Our Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) are looking for motivated, passionate and hardworking individuals to join their team as Engagement Support Workers.
The Mental Health Liaison Team provide a comprehensive service to patients, carers and clinical colleagues, based at Southmead Hospital.
Patients present with a wide range of mental health and psychological problems, including following an episode of self‑harm, psychiatric emergency and because of physical illness or injury.
You will be expected to work with individuals experiencing psychosomatic disorders and a variety of psychological and adjustment issues resulting from physical illness or injury.
Main duties of the job
You will provide 1:1 support to patients experiencing mental health or emotional distress in the acute hospital setting.
Based at Southmead Hospital individuals will be expected to work alongside patients struggling with acute mental health/emotional needs such as suicidality, self‑harm, thought disorders, co‑morbidity, eating disorders, dementia and psychosis.
Engagement Support Workers will work alongside the multidisciplinary team to provide support in activities of daily living, engage in therapeutic interventions, carry out close observations, respond to signs of risk or escalation and maintain patient safety whilst working in a way which promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person‑centred care.
Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.
- Spend periods offering 1:1 support to patients who are struggling with their mental health. This could range from offering emotional support up to potentially having to use safe holds for an acutely distressed patient.
- Assist in maintaining the safety of the patients you are allocated to for a period of 1:1 support. This includes but is not limited to supporting suicidal patients to remain safe, monitoring and encouraging the food and fluid intake of patients with an eating disorder, and ensuring that patients do not abscond.
- Be accountable for own actions and act in accordance with local policy and guidelines.
- Act in accordance with Local, Hospital and Statutory Guidelines and policies including health and safety initiatives.
- Act in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act, Fire, manual handling, infection control, major incident and COSHH policies and be aware of their implications and ensure that local unit and departmental policies are followed.
- Work in accordance with corporate and local policies.
- Adopt a patient‑centred approach to work.
- Work shift times within the post taking responsibility for punctuality, time management and adherence to uniform policy.
- Assist with implementation of new developments.
- Ensure the promotion of health and safety, well‑being and interests of patients, staff and visitors that come into contact with the Mental Health Liaison Team.
Education and Training
- Actively participate in the identification of own learning and education needs and demonstrate achievement against appraisal and development plans.
- Willingness to engage in further training, including but not limited to de‑escalation, safe holds and restraint.
- Assist in the practical training of your peers and colleagues within the trust.
Clinical
- Contribute to maintaining a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the patient.
- Provide care and support in line with mental health needs to patients in the general health care setting receiving treatment.
- Complete observational records, reporting any changes or concerns to the nurse in charge.
- Participate in the application of care plans ensuring interventions and observations are carried out and effectively communicated to the nurse in charge.
- Keep written record of patient care to include handover of the patient, observation forms.
- Work directly alongside the ward clinical team and Mental Health Liaison Service.
- Attend training specific to this role, including safe holds and de‑escalation training.
Education/Training/Qualifications
- NVQ/ RQF Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent experience (a minimum of 12 months)
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
Work Experience
- At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of working in a mental health setting, either community or inpatient
- Experience of working with people with a range of mental health diagnoses, including eating disorder, dementia and personality disorder
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to follow direction and follow care plans and policies
- Able to take a caring, empathic approach to interactions with patients who are experiencing a range of mental health issues and/or substance misuse issues
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.
£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum, pro rata for part‑time roles
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