Senior Healthcare Assistant

This is a wonderful opportunityto join a settled and high performing team. We are very proud of ourachievements at Syrena House and have built a great reputation. We consistentlyreceive positive feedback from CQC and have had huge success with our work withthe Culture of Care project and our patients value the opportunity to be atSyrena House.

We are looking for a motivatedHCA to compliment a full staffing team for our planned move to The Cove on the Mount Gould Site.

In spring 2026 we will be moving to theMount Gould site & will be increasing our beds to incorporate 6 additionalstep-down beds, this unit will be called The Cove.

We are looking for someone witha genuine passion for recovery-focused practice, who is committed to helpingpeople achieve their optimum level of functioning. You will workcollaboratively with our multidisciplinary team, utilise therapeutic resourceswithin the inpatient setting & engage proactively with community servicesto support seamless transitions in care.

Main duties of the job

Syrena delivers a wide range ofrehabilitation interventions and treatments to people experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems. The care is typically longer-term.Professionals gain huge job satisfaction supporting patients through their recoveryjourney. The overall aim is to prepare patients for community living. We haveclose working links with Lee Mill Low Secure Unit, the Specialist CommunityForensic Team, the Specialist Outreach Recovery Team, and the Glenbourne (maleacute) Harford Unit.

You will be required to workshifts across seven days, including nights.

All Livewell Southwest staff areexpected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

The role of the Health Care Assistant is to assist the trainedregistered nurse in delivering physical, social, and psychological care topeople the patient / client with mental health problems / illness, admitted tothe Unit.

The post holder will be required to work both within the wardunit or community setting and with people or clients in the community. Thiswill involve contact with relatives, carers and other agencies. They will carryout interventions as part of the care plans and record information using thePersonalised Care Framework on electronic patients notes.

The post holder will be directed to undertake tasks onceadequate instruction has been given by the registered trained nurse and bothparties are confident that the task can be fulfilled competently. However, theregistered trained nurse is required to carry the responsibility for decisionmaking and direction.

Develop and maintain a good working relationship with people orclients through regular contact and ensure their safety and well-being.

Please see attached JobDescription for more details.

Person Specification Experience

• Relevant Experience in a Mental Health setting, Band 2 level or equivalent or Band 3 level or equivalent.
• Awareness of vulnerable adult / protection issues and guidance.
• Recent experience of working in a care setting.
• Clinical governance.
• Ability to work with minimum of supervision.
• To undertake baseline physical observations.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of variety of Mental Health settings.
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Working within an NHS setting.
• Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3, QCF level 3 in Health and Social care or equivalent experience or qualification.
• Care certificate.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.
• Ability to participate in activities with patients.
• Ability to contribute to the process of and the delivery of high standard of care as planned in care programme.
• Vocational Qualification Level II or able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and ability to work to that level.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health.
• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches and application to people with a learning disability/mental health problems.
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.
• Basic IT skills.
• A basic understanding of physical health presentation.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Continual assessment of patient.
• Organisational skills.
• An awareness to maintain professional Boundaries.
• Awareness of own limits and boundaries in relation to own job role.
• Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/ equal opportunities.
• Resilience.
• Willingness to positively share your own life experiences, personal experiences of your own ill health with service users and carers.
• Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower patients and carers.
• Demonstrates an empathy of people.
• Has the ability to provide supervision / mentoring to junior staff.
• Knowledge of the government initiatives that shape mental health practice.
• Willingness to undertake training in relation to required skills.
• Knowledge of the triangle of care.
• Knowledge of CPA.

Additional Requirements

• Friendly and caring manner.
• Approachable.
• An appreciation of working with a wide age group of clients.
• Flexible approach.
• To work rotational shift pattern over 24 hours.

Specific skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills with a range of people in various situations where there may be barriers in understanding for clients/carers.
• Ability to engage patients in activities off the Unit.
• Ability to manage time and plan work.
• To complete clinical records.
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff.
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability to work in a team effectively.
• Should have ability to demonstrate basic IT skills.
• Awareness of personal safety.
• Able to work in challenging and unpredictable environmental conditions alone and with others effectively managing dynamic risks of our individual patient group.
• Physical Intervention in a ward environment.
• Care plans and risk assessments.
• Confidentiality.
• Motivated.
• Reliable.
• Confidence in dealing with patients.
• Ability to work in stressful conditions.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Current driving licence.
• Flexible approach to working arrangements.

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.