About this role
Job summary
Maple Ward provides specialist mental health care for older adults aged 65 and over who are living with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The service is divided into two wards: Maple 1, an 8-bed ward, and Maple 2, a 14-bed ward. Successful candidates may be required to work across either ward depending on service needs.
The Healthcare Assistant will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, person-centred care in a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment. The role involves promoting dignity, independence, individual choice, and respecting the beliefs and preferences of service users at all times. Under the supervision of a registered practitioner, the post holder will develop extended skills in line with the competency framework and assist with practical daily living tasks, community engagement, and activities that support holistic wellbeing.
This role is ideal for someone passionate about working with older people, building positive relationships with families and carers, and contributing to high standards of care. Maple Ward offers excellent supervision, reflective practice, and opportunities for professional development. The role involves 24/7 shift work, and physical intervention training is essential.
Main duties of the job
1.Engage with service users to identify needs and deliver care.
2.Be active in the assessment or re-assessment of the service user's physical health needs.
3.Ensure physical observation taken, recorded appropriately based on the individual care plan.
4.Evaluate and report to senior staff services user progress and changing needs.
5.Maintain accurate records and give written and verbal handovers of care.
6.Actively seek to enhance communication and identify barriers to effective communication within the team and other contacts.
7. Maintain effective communication that is in line with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
Our clinical teams deliver a wide range of NHS services across inpatient, primary care and community settings, including children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, and research and development.
To achieve our goals, we recruit high calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities' employer, we welcome applications from all sections of the community, particularly underrepresented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
All appointments for new employees to CPFT are subject to the successful completion of a probationary period.
Please note we reserve the right to close adverts early should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all roles. If you apply for a post that does not attract sponsorship, your application will be withdrawn from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at https://www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
Work on the wards to provide care for adults with physical and / or mental health challenges. To contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. Support service users to overcome barriers they experience because of their mental or physical health. Work closely with nurses and other practitioners to provide a therapeutic programme of care Report on service users' conditions to nurses and other practitioners. Provide information to service users using persuasion, reassurance, tact, and empathy. Provide the necessary physical care to service users to help them complete daily living activities, i.e. personal hygiene, diet and fluid intake, clothing and laundry, personal environment, elimination, maintaining rest and sleep and activity, physical observations, whilst demonstrating empathy, dignity, respect and compassion. To undertake prescribed physical observations as follows: blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, blood sugars, urinalysis, weight and height and report results to the nurse in charge. To provide social activities, emotional support and stability to service users to ensure effective engagement whilst maintaining professional boundaries. Empower service users by ensuring that they receive relevant information about their treatment, medication, available services, advocacy services, ward routines and safety procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse. To understand the importance of the relatives/carer's contribution to care and Conversing with the service users and their relatives/carers, establishing their needs and assisting them as necessary. Ensuring that any entries made by the post holder in the nursing notes are current, relevant and accurate, and the content will then be reported & counter signed by the registered nurse or relevant professional. To provide escort duties to the service user under the direction of the nurse in charge. Undertake full rotational shift pattern to include earlies, lates and night shifts. Responsible for following and adhering to CPFT guidelines including, but not limited to infection control, health and safety etc.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 2 in Health and social care Care Certificate plus experience as a Healthcare Support Worker
Desirable
Related Health or Social Care qualification Willingness to undertake further training in line with the Trust recommendation
Experience Essential
Experience of working as part of a team Basic level of dealing with service users with complex mental health needs
Desirable
Experience of working in the public sector. Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Knowledge of physical healthcare needs. Awareness of safeguarding issues and responsibilities under relevant legislation
Desirable
Basic understanding of legislation relating to care including-DoLS Equality Act 2010, Health and Safety Act and the Data Protection Act the Trust's 7C's and Respect Enable Values
Personal Qualities Essential
Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills Willingness to learn the Trust's IT systems.
Desirable
Level of good assertiveness skills. Decision making, delegation and problem-solving skills.
Other Essential
Physically able to undertake a demanding role safely, as and when required
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 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Address Maple Ward
506 Bretton Gate
The Cavell Centre Peterborough
PE3 9GZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)