Job summary
An exciting opportunity to join the crisis team within Durham and Darlington Mental health services. The post will be within LRH Durham Crisis service. The service provides intensive home treatment to patients experiencing a mental health crisis and offers an alternative to inpatient admission, enabling patient to be cared for in the community.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role include caring for patients in the community, offering intensive home treatment and intervention to patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The role also involves supporting patients who have been detained under Section 136 MHA within the Health Based place of safety. The post holder will carry out basic physical health screening, including ECG, NEWS 2 monitoring and will have the opportunity to train in phlebotomy.
About us
This post will demand that you are highly motivated, can be flexible in an ever changing environment and can communicate effectively across a multi-professional team.
The post holder will work within a 24-hour rota system (including night shifts) - ensuring that a comprehensive service is provided to patients 365 days a year.
Details
Date posted
14 August 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-DDA-242-24-C
Job locations
West Park Hospital
Edward Pease Way
Darlington
DL2 2TS
Job description
Job responsibilities
To improve the lives of people with mental ill health by minimising the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and well be compassionate in meeting the needs of patients and their work as part of a community team which may be integrated, working collaboratively and in partnership with local authority services. To assist in the delivery of patient care, as directed by registered practitioners andteam manager, undertaking duties and activities with limited or indirect supervision in patients homes and other community settings. To promote social inclusion, community access and participation through theprovision of patient show commitment to and participate in quality improvement activities. To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill promote at all times a positive image of the Adult Mental Health Service and thewider Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Essential Desirable Qualifications Qualified Post: o Diploma in Health and Social Care level 2 or equivalent o Care Certificate o Key skills in Literacy and Numeracy level 2 o Successful completion of Trust's full HCA Framework within 6-month probationary period Trainee Post: o Diploma in Health and Social Care level 2 must be achieved within 2 years of commencement in post o Care Certificate must be achieved within 12 weeks of commencement in post o Successful completion of the Trust's full HCA Framework, including key skills in Literacy and Numeracy level 2, within 2 years of commencement in post
Experience
Essential
2. Previous experience as a Band 2/3 HCA or equivalent in a care environment. (Trainee post: no essential experience required)
Desirable
3. Previous experience of working with people with mental/social health needs or learning disabilities.
Knowledge
Essential
4. Person centred care o Awareness of legal frameworks including Mental Health legislation (within agreed timescale) o Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (within agreed timescale)
Skills
Essential
5. Effective verbal and written communication skills o Time management and ability to prioritise effectively o Competency in record keeping (within agreed timescales
Desirable
6. Competency in venepuncture o Competency in ECGs