Healthcare Assistant - Adolescent Inpatient Services - Oxford

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of children and young people?

Are you studying in care or mental health and seeking an opportunity to boost your clinical skills?

We are looking for Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) to join our energetic and passionate team, working alongside nurses, doctors, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, family therapists, and dieticians.

The Highfield unit is a purpose-built, tier 4, inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit. We are a multidisciplinary team offering inpatient and day patient admission for young people with acute mental health problems.

We provide care for young people with a range of difficulties including eating disorders, anxiety OCD, depression and bipolar mood disorders, unusual experiences and psychosis, trauma, self-harm, and relationship and attachment-based difficulties. Families are often contending with multiple and complex psycho-social difficulties, and we aim to take a holistic approach guided by evidence and best-practice.

Please note, within your supporting statement you will need to answer two questions:

1. Please tell us a time you had to deal with a challenging patient

2. Please tell us a time you had to handle a tricky situation at work

Interviews will be conducted on a face to face basis to allow for a site visit and young person's interview - you will need to be available for this\*

The role importantly involves 24 hours, 7 days a week care, therefore shift patterns are in place which will include nights. It is a varied role that can be rich and rewarding, and you will be valued and supported by the team around you.

You will work alongside the nursing team to deliver care directly to young people and their families. We have a skilful and dedicated team of nurses and HCAs, and within this team you will be directly involved in the assessment, care planning, and delivery of treatment. Each young person has a dedicated case team whom works closely alongside colleagues supporting an individual young person.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

Excellent opportunities for career progression

Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development

27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service

NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers

Competitive pension scheme

Lease car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)

Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

There will be many opportunities available for you to develop your skills and competencies. We offer a range of therapeutic groups on the ward, such as DBT-informed skills, community meetings, a psychodynamic-informed reflective group, patient involvement forum, eating disorder group, a collaborative weekly case review base on a CBT-E model, and psychoeducational parents groups.

We have strong links with the university and as a unit have contributed to much research, and HCAs interested in research have gained valuable experience this way.

You do not need prior experience in the field as comprehensive training will be provided such as ASC course, breakaway and management of violence and aggression, DBT-informed skills, and Positive Engagement And Caring Environments (PEACE) an innovative, experiential training package.

If you are looking for a new opportunity, a career change or seeking clinical experience we encourage you to contact Francine Tutty on [email protected] or 01865902711 to arrange an informal visit with current Staff and Patients.