Mental Health Care Assistant Needed In Cambridge UK (Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship)

We are currently sourcing for a proactive and dedicated Health care Assistant, who will join our team, here on Denbigh Ward, this is an inpatient unit for the assessment and treatment of patients with the primary diagnosis of dementia and behaviours that challenge and Dementia.

If you are looking for a dynamic role as a health care assistant where you are able to showcase your high level of patient care, as well as your strong team work ethic, this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate added value in a challenging environment.

As a Health care assistant you will be reporting to the Denbigh Ward Manager, you will assist the team to deliver personal care to our patients who have a variety of Mental Health care needs for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

Working with a team of passionate and dedicated Health Care professionals, you will be responsible for delivering a high level of care to the patients in our wards.

This post is open to professionals with the right attributes to enhance a team. This post involves rotational shifts across a 24 hour period.

Main duties of the health care assistant job

Ensure that the ward environment is clean and tidy at all times. To liaise with the ward housekeeper regarding cleanliness.
To promote and support registered staff with the physical health, comfort and wellbeing of service users, including physical observations and taking blood pressure, temperature and pulse under their guidance and supervision.
To ensure good working relationships with colleagues by contributing to the effective running of the ward, through engaging in clinical discussions and attending appropriate meetings including contributing to ward hand-overs.
Empower service users by ensuring that they receive relevant information about their treatment, medication, available services, advocacy services, ward routines and safety procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse.
To ensure food and fluids are served to service users according to policy

You may be required to undertake and successfully complete the new national Care Certificate within a 12 weeks’ timeframe if you meet our criteria. You will receive full training and support and The Care Certificate sets out 15 national care standards that must be achieved by all health and social care staff to demonstrate that they have the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe and excellent quality of care. It is a foundation programme which can provide the first steps to career development within the NHS.

About us

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and personal specification for full details of responsibilities.

Support the nurse in charge in inpatient units in maintaining essential clinical stocks.
To promote a positive service user experience throughout their stay through proactive listening, being responsive to issues raised and through resolving issues and concerns raised by service users with colleagues and senior members of the team.
To be responsible for maintaining and conducting oneself in a professional manner towards service users, carers, colleagues and other agencies, at all times.
To participate in working collaboratively with other Trust services and external agencies to provide seamless care for service users.
To observe and report to a registered member of the team, any changes which may indicate an alteration in the general well being and safety of a service user. This would include observations around the service users presentation, behaviour, mood and verbal content.
To provide service users with personal care, where and when required, and demonstrate empathy, dignity, respect and compassion at all times.
To understand the importance of the relatives/carers contribution to care and conversing with the service users and their relatives/carers, establishing their needs and assisting them as necessary.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

Must be willing to work towards NVQ level 3 in direct care or Certificate in Care if not already held

Desirable

Training and experience e.g. lifting, first aid, food handling, care work

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people e.g. in a caring situation, dealing with the general public
Ability to think quickly and deal with situations in a calm and sensible manner

Desirable

Previous experience of working in mental health services
Basic understanding of Recovery Model, issues of dignity and privacy
Basic understanding of risk

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Compassionate – Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives remaining sensitive and empathetic
Listens to others’ views respecting and valuing individual patient needs
High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Interview for a Mental Health Care Assistant Role

In an interview for a Mental Health Care Assistant role, you can expect questions that delve into your experience, skills, personal qualities, and understanding of mental health care. Here are some likely questions:

Experience and Skills

What experience do you have in providing care or support to individuals with mental health conditions?
Describe a challenging situation you faced while supporting someone with a mental health condition and how you handled it.
What are your strengths as a Mental Health Care Assistant? What areas would you like to improve?
What specific skills and qualifications do you have that make you suitable for this role? (e.g., de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, knowledge of mental health disorders)
How do you build rapport and trust with individuals experiencing mental health challenges?
How do you maintain professional boundaries while providing empathetic care?
How familiar are you with different mental health conditions and their associated symptoms?

Personal Qualities and Motivation

Why are you interested in working as a Mental Health Care Assistant? What motivates you to do this work?
How would you describe your personality and approach to supporting individuals with mental health conditions?
What do you think are the most important qualities for a Mental Health Care Assistant to have?
How do you handle stress and maintain your own well-being in a demanding care environment?
How do you approach learning new information and staying up-to-date on best practices in mental health care?

Specific Scenarios and Hypothetical Situations

How would you respond if someone you were supporting expressed suicidal thoughts or intentions?
What would you do if you noticed a change in someone’s mental state or behavior?
How would you handle a situation where someone became agitated or aggressive?
How would you approach supporting someone who is experiencing hallucinations or delusions?

Practical Considerations

Are you comfortable working in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, or community-based programs?
Are you willing to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays?
What are your salary expectations?
Do you have any questions for us about the role or the organization?

Additional Tips

Research the organization: Learn about their values, mission, and approach to mental health care.
Prepare examples: Think of specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your skills and qualities.
Show empathy and understanding: Convey your genuine interest in supporting individuals with mental health conditions.
Ask questions: Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role by asking thoughtful questions.