Job summary
We are seeking to employ several motivated individuals to the role of Healthcare Assistants at Band 3 level for our Forensic Inpatient Directorate (Bracton Centre and Memorial Hospital). Previous experience in healthcare is not necessary as full training will be provided, but applicants must possess a positive attitude to mental health, recovery, and social inclusion.
We are a Trauma Informed Service, looking for dynamic and compassionate individuals. We are seeking to recruit people who are curious about the ways that adversity and traumas impact our patients' behaviours, functioning, clinical presentations and engagement. You will be supported to deliver high quality care to patients, in which your relational skills will help our patients to feel safe, listened to, valued, engaged and empowered.
You will be supported to be trauma responsive, developing practices that avoid causing further harm, promote engagement and create a safe context for healing and recovery.
You will have access to multiple sources of support, including supervision, training, staff support sessions and working alongside colleagues from multiple professional disciplines (e.g., psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, medics and administrators).
Bracton Lane, off Leyton Cross Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7AF
Memorial Hospital,Shooters Hill, London SE18 3RZ
**Important Sponsorship Information for this post: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post**
Main duties of the job
The job is designed to introduce staff who have little or no experience of caring work, but who demonstrate the values of the organisation and passionate about patient care. Healthcare assistants provide hands on personalised care to service users, always under supervision, and with the support of more senior staff. You will use your skills to create safety, support emotional regulation, reframe frustrating behaviours and reflect on your own practice.
The job is designed to help the post holder gain clinical experience, under close and supportive supervision, and to ensure our service users and carers receive care from people with the right values. We are keen to recruit applicants who recognise the importance of fostering safety, trustworthiness & transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment & choice, and attending to cultural, historical & gender issues.
You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, where good communication supports the management of clinical and risk issues on the ward. You will be part of a service that is focussed on re-emphasising how focus on relationships and communication keep people physically and psychologically safe within in the forensic setting, such as providing patient choice, when possible, collaboration and transparency.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
* We're Kind
* We're Fair
* We Listen
* We Care
Details
Date posted
11 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£29,651 to £31,312 a year pa inc
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
FOR
Job locations
Bracton and Memorial Hospital
Bracton Lane & Shooters Hill
Dartford & London
DA2 7AF
Job description
Job responsibilities
* Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate to support the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational, and spiritual care in a recovery focused and trauma-informed way, through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
* Undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - such as physical and psychological safety, emotional and social support, nutrition, hydration, hygiene and comfort.
* Offering patient-centred care, offering choices and opportunities to empower patients whenever possible.
* Providing hands-on care to service users including undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.
* Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of always maintaining the service users respect and dignity and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
* Escalating any concerns to a Registered Nurse.
* Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations as directed by a Senior Clinician/Registered Nurse/ B4, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional.
* Accessing staff support to manage the emotional demands of the work and to sustain curiosity and empathy for patients and colleagues.
* Encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.
* Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies, under guidance and supervision of Senior Healthcare Support Workers, Nursing
* Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy
The Forensic Directorate supports a yearly rotation of staff to other wards to enable them to acquire new skills, avoid burnouts and gain the full benefit and experience working in the forensic directorate. The post holder may hence be rotated to other ward as part of further development and to meet service needs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
* Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate to support the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational, and spiritual care in a recovery focused and trauma-informed way, through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
* Undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - such as physical and psychological safety, emotional and social support, nutrition, hydration, hygiene and comfort.
* Offering patient-centred care, offering choices and opportunities to empower patients whenever possible.
* Providing hands-on care to service users including undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.
* Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of always maintaining the service users respect and dignity and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
* Escalating any concerns to a Registered Nurse.
* Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations as directed by a Senior Clinician/Registered Nurse/ B4, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional.
* Accessing staff support to manage the emotional demands of the work and to sustain curiosity and empathy for patients and colleagues.
* Encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.
* Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies, under guidance and supervision of Senior Healthcare Support Workers, Nursing
* Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy
The Forensic Directorate supports a yearly rotation of staff to other wards to enable them to acquire new skills, avoid burnouts and gain the full benefit and experience working in the forensic directorate. The post holder may hence be rotated to other ward as part of further development and to meet service needs.
Person Specification
Care Certificate
Essential
* Candidates with care certificate, NVQ 3 or Health related certificate
Desirable
* Experience in the Forensic directorate.
Passionate about patient care
Essential
* Demonstrate care, compassion and positive attitude towards patients with mental health difficulties
Desirable
* Experience working in mental Health setting
Other Qualification
Essential
* experience working with forensic patients
Desirable
* Should have worked in the care industry or any other health field for at least 3 years
Person Specification
Care Certificate
Essential
* Candidates with care certificate, NVQ 3 or Health related certificate
Desirable
* Experience in the Forensic directorate.
Passionate about patient care
Essential
* Demonstrate care, compassion and positive attitude towards patients with mental health difficulties
Desirable
* Experience working in mental Health setting
Other Qualification
Essential
* experience working with forensic patients
Desirable
* Should have worked in the care industry or any other health field for at least 3 years
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bracton and Memorial Hospital
Bracton Lane & Shooters Hill
Dartford & London
DA2 7AF
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bracton and Memorial Hospital
Bracton Lane & Shooters Hill
Dartford & London
DA2 7AF
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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