Bank Engagement Support Worker - #1800803

Job Overview

We're looking to recruit passionate, motivated Engagement Support Workers onto our bank!

Engagement Support Workers provide 1:1 support to patients experiencing mental health issues 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 MDT to provide support in activities of daily living, engage in therapeutic interventions, carry out close observations, responding to signs of risk or escalation and maintaining patient safety whilst working in a way which promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person-centered care.

• Patients present with a wide range of Mental Health and psychological problems, including following an episode of self-harm, psychiatric emergency and as a consequence of physical illness or injury.
• Patients will at times have to stay in hospital for long periods, for example if they are receiving treatment for an eating disorder.
• Patients can also experience 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, responding to signs of risk or escalation and maintaining patient safety whilst working in a way which promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person-centered care.

Working for our organisation

NBT Extra is the Temporary Bank of staff that supports the running of one of the Southwest’s largest hospitals.

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for a full list of role responsibilities.

• 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 or 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 don’t 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.
• To assist in the practical training of your peers and colleges 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.
  
  

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NVQ/ RQF Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent experience
• GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
• GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
• Ability and Willingness to undertake training relevant to the role
  
  

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working in a mental health setting, either community or inpatient.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with people with a range of mental health diagnoses, including eating disorder, dementia and personality disorder.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• 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.