Job summary
If you are looking to progress your mental health career pathway, our Acute Wards or Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) can offer you a great environment that will enable you to develop your skills & confidence. Our flexible working patterns of short days (7.5hrs), long days (12hrs) & nights (10.75hrs) give colleagues options that support an improved work-life balance.
We have four mixed Acute Wards (Bluebell, Daisy, Rose & Snowdrop) and one PICU providing care to adults with mental health conditions such as Bipolar affective disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. Each Ward can support the needs of up to 20 patients in a caring and compassionate environment.
Based in Reading, located close to the amenities of the town centre and a leafy park, the ward works closely with patients, families, and wider organisations to help them identify their needs and participate actively in their care, providing a place of empathy, kindness, and compassion. We have created a culture where everyone has a voice and where service users and staff collaborate to make positive change.
With your clinical experience, we are looking for someone that has a passion for caring, great communication skills, and the resilience to help transform our patients' lives. You will be working alongside a wide range of multi-disciplinary professionals, all striving to achieve positive outcomes for service users.
Main duties of the job
* Assist in the provision of care of patients.
* Work in support of the qualified nurses and be directed and supervised by them to undertake assigned tasks.
* Develop and maintain a good working relationship with patients through regular contact and ensure their safety and well-being.
* Offer support and mentoring to more junior nursing assistants.
* Ensure the confidentiality of patients and clinical documents at all times.
* Report any complaints, untoward events, or incidents to qualified nursing staff, and where appropriate under their supervision, complete the appropriate records.
* Respect the dignity, privacy, and independence of patients at all times.
* Be aware of limitation/competences.
* Be involved in discussion on the development of patient-centred programmes.
* Be aware of patients on Mental Health Act restrictions and record/report accordingly to qualified staff.
* Promote the work of the ward, the hospital, and the Trust at all times.
* Respond to emergency calls under the guidance of qualified staff. This will include Personal alarms, Fire, and Cardiac arrest (appropriate training to be undertaken).
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
* Caring for and about you is our top priority
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services
* Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
* Flexible working options to support work-life balance
* 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
* Generous NHS pension scheme
* Excellent learning and career development opportunities
* 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
* Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
* Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
* Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment, and armed forces community to support equality
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption, and special leave
* Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must-haves for this role:
* Good general education including English and Maths at GCSE Grade C or above
* Previous experience working as a Band 2 Support Worker in a mental health acute care setting
* Good oral and written communication
* Able to work under pressure
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
* Good general education qualifications
* IT Literate
* English and Maths at GCSE grade C or equivalent
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
* Desire to undertake further training and self-improvement to support patient experience
Previous Experience
Essential
* Previous experience working as a Band 2 Support Worker in a mental health acute care setting
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
* Good oral and written communication
Desirable
* Seeks opportunities to develop within the role
Additional Requirements
Desirable
* Ability to travel to multiple sites
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
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address
Prospect Park Hospital
Honey End Lane
Reading
RG30 4EJ
Employer's website #J-18808-Ljbffr