Health Care Support Worker
Closing date: 15 June 2026. We do not offer sponsorship for this role.
We are looking for an enthusiastic Health Care Support Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services in Bishop’s Stortford.
This is an excellent opportunity in a community setting, working closely with colleagues in a small supportive team, and making a real difference to the quality of services.
You must hold a full valid driving licence and access to a car for business purposes, including insurance, unless you have a disability under the Equality Act 2010.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will undertake physical health checks and wellbeing assessments for people with severe mental health illness, promote healthy lifestyles, assist recovery from mental and physical health problems, and help update Severe Mental Illness (SMI) registers.
They will support local clinics, keep clinic rooms clean, manage caseloads, carry out venepuncture, perform physical health assessments, and maintain electronic records.
Other responsibilities include working with other agencies, providing health promotion information, developing care plans, contributing to audits, supporting patient goals, being involved in quality improvement meetings, and ensuring adherence to Trust policies and health and safety procedures.
Benefits and Development
The role offers regular supervision, access to training and development, and an individual personal development plan to explore career options within health and social care.
About the Trust
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission. The Trust serves over 400,000 people with mental health, physical health and learning disability needs across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk.
We 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 disability services.
Our values are Welcoming, Kind, Positive, Respectful and Professional.
Job responsibilities
- Support clinical staff in the smooth running of Clozapine and Depot clinics
- Escalate concerns to the Clinical Nurse Specialist when required
- Keep the clinic room clean according to infection control guidelines
- Manage a caseload of clients under the clinic team and support their needs
- Assist in assessment of physical and mental health needs, recognising the link between them
- Collaborate with other agencies to deliver a systems approach to patients’ physical health
- Carry out venepuncture and record physical health checks (blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI)
- Understand clinical health guidelines and recognise when action is required
- Assess patients holistically, including lifestyle, exercise, diet, substance use, and provide advice
- Participate in team working alongside primary care and community mental health services
- Arrange physical health assessments with service users in clinic or other suitable locations
- Provide health promotion information tailored to patients, along with care plan development
- Support patient goal setting and monitor progress with the team
- Contribute to audit and quality improvement meetings
- Compile and share electronic physical health records with patients, GPs and the community mental health services
- Maintain professional relationships with clients, showing respect for views, autonomy and culture
- Keep electronic records accurate and timely
- Collaborate with the physical health team leader to set up clinics across the locality
- Report regularly to the clinical supervisor and use supervision for casework planning and best practice implementation
- Ensure referral response times are met and activity levels are achieved
- Submit activity returns and participate in daily patient and non‑patient contact reporting
- Engage with patients, obtain their views and encourage involvement in service delivery
- Adhere to Trust policies on health and safety, and maintain secure equipment
- Use Trust property responsibly, including mobile phone and laptop
- Monitor stock levels for own service and request new equipment as needed
- Comply with Trusts Anti‑Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
- NVQ/Mental Health Certificate Level 2 or completion of Care Certificate on appointment
- Commitment to Continuing Personal Development
- Educated to GCE/GCSE or equivalent (Maths and English)
- Venepuncture competent
- Car driver (unless disabled as defined under the Equality Act 2010)
- NVQ Level 3 qualification or Mental Health Certificate Level 3, or willingness to undertake such training when resources permit
- Training in physical health care assessment and interventions
Areas of Experience and Knowledge
- Three years’ experience in mental health or health and social care services within a team setting, possibly combined with personal lived experience of mental health difficulties
- Basic written communication skills
- Good verbal communication skills and listening ability
- Understanding of the Care Act
- Empathy, compassion and patience
- Creativity in empowering service users
- Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings
- Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers
- Keenness to improve quality of life for people with mental health problems
- Practical therapeutic skills such as solution‑focused therapy and motivational interviewing, or a willingness to acquire such skills
- Ability to acknowledge diversity and promote anti‑discriminatory practice and equal opportunities
- Calm response to emergencies and professional handling of challenging behaviour
- Attendance at mandatory training in Basic Life Support and personal safety related to people
- Basic health and safety and moving and handling awareness
- Knowledge of local services and liaison with different teams
- Basic interviewing skills
- Supervisory or mentoring experience
- Basic knowledge of benefits and employment systems
- Understanding of the mental health system
Communication Skills
- Develop trusting relationships with management staff and work effectively in partnership
- Convey complex information clearly and concisely
- Effective report writing skills
- Influencing skills to promote positive change
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Employer
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Oxford House, London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3LA
Salary
£27,485 to £30,162 per annum, pro rata (including 5% HCAS)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time
Reference number
367-ACMS-10018-C
Location
Oxford House, London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3LA
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