Healthcare Support Worker

Job overview
Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.
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).
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).

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.

Working for our organisation
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.

Detailed job description and main 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 patient's 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 criteria

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

Desirable criteria

• Experience in working in secure services
• NHS Experience

Knowledge and skills

Essential criteria

• 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 criteria

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

Important Information:
In cases where we receive a high volume of applications for a post, it may be necessary to bring the closing date forward. Please submit your completed application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible to respond individually to your application. Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the vacancy closing, please assume that your application has not been successful.

Probation Period. New employees external to the trust are subject to a six-month probationary period.
To deliver an effective service it is essential in some of our roles that you are able to travel between work bases in a timely manner.
Production of false or forged documents/qualifications in order to obtain employment is a criminal offence and will be reported to the Police.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Certain roles are subject to criminal record checks called Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Therefore, you will be required to submit a completed Disclosure form to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust are signed up to NHS England's Sexual Safety in Health Care Organisational Charter
The trust takes a systematic zero-tolerance approach to tackle any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace and in our care provision. We are committed to sexual safety which encompasses prevention, support and decisive action against perpetrators. We are committed to keeping you and our patients safe.

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