Trainee Healthcare Support Worker - Mental Health

Open the door to your NHS career today. Discover how you can earn while you learn.

Join our Healthcare Support Worker development (HCSWD) programme, where you will learn on the job at one of the wards at Parkland's Hospital under Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. If you have no healthcare experience, you'll join our 6-month supervised placement. If you have some experience, you will be fast tracked via our 3-month placement.

Pay Rates:

Days: £11.44, Saturdays/Nights: £16.13, Sunday/Bank Hols: £20.94

Why might this job interest you?

During your placement, you'll work towards achieving the widely recognised Care Certificate with the training you need to become a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW). Also known as Healthcare Assistant (HCA). Throughout, you'll have supportive supervision from your mentor/Ward Manager.

Once you've graduated as a HCSW, you can progress your career by accessing further training. This career path may lead to potential roles such as Senior Healthcare Assistant to Assistant Practitioner or Nursing Associate, enabling further career avenues such as a Nurse or Midwife.

Where will you be working?

Hazel Ward is a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, also known as a PICU. This is a safe, secure and low stimulus ward environment, separate to the rest of an inpatient unit.

Cherry Ward is an 18 bedded Female only ward for Adults who have functional mental health needs and require an inpatient stay.

Beechwood Ward is an assessment and treatment ward providing care for older people who have functional mental health needs, such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The ward has its own garden and seating area for patients and visitors.

Elmwood Ward is an 14-bedded ward providing care for older people who have organic mental health needs and are unable to look after themselves or be looked after at home. Some patients have early onset dementia. The ward has its own garden and seating area for patients and visitors and there is a sensory room to help improve cognitive functioning.

We encourage you to do further research about the wards before making an application.

As a trainee HCSW in Mental Health, you'll learn key skills, such as:

• Taking basic observations, explaining treatment, and updating patient records.
• Supporting patients with everyday activities, including assisting at mealtimes.
• Providing emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families.
• Monitoring patients' physical and mental health and keeping accurate records.
• Supervising patients to ensure their safety, managing common emergencies, and performing risk assessments.
• Working individually and as part of a team, supporting registered Nurses and other healthcare practitioners in providing patient care.
• Comply with Trust and local policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Infection Prevention and Control.

The benefits we can offer you in return:

• Career progression - Achieve a Care Certificate and begin your healthcare career with the NHS.
• Weekly pay - Access your wages more quickly.
• Join the NHS family - Become part of a respected healthcare team and provide patient care.
• Dedicated training and supervised shifts - Support from your ward / area and skilled mentors.
• Development opportunities via the Trust.
• Webinar support - Regular monthly sessions covering the Care Certificate workbook, Conflict Management training and more.

What you'll need:

• We will consider applicants without any healthcare experience as well as those with at least 3 months healthcare experience within the last 2 years.
• A passion for care as well as following the six enduring values that underpin 'compassion in practice'. The 6Cs are defined as: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment.
• To be over the age of 18 or turning 18 before placement.
• Able to work at least 30 hours a week across earlies, lates and nights during the programme.

What's next?

If you're successful, you'll be invited to an interview and assessment day on the 4th December 2024, followed by a 4-day classroom training from 6th-9th January 2025 and an induction week before you start.

"As a result of the HCSWD programme, I am now a qualified Healthcare Support Worker and currently pursuing my dream to qualify as a Nurse." Lynda Akpan, HCSW

Apply Today

Disclaimer

Please note, you will be contacted by email throughout the recruitment process, so please check your emails, including your junk/spam regularly. We regret we cannot contact everyone who is not selected for an interview, therefore if you do not hear from us within 21 days after submitting your application, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

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