Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Health Care Support Worker
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and compassionate Healthcare Assistant (HCA) to join the team on Crane Ward, an inpatient mental health unit. The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality, person-centred care to adults experiencing acute mental health difficulties.
Crane Ward provides a safe and therapeutic environment for service users, supporting their recovery, promoting independence, and maintaining dignity at all times. As a Healthcare Assistant, you will play a key role in supporting registered nurses and other professionals in delivering care, engaging patients in meaningful activities, and ensuring their safety and wellbeing throughout their admission.
The role involves close patient interaction, including supporting individuals with activities of daily living, monitoring mental and physical health, and contributing to care planning. The successful candidate will demonstrate empathy, resilience, and a genuine passion for working within mental health services.
This is a rewarding but challenging role, requiring excellent communication skills, the ability to work flexibly (including shifts, weekends, and nights), and a commitment to delivering safe, compassionate care in line with NHS values.
Main duties of the job
- Support patients with activities of daily living, including personal care and nutrition, while promoting dignity and independence.
- Observe, monitor, and accurately record patients’ mental and physical health, reporting any changes or concerns promptly to the nursing team.
- Engage therapeutically with service users, building positive relationships to support recovery and emotional wellbeing.
- Assist in the implementation of care plans, risk assessments, and therapeutic interventions as directed by qualified staff.
- Support the management of challenging behaviours using de-escalation techniques and follow organisational policies on safety and restraint where required.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe, clean, and therapeutic ward environment, ensuring adherence to infection prevention and control procedures.
- Escort patients on and off the ward as required, including attending appointments, leave, or activities in the community.
- Participate in ward activities and structured programmes to promote patient engagement, social inclusion, and recovery.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in accordance with Trust policies.
- Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, contributing to handovers, meetings, and care reviews.
- Adhere to all Trust policies, including safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, and equality and diversity.
- Participate in training, supervision, and ongoing professional development to enhance skills and knowledge.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Working for our organisation
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) provides high-quality mental health and community services across London and beyond. We are committed to compassionate, person-centred care and supporting our diverse communities.
At CNWL, our values of compassion, respect, empowerment, and partnership underpin everything we do. We offer a supportive working environment, with opportunities for training, development, and staff wellbeing.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team on Crane Ward, supporting the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective care to service users admitted for inpatient mental health treatment.
The post holder will provide direct care and support to patients experiencing a range of acute mental health needs. This includes assisting with activities of daily living, promoting independence, and ensuring that care is delivered with dignity, respect, and compassion at all times.
The HCA will be responsible for observing and monitoring patients’ mental and physical health, accurately recording findings, and promptly reporting any changes or risks to the registered nursing staff. They will support the implementation of care plans, risk management strategies, and therapeutic interventions as directed.
The role involves developing positive and therapeutic relationships with service users, encouraging engagement in ward-based activities, and supporting recovery-focused care. The post holder will also contribute to maintaining a safe and therapeutic ward environment, adhering to infection prevention and control policies, and supporting risk reduction strategies.
The HCA will support patients during escorted leave and attend external appointments where required. They may be required to respond to challenging behaviours, using de-escalation techniques and following Trust policies and training in relation to the safe management of violence and aggression.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
The post holder will ensure accurate and timely documentation in line with Trust standards and maintain confidentiality at all times. They will participate in handovers, team meetings, and regular supervision, contributing to effective team working and continuity of care.
The role requires flexibility, including working shifts, weekends, and nights, and a commitment to ongoing training and professional development.
Person specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Numeracy and Literacy skills required to keep accurate records and administer medicines
- Spoken and written English, to an appropriate standard to fulfil the job requirements
Desirable criteria
- NVQ L3 or equivalent
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of working with the general public communicating with a range of different people
- Previous experience of working in a fast-paced environment
- Previous experience of working within a customer focused environment
Desirable criteria
- Healthcare/NHS or similar experience in community or hospital settings
- Volunteer sector
- Experience in a caring role
- Previous experience in mental health setting or working with adults suffering from mental health problems
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Able to communicate with the multi-disciplinary team, update others in the team and use handover effectively. Speaking face to face but also by telephone.
- Maintaining accurate, timely, concise and legible clinical records both electronic and handwritten which adhere to the CNWL policies
- Able to maintain electronic patient records
- Use Microsoft Word to draft letters and reports
- Able to work under your own initiative but follow the directions of care plans and Band 4 staff or registered Nurses
- Obtain consent and understand how the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards impacts on your work and the people you are working with
- Help others in the team achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care
Desirable criteria
- Basic knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills