changes in young peoples wellbeing to the team.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide on-going continuous assessment and adjustment of interventions, develop and implement new activities in response to young peoples needs, recording and escalating concerns relating to care accurately and in a timely way. Maintaining a good standard of record keeping that meets the expected standards in the nursing notes and to ensure that a qualified member of staff countersigns entries. To participate in the management of challenging or disturbed behaviour in accordance with the Trust procedures. Maintaining a safe clinical environment, prevention and control of infection by ensuring compliance with policies, standards and procedures and undertaking delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the ward and service. To contribute to discharge planning in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Team, young people and carers. To form professional relationships with young people and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture. Participate in patient assessment (under the direction of and after appropriate delegation from the Registered Nurse) to deliver high standards of care. Obtain informed consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies. To monitor and record progression, highlight concerns and report any perceived changes in young peoples wellbeing to the team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Significant experience working with children
  • Experience working in a health care setting

Desirable

  • GCSE A*- C in both English Language and Mathematics or equivalent in these two subjects e.g. Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy at Level 2

Experience

Essential

  • Has substantial evidence of experience as a nursing/care assistant in a health or social care setting, either public, private or voluntary sector
  • Experience of working in an Acute Hospital setting
  • Experience of working with young people who are experiencing mental health needs.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with a range of learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, eating disorders.

Skills

Essential

  • Awareness of implementing change and willingness to learn new skills.

Desirable

  • Counselling skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Significant experience working with children
  • Experience working in a health care setting

Desirable

  • GCSE A*- C in both English Language and Mathematics or equivalent in these two subjects e.g. Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy at Level 2

Experience

Essential

  • Has substantial evidence of experience as a nursing/care assistant in a health or social care setting, either public, private or voluntary sector
  • Experience of working in an Acute Hospital setting
  • Experience of working with young people who are experiencing mental health needs.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with a range of learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, eating disorders.

Skills

Essential

  • Awareness of implementing change and willingness to learn new skills.

Desirable

  • Counselling skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

CAU Manager

Olivia Zielinska

olivia.zielinska@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234355122

Details

Date posted

16 June 2025

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

418-NUR2321-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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