Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health - Children's Inpatient
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 310-CYPF-6396669-A
- Employer
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Croft Child and Family Unit
- Town
- Cambridge
- Salary
- £22,816 - £24,336 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/07/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Healthcare Assistant
Band 3
Job overview
The Croft is a Tier 4 inpatient unit renowned for the assessment and treatment of children under 13 and their families
We are looking for an energetic, committed and compassionate individual who is ready to take up the challenge of working with this diverse group of young people and their parents.
Situated just outside Cambridge, this specialist unit is one of two commissioned Child and Adolescent Mental Health inpatient wards, providing excellent care to young people and their families. The co-location of these units is unique in the region and thus provides exceptional opportunities for professional development in this specialist area of mental health work, benefiting both the young people and staff within the units.
As a Healthcare assistant you would be working shifts alongside a team of nursing staff and be supported by a multidisciplinary team, You will benefit from an induction, Regular supervision in addition to learning and development opportunities.
You may already work in the area of mental health, and are looking to expand your knowledge of working with children and families, or you may have lots of experience working with children and families, but not in the specific area of mental health. We are keen to utilise your transferable skills and welcome you to be part of a team striving to make a difference.
Main duties of the job
- To maintain a safe therapeutic environment and provide care for children aged 0-12 with complex developmental and/or mental health problems and their families.
- To contribute to the continuation of care of children and their families whilst staying residentially on the unit.
- To participate in the assessment and implementation of care plans at night. To also act as an advocate for children and their families whilst in The Croft. Maintaining safety for both patients and staff.
- To observe, record and communicate accurate information to patients and the multi-disciplinary team. To model appropriate skills for both children and parents.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To demonstrate care and compassion in your work.
- To work collaboratively with day staff in providing continuous care and be sensitive to information handed over.
- To implement the individual treatment needs of patients in relation to nursing care plans and the multi-disciplinary team treatment plan.
- To encourage and maintain responsibility for good liaison with children, parents and professionals involved in the unit care programme.
- To work collaboratively with parents in supporting them to settle children to sleep.
- To organise and implement appropriate rewards and consequences around supporting a constructive sleep routine.
- To support children staying without their parents to settle to sleep.
- To provide a safe and therapeutic environment for children and parents at night.
- To ensure that the unit is properly secure e.g. fire doors and that the fabric contents of the building are safe for both children and adults.
- To engage in reflective practice to secure continuous improvement of practice.
- To make good use of training and development opportunities with regard to self-development.
- To work within the policies and procedures relating to Safeguarding Children that have been agreed by the trust and the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
- To uphold Cambridge and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Policies and Guidelines, Croft operational policy, The Children’s Act 1989 and any other relevant legislation e.g.Child Protection guidelines.
- To ensure that the structured programme is maintained with the support of a qualified member of staff.
- To ensure that a summarised entry in each child’s nursing electronic notes is provided at the end of each span of duty.
- To assist qualified staff in ensuring that all-untoward incidents, disclosures, incidents requiring on-call staff and emergency situations are recorded according to Trust policy.
- To assist qualified staff in informing managers/on call persons of the staffing situations/needs difficulties with patients and to ensure that all attempts are made to provide an appropriate treatment environment.
- To carry out required housekeeping tasks e.g. shopping for the unit, organising linen and bed washing, helping maintain a pleasant and safe environment by reporting maintenance need to the manager and helping to organise required work.
- To undertake extra responsibilities that are considered appropriate by the manager as the role develops.
- To participate in own clinical supervision and annual appraisal
- To participate in, and when required give handover to staff coming on duty
Person specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE English at grade C or above (or equivalent).
- Must be willing to work towards NVQ 3 in direct care or care certificate if not already held or nursery nurse qualification.
- Has undertaken learning in child development, childcare, parenting, mental health.
- Safeguarding Children training
Desirable criteria
- NVQ 3 in Health/ Social care or equivalent
- Training and experience related to care work i.e: Moving and handling Food handling, First aid, Safeguarding Children
Experience
Essential criteria
- Working with children and/or people with mental health problems or additional needs.
- A good understanding of the issues and procedures regarding the safeguarding of children
- Experience of facilitating activities that amuse children e.g. sports, arts and crafts
Desirable criteria
- Experience in: Child and adolescent mental health, In-patient nursing and working within a multidisciplinary team, Parenting work, Behaviour management.
- An understanding and basic knowledge of the Children’s Act 1989 and the Human Rights Act.
- Lived experience of mental health.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential criteria
- Excellent interpersonal skills; able to manage the complexities inherent in working with families and within a team.
- Able to manage own stress levels appropriately and utilise supervision.
- Knowledge of child development.
- Willing to engage children in creative ways i.e. story telling, song, arts and crafts, play.
Desirable criteria
- Basic understanding of legislation relating to care including: Mental Health Act, Children’s Act, Mental Capacity Act, Knowledge of NICE, Health and Safety Act.
Physical requirements
Essential criteria
- Is physically able to participate in physical intervention to safely manage violent and aggressive behaviour in children.
Desirable criteria
- Able to carry out physical observations under supervision of a Registered Nurse.
Other
Essential criteria
- Basic IT Skills e.g. word processing and email.
Desirable criteria
- Keen to maintain and develop personal and professional practice.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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
- June Everitt
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01223 534508
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