Health Care Support Worker - Learning Disabilities

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

Water Meadow View is a brand new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in late Autumn 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. As we prepare to open this unit, we have an exciting opportunity for Health Care Support Workers to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.

One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.

Working as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), post holders will work within a rotational shift system to support patients according to their care needs, some of whom may present with distressed or challenging behaviour.

The post holder will contribute to and participate in the on-going support of patients and their carers. They will contribute to the health, safety and security of patients and their environment.

An assessment day will take place on 3rd June 2025. Please only apply for this vacancy if you can attend in person. Further details will follow if you are shortlisted for interview.

Please note the unit will open in Autumn and start dates will not be agreed prior to this.

Main duties of the job

When you join us, you'll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disabilities disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.

The post holder will deliver on key responsibilities within the inpatient service:

Ensure a friendly and helpful attitude to patients, visitors and colleagues, at all times.
Enable patients to maintain contacts in the community.
Enable patients to participate in recreation and leisure activities.
Maintain effective working relationships with the multidisciplinary team.
Provide verbal feedback to colleagues regarding patient presentation during for example, handover.
To attend and participate in handovers.
Interacting with patients which may involve providing information and using skills to overcome barriers in an empathic and reassuring manner.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Date posted

30 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

351-SPS1399-MF

Job locations

Water Meadow View

Guild Park, Whittingham

Preston

PR3 2JH

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level III or Higher in Health and Social Care or QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care or an Interest in completing the above training or can demonstrate the equivalent skills and knowledge gained through work (paid/unpaid)

Knowledge

Essential

Demonstrates an understanding of the issues surrounding mental illness.
Demonstrates an understanding of the issues surrounding Learning Disabilities
Understands their duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act with regard to patient confidentiality.

Experience

Essential

Working in a caring environment. For example, nursing home, care home, hospital ward, home carer etc.
Understanding of Positive Behavioural support
Experience in an inpatient setting

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level III or Higher in Health and Social Care or QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care or an Interest in completing the above training or can demonstrate the equivalent skills and knowledge gained through work (paid/unpaid)

Knowledge

Essential

Demonstrates an understanding of the issues surrounding mental illness.
Demonstrates an understanding of the issues surrounding Learning Disabilities
Understands their duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act with regard to patient confidentiality.

Experience

Essential

Working in a caring environment. For example, nursing home, care home, hospital ward, home carer etc.
Understanding of Positive Behavioural support
Experience in an inpatient setting

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.