Band 4 Senior Healthcare Assistant

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and compassionate Band 4 Senior Healthcare Assistant to join our Community Eating Disorders Service Day Unit, supporting adults of working age living with eating disorders. This is a fixed-term role to cover maternity leave until the end of March 2027, offering valuable experience within a specialist service. You will play a key role in supporting patients on their recovery journey, working closely with the Lead Nurse and wider multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care. In return we offer regular supervision, access to training and development, an individual personal development plan to enable you to explore your own career and development options within the health and social care environment., Support patients with severe eating disorders through delivery of group therapies, meal support, and one-to-one interventions. Supervise and support patients at mealtimes, ensuring adherence to individual meal plans. Facilitate and lead therapeutic groups and structured activities (e.g. arts, games, indoor gardening). Accompany patients on community-based activities, including café visits, shopping, and cooking sessions. Monitor patients' physical and mental wellbeing, reporting any concerns to qualified staff. Assist nursing staff with medical monitoring and implementation of care plans. Maintain accurate and timely clinical records using electronic systems. Provide emotional support and promote patient independence and recovery within the community. Undertake housekeeping tasks, including stock control, cleaning, and equipment safety checks. Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to team meetings, reviews, and service development., Support the delivery of structured therapeutic programmes, including group therapies and one-to-one interventions. Provide mealtime support, ensuring patients adhere to prescribed meal plans. Monitor patients' physical and mental health, identifying and promptly reporting any concerns to qualified staff. Assist in the assessment of patient needs and contribute to care and risk management plans. Promote patient independence, recovery, and ability to remain in the community. Provide emotional support and assist with activities of daily living where required. Therapeutic Work Facilitate and co-lead therapeutic groups. Plan and deliver structured activities such as arts and crafts, games, and indoor gardening. Support practical sessions, including cooking and food preparation. Accompany patients on community-based activities, including shopping trips and visits to cafés or restaurants. Medical and Safety Support Assist Lead Nurse with routine physical health monitoring. Undertake daily checks of emergency and clinical equipment (training provided). Maintain a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment, including stock control and equipment cleaning. Communication and Documentation Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive clinical records using electronic systems. Communicate effectively with patients, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team. Participate in team meetings, case discussions, reviews, and handovers. Report and document incidents, risks, or concerns in line with Trust policies. Team Working and Professional Development Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, maintaining effective professional relationships. Support the induction and development of new staff and students. Attend supervision, appraisal, training, and reflective practice sessions. Contribute to service development through feedback and shared learning. Administrative and Resource Responsibilities Use IT systems confidently, including electronic patient records, email, and MS Teams. Ensure efficient and appropriate use of resources, including assisting with petty cash management where required General Responsibilities Adhere to all Trust policies, including equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice. Maintain professional standards in line with the Trust's Code of Conduct. Recognise the complexity and risks associated with eating disorders, working within scope of practice and seeking support when required.

• NVQ level 3 or a MH Certificate of equivalent qualification. Evidence of additional relevant mental health training, Training in phlebotomy or willingness to train, Experience of working with people with mental health problems in either an acute or community setting
• Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Desirable criteria
• Experience of working with people with an eating disorder
• Eating disorders experience
• Experience of assisting in the assessment of patients and the development and implementation of care plans
• Experience of 1:1 or group work
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services. The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Our Trust values are: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it! Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?, HPFT supports people with mental ill health, learning disabilities and autism across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Essex. We employ around 4,500 people who deliver these services within the community and in inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services and medium and low secure learning disabilities services. We have operated as a NHS Foundation Trust since our authorisation in August 2007.