The Croft is a Tier 4 inpatient unit renowned for the assessment and treatment of children under 13 and their families. We are looking for an energetic, committed, and compassionate individual who is ready to take up the challenge of working with this diverse group of young people and their parents. Situated just outside Cambridge, this specialist unit is one of two commissioned Child and Adolescent Mental Health inpatient wards, providing excellent care to young people and their families. The co-location of these units is unique in the region and thus provides exceptional opportunities for professional development in this specialist area of mental health work, benefiting both the young people and staff within the units. As a Healthcare Assistant, you would be working shifts alongside a team of nursing staff and be supported by a multidisciplinary team. You will benefit from an induction, regular supervision, in addition to learning and development opportunities. You may already work in the area of mental health and are looking to expand your knowledge of working with children and families, or you may have lots of experience working with children and families, but not in the specific area of mental health. We are keen to utilise your transferable skills and welcome you to be part of a team striving to make a difference.
Key Responsibilities:
* To maintain a safe therapeutic environment and provide care for children aged 0-12 with complex developmental and/or mental health problems and their families.
* To contribute to the continuation of care of children and their families whilst staying residentially on the unit.
* To participate in the assessment and implementation of care plans at night and act as an advocate for children and their families whilst in The Croft, maintaining safety for both patients and staff.
* To observe, record, and communicate accurate information to patients and the multi-disciplinary team and model appropriate skills for both children and parents.
* To demonstrate care and compassion in your work.
* To work collaboratively with day staff in providing continuous care and be sensitive to information handed over.
* To implement the individual treatment needs of patients in relation to nursing care plans and the multi-disciplinary team treatment plan.
* To encourage and maintain responsibility for good liaison with children, parents, and professionals involved in the unit care programme.
* To work collaboratively with parents in supporting them to settle children to sleep.
* To organise and implement appropriate rewards and consequences around supporting a constructive sleep routine.
* To support children staying without their parents to settle to sleep.
* To provide a safe and therapeutic environment for children and parents at night.
* To ensure that the unit is properly secure (e.g. fire doors) and that the fabric contents of the building are safe for both children and adults.
* To engage in reflective practice to secure continuous improvement of practice.
* To make good use of training and development opportunities with regard to self-development.
* To work within the policies and procedures relating to Safeguarding Children that have been agreed by the trust and the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
* To uphold Cambridge and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Policies and Guidelines, Croft operational policy, The Children's Act 1989, and any other relevant legislation (e.g. Child Protection guidelines).
* To ensure that the structured programme is maintained with the support of a qualified member of staff.
* To ensure that a summarised entry in each child's nursing electronic notes is provided at the end of each span of duty.
* To assist qualified staff in ensuring that all untoward incidents, disclosures, incidents requiring on-call staff, and emergency situations are recorded according to Trust policy.
* To assist qualified staff in informing managers/on-call persons of the staffing situations/needs, difficulties with patients, and to ensure that all attempts are made to provide an appropriate treatment environment.
* To carry out required housekeeping tasks (e.g. shopping for the unit, organising linen and bed washing) and help maintain a pleasant and safe environment by reporting maintenance needs to the manager and helping to organise required work.
* To undertake extra responsibilities that are considered appropriate by the manager as the role develops.
* To participate in own clinical supervision and annual appraisal.
* To participate in, and when required give handover to staff coming on duty.
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