Bank Mental Health Nursing Assistant Band 3

We are seeking motivated and self-directed individuals to join our bank as Band 3 Mental Health Nursing Assistants, supporting qualified staff in providing enhanced care for our most vulnerable patients, such as those with underlying mental health issues, dementia, delirium or drug/alcohol withdrawal or overdose.

Previous experience in a mental health setting is essential for this role along with awareness of the key principles of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the use of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards as they are applied to the role of the Nursing Assistant.

Main duties of the job Working shifts as a Bank Health Care Assistant (Mental Health) across wards and departments as part of the multidisciplinary team, in a variety of clinical settings to support the team to deliver the highest quality care to our patients, in line with our trust values

As HCA (MH) you will be responsible for supporting trained nurses to deliver excellent care to an allocated group of patients providing support, for each clinical area you work on.

Clinical duties, across a range of clinical settings, include providing personal care to patients, supporting them with their needs such as mobilisation and feeding, recording observations and providing enhanced care for patients with dementia and delirium.

About us Our trust has around 10,000 staff serving 1.6 million patients. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We offer a variety of bank shifts both days, nights and weekends across all our sites with competitive hourly rates. Our long day and night shift are paid at 11.5 hours.

Job responsibilities

1. To work as a member of the nursing team, under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse delivering care to patients.
2. To work as a part of a multidisciplinary team to assist in the continuity of care
3. To assist in the maintenance of a safe, clean and comfortable ward environment.
4. To complete Trust training and education programmes commensurate with the role.

Person Specification Education & professional Qualifications Essential:

• Previous experience of working in a mental health care setting
• Ability to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills appropriate to the role

Desirable:

• NVQ Level 2/3
• Awareness of the key principles of the MHA 1983 and the use of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards as they are applied to the role of the Nursing Assistant.

Experience Essential:

• Experience of working in a team
• Previous clinical experience working with patients with mental health conditions
• Experience of working with people living with Dementia
• Experience of care of acutely ill patients in an acute environment
• Students undertaking a qualification in healthcare (nurse, therapist or medical student) must have completed their first placement
• Recent experience of caring for elderly people, either in a hospital or community setting

Desirable:

• Awareness of national campaigns in relation to dementia care e.g Johns campaign

Skills and aptitudes Essential:

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the needs of individual service users, their relatives and carers
• To have a basic awareness of a range of mental health conditions
• Effective listening skills
• Ability to develop effective and meaningful working relationships with patients and their families/carers
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to identify and record patterns of behaviour
• Knowledge of the type of work encountered in the ward environment
• A good understanding of the principles of infection control
• A good understanding of the principles of confidentiality

Personal Qualities & attributes Essential:

• Willing to learn and undertake new skills
• Willing to work within a team

Others Essential:

• Genuine interest in working in a healthcare setting