Nursing Assistant - Kingsley Ward

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 07 May 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Kingsley Ward Team, our inpatient dementia assessment unit at Hollins Park Hospital, Warrington. Our ward provides a high standard of assessment and treatment of those with Dementia and BPSD (Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia).

You will gain valuable experience and skills across the field of Dementia, incorporating both physical and mental health.

You will be motivated to make a real difference in the lives of people living with dementia, where passion, empathy, strong communication and excellent teamwork are essential qualities for this role.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend Interview/Assessment on the 29th May.

Main duties of the job

  • To carry out assigned duties, involving direct care and observation of service users under the guidance and indirect supervision of qualified staff.
  • To report to the qualified staff any observations made whilst providing care to service users activities and leisure, providing details of mental state and risk factors.
  • To work with service users on an individual and group basis as outlined in the care plan and as directed by the appropriate named lead professional.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-MHC6870613-D

Job locations

Warrington

Hollins Park Hospital

Warrington

WA2 8WA


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To coordinate the assessment and delivery of a planned programme of care with guidance and indirect supervision from a qualified practitioner and to contribute to formal assessment and delivery of an individuals plan of care.
  • To assist with activities of daily living, social, recreational and occupational activities as agreed in the service user care plan.
  • To report general observations and provide feedback to a qualified practitioner both verbally and in written formats, if required. This should include any concerns arising from the service user physical or mental health.
  • To contribute to effective running of the service by providing and receiving information to/from other departments or services. Ensure this information is provided in the most effective way i.e. telephone, fax or in writing.
  • To assist service users with self-administration of oral medication and ensure any concerns / issues about medication are reported back to a qualified practitioner.
  • To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome communication barriers presented by service users due to their mental health needs.
  • To contribute to maintaining a safe environment for service user in the community (where appropriate).
  • To carry out specific duties that contributes to the assessment of service users as requested by a qualified practitioner.
  • To develop and maintain links with other agencies and services, both statutory and voluntary (where appropriate).
  • To use skills and techniques, to de-escalate situations where service users become physically or verbally aggressive.
  • To carry out observations and inform the Registered Nurse of any concerns. e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, diet and fluid intake, weight as requested by a qualified practitioner.
  • To contribute to the development of risk management plans for service users by reporting, to the qualified practitioner any issues or concerns regarding service users behaviour / action towards themselves or others.
  • Respond to the changing needs of service users.
  • Control the assessments of implemented individual service users care plans.
  • To undertake and understand the support of observations as per policy tbc (Levels 1- 4)

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To coordinate the assessment and delivery of a planned programme of care with guidance and indirect supervision from a qualified practitioner and to contribute to formal assessment and delivery of an individuals plan of care.
  • To assist with activities of daily living, social, recreational and occupational activities as agreed in the service user care plan.
  • To report general observations and provide feedback to a qualified practitioner both verbally and in written formats, if required. This should include any concerns arising from the service user physical or mental health.
  • To contribute to effective running of the service by providing and receiving information to/from other departments or services. Ensure this information is provided in the most effective way i.e. telephone, fax or in writing.
  • To assist service users with self-administration of oral medication and ensure any concerns / issues about medication are reported back to a qualified practitioner.
  • To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome communication barriers presented by service users due to their mental health needs.
  • To contribute to maintaining a safe environment for service user in the community (where appropriate).
  • To carry out specific duties that contributes to the assessment of service users as requested by a qualified practitioner.
  • To develop and maintain links with other agencies and services, both statutory and voluntary (where appropriate).
  • To use skills and techniques, to de-escalate situations where service users become physically or verbally aggressive.
  • To carry out observations and inform the Registered Nurse of any concerns. e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, diet and fluid intake, weight as requested by a qualified practitioner.
  • To contribute to the development of risk management plans for service users by reporting, to the qualified practitioner any issues or concerns regarding service users behaviour / action towards themselves or others.
  • Respond to the changing needs of service users.
  • Control the assessments of implemented individual service users care plans.
  • To undertake and understand the support of observations as per policy tbc (Levels 1- 4)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Health and Social Care Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Care Certificate

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in a care setting
  • Understanding of issues of confidentiality

Desirable

  • Experience of individuals with mental health problems or personal lived experience of mental health problems

Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate effectively
  • Ability to work as a member of a team
  • Ability to demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude
  • Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified practitioner
  • Ability to provide support and guidance to junior staff
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Health and Social Care Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Care Certificate

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in a care setting
  • Understanding of issues of confidentiality

Desirable

  • Experience of individuals with mental health problems or personal lived experience of mental health problems

Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate effectively
  • Ability to work as a member of a team
  • Ability to demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude
  • Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified practitioner
  • Ability to provide support and guidance to junior staff

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Warrington

Hollins Park Hospital

Warrington

WA2 8WA


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Warrington

Hollins Park Hospital

Warrington

WA2 8WA


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Event Co-ordinator

Hannah Greenough

hannah.greenough@merseycare.nhs.uk

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-MHC6870613-D

Job locations

Warrington

Hollins Park Hospital

Warrington

WA2 8WA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)