Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Enhanced Supervision Team at Weston General Hospital as a Band 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker.

We currently have 1.36 WTE available, offering one full-time position and one part-time position.

This role is particularly suited to individuals with experience in mental health and/or learning disabilities, who are confident supporting patients who may present with challenging behaviours and require 1:1 direct supervision.

The Enhanced Supervision Team supports patients of all ages across the hospital who require an increased level of observation due to risks to themselves or others. Patients may be experiencing mental health distress, cognitive impairment, delirium, or learning disabilities. Your role will be to promote safety, reassurance and dignity, while providing person-centred, compassionate care.

You will work closely with patients to maintain a calm and safe environment, using de-escalation techniques and creative, meaningful activities to support emotional wellbeing and reduce distress. The role also involves assisting patients with their personal care needs, including hygiene, nutrition and hydration, in line with individual care plans.

Prior experience working as a Healthcare Support Worker / Nursing or Care Assistant is essential.

Main duties of the job
You are required to follow Trust policies such as infection control and manual handling and will carry out a range of clinical tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered Nurse.

Supporting patients who require a higher level of observation, undertaking a range of duties with direct/indirect supervision of the RN. The SHCSW will be competent to provide compassionate care to agreed quality standards and will continue to develop further skills, knowledge and competencies that will be determined through assessment.

They must have an understanding of the Enhanced Care Observation (ECO) policy and the relative assessment documents. They will support individuals to participate in conversation and activities such as reminiscence-based activities, games & puzzles, simple crafts; together with supporting independence in activities of daily living. This may also include activities outside of the ward environment if deemed appropriate.

They will also be expected to support the band 2 Health Care Support Workers and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners and others Visitors to the ward/unit.

You will provide compassionate care, maintain patient assessments, records and documentation adhering to Trust policies and procedures and practice area specific competencies to an agreed quality standard.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification
Education & qualifications
Essential

• Level 3 qualification such as NVQ Level 3, City & Guilds Level 3, BTEC National Diploma, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths, or equivalent.
• Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support aligned to the Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship Standard, or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable

• Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA), Maybo or equivalent training, or willingness to undertake.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication to individual patient needs.
• Ability to complete patient documentation accurately and appropriately.
• Commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate and person-centred care.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision once trained and assessed as competent.
• Basic IT skills, including email, keyboard and relevant clinical systems.
• Ability and willingness to undertake training and maintain competencies relevant to the role.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to work a range of shifts and across different wards according to clinical need.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of delivering person-centred care within a healthcare or social care setting.
• Experience of supporting individuals with mental health, learning disability, cognitive impairment and/or other enhanced supervision needs.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a team.
• Experience of managing time and prioritising workload appropriately.

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.