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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-FH-20538
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Elm Ward - Hellingly Centre
Town
Hellingly
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
13/07/2025 08:00

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust logo

Health Care Support Worker

NHS AfC: Band 3

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

St Raphael Ward is an acute 17 bed, mixed ward, for those aged over 65's.

We are looking for committed, positive, compassionate and enthusiastic Band 3 Support Workers to work as part of a dedicated team of professionals that provides the highest standards of care and support on a Low Secure Male Forensic Unit. 

Main duties of the job

Successful candidates will have strong communication and people skills, a non-judgmental approach and above all a real caring attitude and be prepared to make a difference.

Our team thrives on the high sense of job satisfaction we receive when helping people adjust and recover from acute mental health issues within a forensic setting. 

You will work with the multi-disciplinary team to establish and deliver personal care to patients on the inpatient ward providing factual information to patients, offering reassurance, tact and empathy.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides mental health and learning disability care for all ages across Sussex.  

Living & Working in Sussex

  • Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
  • Embrace the outstanding natural beauty spots including the iconic Beachy Head and Seven Sisters National Park
  • Known as ‘The Sunshine Coast’, Eastbourne offers a traditional Victorian seafront combined with the more modern Sovereign Harbour Marina

We’d love you to join our Trust, rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, recent staff survey results told us that 82% recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

Key staff survey results include:

  • 70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
  • 79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work in their team
  • 77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles

In return for your skills and expertise we can offer you continued training and development, variety and a rewarding challenge and the opportunity to work within a friendly and supportive team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You must be able to deliver a high standard of inpatient nursing care using excellent communication and relationship skills supporting patients with mental health needs.

You must be able to adopt a flexible approach to hours of duty meeting the needs of the service over a 24-hour period

You will support the Registered Nursing Staff in the clinical management of service users who are implementing nursing care.  You will be actively engaging, observing, reporting and recording changes in the patients physical, mental health and behaviour.

You will also provide the necessary physical care to patients to help them complete daily living activities; assisting with personal care and daily living activities which includes personal hygiene, diet and fluid intake.

See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good general education
  • NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
  • Experience of working collaboratively i.e. with colleagues, wider teams, service users etc
  • An understanding of confidentiality

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

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.

Application numbers

Due to high numbers of applications this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date. We will not be able to accept late applications to this post.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Anthony Burgess
Job title
Ward Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01323 444186
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