Job summary
The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation trust are looking to recruit a mental health care assistant into the Enhanced Care Team that will offer support to mental health patients. The team will comprise of a Lead Nurse, Band 6 RMNs and Mental Health Care Assistants who have/ are working towards a care certificate. If you are interested and available please apply today or email directly to speak to our recruitment team - we are looking forward to hearing from you!

This will be a 24/7 service and staff will need to work flexibly to support the clinical areas.

The role of a MHCA is a very privileged role, you will provide personal care and support to patients at their most vulnerable times. You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team to provide a compassionate, caring and safe environment for our patients.

Main duties of the job
Providing enhanced care and continuous observations to patients with mental health conditions or patients experiencing psychological distress. Deliver therapeutic interventions that will reduce agitation and distress and promote recovery. To identify factors that increase and decrease agitation/distress for the patient. To always deliver care according to the principles of least restriction.

Mandatory Requirements for this role includes:

• Minimum of 12 months care experience.
• In receipt of the Care Certificate
• Restraint training.

About us
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5,000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme alongside a strong commitment to developing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family ensures you feel valued from your initial interview and throughout your time with us.

We are clinically led and provide joined-up care by bridging hospital and community services, alongside delivering regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford, with community sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh, and services delivered in patients' homes across Guildford and Waverley.

We work in partnership with Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated us as Outstanding. We are proud of our achievements and continue to invest in our people and infrastructure.

To learn more about life at Royal Surrey, please watch our short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Responsibilities

• To therapeutically engage with patients who have a mental health condition or are experiencing psychological distress.
• To always deliver care in accordance with the principles of least restriction and in line with national guidance including NICE guidelines for managing disturbed behaviour
• To understand continuous risk assessment of the patient and escalate any increase in risk.
• To identify when patients are experiencing anxiety/distress and therapeutically engage with them to alleviate these symptoms.
• To identify escalation of risk and actively de-escalate the situation.
• To undertake therapeutic activities with the patient, that are appropriate to their presentation.
• To identify an issue that prevents the therapeutic engagement of the patient
• Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.
• Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.

Essential Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English).
• Care certificate

Essential Knowledge

• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others

Desirable

• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient's needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans

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: Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, GU2 7XX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/

Contact
Head of Nursing- Mental Health, Anthony Gartland, anthonygartland@nhs.net, 01483571122

Salary: £27,106 to £28,850 a year per annum including High Cost Area Supplement
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 384-AGB-EMF21561-B3
Band: Band 3
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
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