Family Care Support Worker/Mental Health Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the trained staff in the delivery of care to babies, children, young people (BCYP) and their families, ensuring the highest possible standards of care are received by children and their families / carers while on the unit, under the supervision of qualified staff.

Observations and assessment of patients

Following a period of training, you will carry out basic observations and admission assessments of BCYP under the supervision of a qualified nurse/nurse associate.

Following a period of training, you will carry out basic phlebotomy skills on BCYP under the supervision of a qualified nurse/nurse associate.

You will use EPR to record observations under the supervision of a qualified nurse/nurse associate.

You will support BCYP, in collaboration with their parents and carers in providing basic hygiene needs.

You will support BCYP in collaboration with their parents and carers in providing food, fluids and other basic nutritional requirements (you will be expected to provide an enhanced level of support to patients with eating disorders).

You will support children and young people with Mental Health needs (including providing 1:1 Supervision if needed under the supervision of a qualified member of staff). This may include carrying out risk assessments and documenting interactions in collaboration with a qualified member of staff.

Following the appropriate training and with documented competence, you will supervise BCYP with stable high dependency needs such as tracheostomies (including providing 1:1 supervision if needed under the direct supervision, and with the support of a qualified member of staff)

Following the appropriate training you will support BCYP with SEND needs (under the supervision and with the support of a qualified member staff)

Following the appropriate training and with documented competence, you will supervise parents/carers where safeguarding concerns have been identified, and documented observations of family interactions are required.

Quality

Complete daily quality checks to ensure the ward environment is safe to deliver effective care under the supervision of the nurse in charge.

Monitor the ward environment for the duration of the shift to maintain standards that meet high quality requirements as set out by ward quality dashboards

Participates in relevant safety audits in the department.

Communication and relationships

Liaise with members of the team within the department, to ensure care is delivered to the children both effectively and efficiently.

Update professional staff on the clinical condition of clients and maintains accurate records for children in the department.

Maintain effective communications between BCYP, their relatives and the team within the department.

Liaises with all members of the multi-professional team to ensure effective communications are maintained within the department.

To take telephone messages, deal with simple queries and pass on more complex messages to the trained nursing staff.

Reports complaints or concerns to the nurse in charge.

If providing 1:1 supervision of patients with mental health concerns, will act as advocate for the patients and provide the ward team with any relevant information shared.

Acts as an ambassador/role model for the organisation

Physical/ mental/ emotional effort

Has a responsibility in ensuring the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of children, relatives and colleagues is respected at all times.

May be privy to the communication of sensitive/difficult information and may be required to contribute to the subsequent support of patients, relatives and carers as appropriate.

Has a responsibility in ensuring the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of children, relatives and colleagues is respected at all times.

To participate in the management of challenging or disturbed behaviour in accordance with the Trust procedures.

Responsibility

Supports the nursing staff in ensuring the maintenance of high standards of care.

Ensures that medical and emergency equipment is kept in a safe condition and is ready for use when required.

Participates in the ordering of supplies and ensuring the department is well stocked.

Participates in monitoring the ward environment and submits estates request as required by the ward management team.

Monitors faulty equipment and reports to the appropriate department.

Collects information as required.

Assists in the orientation of new staff to the unit as required.

Have an awareness of common mental health disorders and overcome barriers to understanding what may be a result of a mental health care need.

Have an awareness of frequently used sections under the Mental Health Act (1983) and how these may influence the care and treatment of the Service User.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Grade 4/C in maths and English

Desirable

• NVQ in child care or relevant course

Experience

Essential

• working with children
• working in a healthcare environment
• IT equipment and systems and experience in a clerical role
• knowledge of safeguarding children
• understanding need for patient confidentiality

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a health care environment with children

Knowledge

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Prioritise workload/ time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure

Desirable

• Knowledge of Patient Information Systems

Personal Skills

Essential

• Team focused
• Reliable adaptable and dependable

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

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

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