Job Summary
About the location:
The Croydon area has excellent schools both in the state and private sectors. Mental health care for patients who attend CUH is delivered by the Croydon Mental Health Liaison service provided by South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). We are an ageless service along with the Older Adult Liaison Psychiatry service.
About the team:
The Croydon University Hospital Mental Health Assessment Unit is part of the Liaison Services and the Unit provides psychiatric assessments and treatment for people, aged 18 and above, to determine if they need mental health care and treatment. The service caters for people who live in the London Borough of Croydon and our aim is to ensure that people get the expertise they need to address their mental health problems. We provide a 24-hour service to Croydon University Hospital offering urgent assessment and intervention to patients, the team includes Nurses, Doctors, an Occupational Therapist and a Clinical Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
About this role
We have substantive vacancies for Band 4, Senior Support Workers – Clinical Assessment Unit
The post holders will support the nurses with conducting reviews on patients and observing patients to identify their needs, strengths, and challenges.
Providing emotional support, guidance, and encouragement to patients during their stay in the assessment unit.
Communicating effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals to ensure that everyone is aware of patient needs, progress, and concerns.
Provideperson-centeredsupport in a planned and coordinated manner.
We are looking for a forward-thinking, creative and responsive senior support worker who has a passion for people and family-centred care; you will be enthusiastic, creative, resilient and be able to respond to others in a flexible manner.
This varied role offers excellent opportunities to gain experience and skills in an Acute Hospital setting. Successful candidates will be expected to work a 24 hours shift, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main roles and responsibilities include:
Carry out reviews on low risk patients, while updating team leader, nurses and MDT
Accurately documenting patient interactions, observations, and care plans in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Educating patients about their condition, treatment options, and self-care strategies to promote recovery and independence.
Supporting patients’ families and caregivers by providing information, resources, and emotional support during the assessment process.
Creating positive working relationships with local services and local activity providers for across the 4 boroughs covered by the Trust, as well as creating and compiling resources within the service.
To attend and contribute to clinical team meetings and handovers across the Liaison and emergency department services.
You will support senior team members with welcoming, conducting baseline observations following referrals, documenting admission entries and discharge notes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 3 Plus short courses to Diploma Level or Equivalent experience or NVQ Level 4 in healthcare
Desirable
- Psychology degree or equivalent experience, or Evidence of continued academic development
- Completion of the Care Certificate
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience within a mental health care settings
Desirable
- Substantial experience dealing with acute psychiatric /crises care
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate clinical competence
- Able to work with a wide variety of professionals and agencies
- Ability to work with carers and families and commitment to developing userfocused services
- Ability to motivate clients who are difficult to engage and co-ordinate the support with fellow staff members.
Desirable
- Training in other specific interventions e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy. (A)/(I)
- Some understanding of the needs of people with mental illness and personality disorder
- Motivated to participate in required training and development.
- Ability to prioritise workload and carry out work efficiently and effectively
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 01 April 2025
