Health Care Support Worker
Closing date: 06 May 2026
Note: Sponsorship is not offered.
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.
Requirements: You must hold a full valid driving licence and have access to a car for business purposes (including insurance), unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
Main duties of the job
* Undertaking physical health checks and wellbeing assessments for people with severe mental health illness; promoting healthy lifestyles and assisting access to support.
* Supporting the locality to keep the Severe Mental Illness (SMI) registers updated.
* Providing regular supervision, training and development, and an individual personal development plan.
Job responsibilities
* Support clinical staff in the smooth running of the Clozapine and Depot clinics.
* Escalate concerns to the Clinical Nurse Specialist when required.
* Maintain clinic rooms clean as per infection control guidelines.
* Manage a caseload of clients under the clinic team and support their needs.
* Contribute to assessment of physical and mental health needs, focusing on the relationship between them.
* Work with other agencies for a systems approach to patient physical health and wellbeing.
* Carry out venepuncture for blood tests and complete physiological assessments (blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI).
* Recognise when action is needed based on physical health monitoring guidelines.
* Assess patients holistically – lifestyles, exercise, diet, smoking, alcohol and drug use – and give advice and signpost to services.
* Participate in team working with other professionals in primary care and community mental health services.
* Arrange physical health assessments with service users in clinics or appropriate locations.
* Provide health promotion information (healthy eating, exercise, smoking cessation) tailored to patients.
* Develop physical health care plans with patients and relevant staff, completing electronic assessment forms on care notes, and share information with patients and GPs.
* Promote positive physical health to patients, carers, families and staff.
* Contribute to regular audits demonstrating effectiveness of physical health clinics and interventions.
* Support patients in thinking about physical health needs, identifying personal goals, and monitoring progress.
* Provide input to physical health Quality Improvement Meetings to support service improvement.
* Maintain electronic records accurately and timely.
* Collaborate with the physical health team leader to set up clinics and communicate progress to local teams.
* Report regularly to the clinical supervisor and use supervision for casework planning, reflection and best practice implementation.
* Ensure referral response times are adhered to and meet allocated activity levels.
* Submit activity returns promptly to support reporting of daily patient and non‑patient contact.
* Demonstrate effective communication, share information and participate in service developments.
* Follow clinical protocols, guidelines, and Trust policies relating to health and safety.
* Safely store and maintain equipment; maintain infection control and health and safety standards.
* Use Trust property responsibly (mobile phone, laptop, other equipment).
* Monitor stock levels and request new equipment as needed.
* All staff must comply with the Trust's Anti‑Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust 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 the Care Certificate on appointment.
* Commitment to Continuing Personal Development.
* Education to GCE/GCSE or equivalent (Maths and English).
* Venepuncture competence.
* Car driver unless disability prevents driving.
* NVQ Level 3 qualification or Mental Health Certificate Level 3 or agreement to undertake such training.
* Training in physical health care assessment and interventions.
Areas of Experience and Knowledge
* Three years' experience providing mental health or health and social care services within a team, 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.
* Ability to create innovative solutions to empower service users.
* Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings.
* Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers.
* A keenness to improve quality of life for people with mental health problems.
* Ability to use structured therapeutic skills (solution focused therapy, motivational interviewing) or a commitment to acquiring such skills.
* Ability to acknowledge diversity and promote anti‑discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
* Calm in emergencies and professional response to stressful and challenging behaviour.
* Attend mandatory training in Basic Life Support.
* Attend mandatory training in personal safety/relating to people.
* Basic health and safety awareness.
* Moving and handling awareness.
* Awareness of local services and ability to liaise with different services/teams.
* Basic interviewing skills.
* Ability to supervise/mentor others.
* Basic knowledge of benefits/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 is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Employer name
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Oxford House, London Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3LA
Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
367-ACMS-10018-B
Job locations
Oxford House, London Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3LA
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