Healthcare Assistant @ North London NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The post holder--Band 3 Healthcare Assistant--occupies a pivotal position in delivering high-quality, compassionate, and recovery-oriented care to individuals with complex, acute, chronic, and forensic mental health needs. Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse , the post holder is responsible for supporting the implementation of individualised care plans, managing daily clinical priorities within established guidelines, and actively promoting a safe and therapeutic environment.

Mandatory Working Requirements & Genuine Occupational Requirements (GOR)1. Full Shift Rotation (Day & Night Duty): Owing to the continuous 24/7 care demands of a forensic inpatient ward, the post holder must work a full rotational pattern, including compulsory internal rotation to night shifts, weekends, and bank holidays. This is a fundamental, non-negotiable requirement of the role and is in accordance with the Working Time Regulations 1998.2. Physical Intervention (PMVA): Ensuring safety within a forensic environment is a critical aspect of the position.

The post holder is required to participate in physical restraint and emergency safety procedures, utilising approved Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA) protocols. Physical fitness, capability, and willingness to undertake, pass, and annually re-certify in mandatory PMVA physical training are essential components of this role.

Main duties of the job

• 1. Deliver therapeutic activities and support daily living skills.2. Proactively manage challenging behaviors and participate in conflict resolution using Trust-approved protocols.3. Work flexibly across day and night shifts.4. Support safe admissions and discharges and digitally report safety incidents.5. Conduct routine physical health checks and continuously monitor service users.6. Maintain accurate electronic health records and communicate empathetically with service users, families, and carers.7. Securely handle cash, weekly allowances, and patient valuables, ensuring meticulous record-keeping.8. Safeguard ward equipment and property, making effective use of resources.9. Assist with orientation, training, and shadowing of new staff and Band 2 support workers in local routines and ward procedures.10. Participate actively in quality improvement projects, local audits, and data collection.11. Engage in ongoing professional development, including annual appraisals, clinical supervision, reflective practice, and statutory/mandatory training updates.

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
• We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Deliver therapeutic activities as agreed and support the development of daily living skills, including recreational, social, and educational pursuits.
• Proactively identify early signs of emotional distress or escalation, using verbal de-escalation skills to manage challenging behaviours safely.
• Actively participate in physical restraint and conflict resolution management as a mandatory core duty, strictly utilizing Trust-approved Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA) protocols to ensure the safety of service users, self, and colleagues.
• Escort service users both within the facility and in the community, strictly adhering to relational security guidelines, current risk assessments, and Trust protocols.
• Work flexibly across a 24/7 rotational shift pattern, ensuring seamless transitions and continuity of care betweenday and night shifts.
• Support the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care under the direction of Registered Nurses and the shift coordinator (nurse in charge).
• Assist with the safe admission, transfer, and discharge of service users, ensuring documentation is accurate, complete, and securely stored.
• Immediately report safety incidents, risks, or near-misses using the Trusts digital reporting platform (InPhase).

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oLevel 2 (GCSE A-C / 4-9) in English and Mathematics or equivalent functional skills.
• NVQ/QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience in health, social care, or secure settings).

Desirable

• Care Certificate completion.
• Specific foundation-level training in mental health, trauma-informed care, or neurodiversity.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the principles of relational, procedural, and physical security within a secure/forensic setting.
• Understanding of physical and mental health observations and fundamental clinical monitoring techniques.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act (1983/2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), and adult safeguarding principles.
• Awareness of trauma-informed practice and recovery-focused care principles.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the Trust's strategic values and "The North London Way" ethos.
• Basic understanding of risk assessment frameworks and risk mitigation strategies in secure inpatient care.
• Basic understanding and application of NEWS 2 knowledge

Experience

Essential

• Direct experience working with individuals experiencing complex mental health needs, trauma, or behaviors that challenge.
• Experience using electronic clinical record systems (e.g., RiO) and incident reporting platforms (e.g., Datix, InPhase)

Desirable

• Previous experience working within an NHS inpatient mental health setting, specifically within a forensic or secure environment.
• Demonstrated involvement in Quality Improvement (QI) projects or clinical audit activities.

skills & competencies

Essential

• Physical fitness and capability to undertake, complete, and maintain PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) certification, including participation in physical interventions.
• Strong de-escalation, conflict resolution, and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to accurately record clinical observations and maintain concise, objective documentation.
• Ability and willingness to work a full 24/7 rotational shift pattern (nights, weekends, and bank holidays).
• Alignment with Trust core values (kindness, respect, teamwork, simplicity, empowerment, valuing diversity).

Desirable

• Skills in facilitating or co-facilitating therapeutic group activities or social opportunities for service users.
• Basic digital literacy beyond clinical systems (e.g., MS Teams, Outlook).

Statutory & Pre-employment Requirements

Essential

• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Satisfactory Enhanced DBS check (with adult barred list check).
• Occupational Health clearance (fit for 24/7 rotational shift work, night shifts, and physical interventions).

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

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Camlet-3, Chasefarm Hospital

The Ridgeway

Enfield

EN3 8JL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)