Health Care Assistant

Implement agreed plans of care and therapeutic interventions under the guidance of registered practitioners supported by on-going supervision and support. Contribute to the monitoring of the physical environment ensuring that it is safe and conducive to the therapeutic work of the unit. Contribute towards the ongoing quality of service and care and identify any risk issues in within an agreed and monitored supervisory framework. Provide support to service users in all elements of their daily living where appropriate. Carry out practical tasks, identified as part of the service user's care plan alongside completion of supportive observations. Accurately monitor and provide timely feedback on agreed care strategies and interventions to registered practitioners to support the evaluation of their success. Improve the lives of people with a learning disability by minimising the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing. Advocate for and promote a positive image of people with a learning disability.,

• Work collaboratively with service users, carers and families to deliver agreed plans of care with a view to improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Adhere to unit protocols and policies (e.g. supportive observations).
• Assist service users with all Activities of Daily Living as required.
• Assist members of the multidisciplinary team with agreed procedures.
• Have a basic understanding of the principles of infection control and the importance of dietary and fluid requirements of individual service users.
• Inform the nurse in charge of any potential hazard, accident, incident or service user problem that occurs.
• Undertake basic housekeeping tasks such as cleaning and tidying to maintain a suitable and safe environment.
  
  Utilise effective and appropriate methods of communication with service users, carers and other professionals.
• Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries with service users.
• Demonstrate de-escalation skills in managing aggression exhibited by service users., Educated to NQV level 3 or equivalent
• Experience of caring for people with learning disabilities or complex health needs.
• Knowledge of common physical, mental and emotional health needs experienced by people with a learning disability.
• Ability to work effectively in situations that can sometimes be challenging.
• Skill and confidence to verbally de-escalate service users who may exhibit violence and aggression, as well as using approved physical intervention techniques as necessary.
• Contribute to a culture that promotes equality and diversity, including recognising and reporting behaviour that undermines this.
• Evidence of a positive value base in supporting people with a learning disability with their mental and physical ill health.
Desirable criteria
• Hold a current driving licence, (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
  
  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 4000 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, 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.