Job summary
Our Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) are looking for motivated, passionate and hardworking individuals to join their team as Engagement Support Workers!
The Mental Health Liaison Team provide a comprehensive service to patient's, carer's and clinical colleagues, based at Southmead Hospital.
Patients present with a wide range of mental health and psychological problems, including following an episode of self-harm, psychiatric emergency and because of physical illness or injury.
You will be expected to work with individuals experiencing psychosomatic disorders and a variety of psychological and adjustment issues resulting from physical illness or injury.
Main duties of the job
You will provide 1:1 support to patients experiencing mental health or emotional distress in the acute hospital setting.
Based at Southmead Hospital individuals will be expected to work alongside patients struggling with acute mental health/emotional needs such as suicidality, self-harm, thought disorders, co-morbidity, eating disorders, dementia and psychosis.
Engagement Support Workers will work alongside the multidisciplinary team to provide support in activities of daily living, engage in therapeutic interventions, carry out close observations, responding to signs of risk or escalation and maintaining patient safety whilst working in a way which promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person-centred care.
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.
- Spend periods offering 1:1 support to patients who are struggling with their mental health. This could range from offering emotional support up to potentially having to use safe holds for an acutely distressed patient.
- Assist in maintaining the safety or patients you are allocated to for a period of 1:1 support. This includes but is not limited to supporting suicidal patients to remain safe, monitoring and encouraging the food and fluid intake of patients with an eating disorder, and ensuring that patients dont abscond.
- Be accountable for own actions and act in accordance with local policy and guidelines.
- Act in accordance with Local, Hospital and Statutory Guidelines and policies including health and Safety initiatives.
- Act in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act, Fire, manual Handling, Infection control, major Incident and COSHH policies and be aware of their implications and ensure that local unit and departmental policies are followed.
- Work in accordance with corporate and local policies.
- Adopt a patient centred approach to work.
- Work shift times within the post taking responsibility for punctuality, time management and adherence to uniform policy.
- Assist with implementation of new developments.
- Ensure the promotion of health and safety, well-being and interests of patients, staff and visitors that come into contact with the Mental Health Liaison Team.
Education and Training
- Actively participate in the identification of own learning and education needs and demonstrate achievement against Appraisal and Development plans.
- Willingness to engage in further training, including but not limited to de-escalation, safe holds and restraint.
- To assist in the practical training of your peers and colleges within the trust.
Clinical
- Contribute to maintaining a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the patient.
- Provide care and support in line with mental health needs to patients in the general health care setting receiving treatment.
- Complete observational records, reporting any changes or concerns to the Nurse in Charge.
- Participate in the application of care plans ensuring interventions and observations are carried out and effectively communicated to the nurse in charge.
- Keep written record of patient care to include handover of the patient, observation forms.
- Work directly alongside the ward clinical team and Mental Health Liaison Service.
- Attend training specific to this role. Including safe holds and de-escalation training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.
- Spend periods offering 1:1 support to patients who are struggling with their mental health. This could range from offering emotional support up to potentially having to use safe holds for an acutely distressed patient.
- Assist in maintaining the safety or patients you are allocated to for a period of 1:1 support. This includes but is not limited to supporting suicidal patients to remain safe, monitoring and encouraging the food and fluid intake of patients with an eating disorder, and ensuring that patients dont abscond.
- Be accountable for own actions and act in accordance with local policy and guidelines.
- Act in accordance with Local, Hospital and Statutory Guidelines and policies including health and Safety initiatives.
- Act in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act, Fire, manual Handling, Infection control, major Incident and COSHH policies and be aware of their implications and ensure that local unit and departmental policies are followed.
- Work in accordance with corporate and local policies.
- Adopt a patient centred approach to work.
- Work shift times within the post taking responsibility for punctuality, time management and adherence to uniform policy.
- Assist with implementation of new developments.
- Ensure the promotion of health and safety, well-being and interests of patients, staff and visitors that come into contact with the Mental Health Liaison Team.
Education and Training
- Actively participate in the identification of own learning and education needs and demonstrate achievement against Appraisal and Development plans.
- Willingness to engage in further training, including but not limited to de-escalation, safe holds and restraint.
- To assist in the practical training of your peers and colleges within the trust.
Clinical
- Contribute to maintaining a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the patient.
- Provide care and support in line with mental health needs to patients in the general health care setting receiving treatment.
- Complete observational records, reporting any changes or concerns to the Nurse in Charge.
- Participate in the application of care plans ensuring interventions and observations are carried out and effectively communicated to the nurse in charge.
- Keep written record of patient care to include handover of the patient, observation forms.
- Work directly alongside the ward clinical team and Mental Health Liaison Service.
- Attend training specific to this role. Including safe holds and de-escalation training.
Person Specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ/ RQF Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent experience (a minimum of 12 months)
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
Work Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of working in a mental health setting, either community or inpatient
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with a range of mental health diagnoses, including eating disorder, dementia and personality disorder
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to follow direction and follow care plans and policies
- Able to take a caring, empathic approach to interactions with patients who are experiencing a range of mental health issues and/or substance misuse issues
Person Specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ/ RQF Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent experience (a minimum of 12 months)
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
Work Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of working in a mental health setting, either community or inpatient
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with a range of mental health diagnoses, including eating disorder, dementia and personality disorder
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to follow direction and follow care plans and policies
- Able to take a caring, empathic approach to interactions with patients who are experiencing a range of mental health issues and/or substance misuse issues
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.
