Job summary
- Main area
- CAMHS
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift pattern to cover days and nights as a rotation. 07:00-19:30/ 19:00-07:30)
- Job ref
- 364-A-9654
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The St Aubyn Centre
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/01/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Assistant
Band 3
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all of our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form be rejected from the process.
Please note this vacancy requires a face to face interview with the Recruiting Manager. Applicants that are unable to attend a face to face interview need not apply.
Main duties of the job
ROLE SUMMARY
The post holder is responsible for undertaking assigned tasks that involve direct care in an adolescent ward setting. The post involves supporting young people in all aspects of their care including daily living needs as is outlined in the young people’s individualised care plan. The post holder is responsible for reporting any relevant changes in the young person’s condition to the qualified staff.
The post holder will assist support of people with mental health needs and challenging behaviours, such as depression or psychosis, and working with young people who have likely felt or attempted suicidal. You will be required to provide person centred care and working, whilst supporting qualified staff to ensure the highest standards of care are upheld.
Young people, relatives, carers and other staff will find the post holder flexible, approachable and with a helpful and friendly disposition, upholding the ethos of EPUT of good customer care at all times with an awareness of own attitude at all times.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
The post holder is responsible for undertaking assigned tasks that involve direct care in an adolescent ward setting. The post involves supporting young people in all aspects of their care including daily living needs as is outlined in the young people’s individualised care plan. The post holder is responsible for reporting any relevant changes in the young person’s condition to the qualified staff.
The post holder will assist support of people with mental health needs and challenging behaviours, such as depression or psychosis, and working with young people who have likely felt or attempted suicidal. You will be required to provide person centred care and working, whilst supporting qualified staff to ensure the highest standards of care are upheld.
Young people, relatives, carers and other staff will find the post holder flexible, approachable and with a helpful and friendly disposition, upholding the ethos of EPUT of good customer care at all times with an awareness of own attitude at all times.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To ensure that safe practice to be maintained, by a full awareness of Policies and Procedures regarding aspects of Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression
2. Promoting the recovery model of care and social inclusion
3. An awareness and to keep updated of the Care Quality commission standards
4. Aware of one own appearance, ensure the Trust uniform is worn correctly and is clean and presentable
5. The post holder will be prepared to work within the 24 hours service, 7 days per week, 365 days per year as per rota.
6. An understanding of the Mental Health Act/Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) and (MCA) Mental Capacity Assessments.
7. Take responsibility to ensure all mandatory training is up to date
8. Aware of one’s own self-development needs and attend appropriate courses as agreed at appraisal.
9. Attend in-service and other training as required.
10. To be appraised once a year
11. Undertake clinical supervision to enhance practice
12. At all times be aware of the Trust’s ethos and maintaining of customer care standards
13. Undertake any other appropriate duties as required.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
1. Assist and maintaining tidiness, encouraging a welcoming, therapeutic atmosphere, clean environment within the unit
2. Responsible for working with your colleagues, seeking to improve the quality of services provided to our residents
3. Assist in planning programmes of care together with the unit team. Implementing these plans under the supervision of the designated Supervisor
4. Contribute to record keeping under the supervision of a qualified staff member keeping accurate records of residents care with due regard to the confidentiality of information relating to patients. It is the responsibility of the qualified staff to arrange regular reviews and to countersign all entries into records.
5. Flexible and co-operative and willing in undertaking allocated realistic team tasks
6. Undertake cleaning of spillage’s, including body fluids in line with Trust infection control policies and procedures
7. Collection specimens for investigations
8. The role includes working shifts including early, late and nights shifts, weekends and public holidays and rotate to other ward areas as per service need and/or annually
Person specification
Educational
Essential criteria
- GCSE level qualification or above
- Experience of working with people
- Good communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Good time management
- Experience of working with young people
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working within inpatient mental health services
- An understanding of the Mental Health Act
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within CAMHS
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sharon Cox
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01206 334613
- Additional information
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