Care Support Worker

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Care Support Worker

The closing date is 17 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

Job Purpose:

The Healthcare Support Worker is the 'entry-level' clinical role in a ward or other clinical setting. The job is designed to introduce staff, who have little or no experience of caring work but who demonstrate the values of the organisation, in a clinical environment.

Healthcare Support Workers provide hands on personalised care to service users, always under supervision, and with the support of more senior staff.

The job is designed to help the post holder gain some clinical experience, under close and supportive supervision and to ensure our service users and carers receive care from people with the right values.

Main duties of the job

What we need:

• A positive and caring attitude
• Enthusiasm
• A determination to do a good job
• Willingness to learn and undertake training

Every day, you will make a huge difference to the lives of the people we care for, delivering a high standard of care alongside your colleagues.

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 way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

This role will require the post holder to provide hands on care in the prevention, management, and de-escalation of violence in in-patient settings, using approved techniques. The postholder(s) will be required to be physically fit to undertake, be assessed as competent in Seni Lewis training to obtain the required skills in the prevention, management and de-escalation of violence.

About us

Benefits:

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer

Some of our benefits are highlighted here:

• Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.

• Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes.

• NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.

Other Staff Benefits Include:

• Counselling services
• Wellbeing events
• Long service awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Childcare vouchers
• Staff restaurants

Details

Date posted

03 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£30,630 to £32,346 a year Per annum plus HCAS depending on allocation (Inner or Outer )

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-8314463-LF

Job locations

Bethlem Royal Hospital, Effra and Thames Wards, River House

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham, Kent

BR3 3BX

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate

1. Undertake activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
2. Provide 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 maintaining the service users respect and dignity at all times 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.
   • Implementing the principles of recovery: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.

See enclosed JD for details on main responsibilities.

Please note we do not offer sponsorship for these roles

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working under the direct supervision and guidance of a Registered Nurse/ Senior Health Care Support Worker/ Assistant Practitioner/Nurse Associate

1. Undertake activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
2. Provide 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 maintaining the service users respect and dignity at all times 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.
   • Implementing the principles of recovery: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, participate in community meetings and other activities of their interest.

See enclosed JD for details on main responsibilities.

Please note we do not offer sponsorship for these roles

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Care Certificate.
• English and Mathematics basic qualifications (e.g. GCSE at grade C or above) or equivalent.

Desirable

• Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• At least one year as a Healthcare Support Worker, or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental health problems

Skills

Essential

• Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans.
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potential difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role including distress and agitation.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
• Communications skills - receiving and conveying information accurately with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records.

Desirable

• Experience in facilitating groups.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work 24hr Shifts, 7 days a week and across all clinical areas.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
• Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical requirements).

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Care Certificate.
• English and Mathematics basic qualifications (e.g. GCSE at grade C or above) or equivalent.

Desirable

• Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• At least one year as a Healthcare Support Worker, or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental health problems

Skills

Essential

• Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans.
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potential difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role including distress and agitation.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
• Communications skills - receiving and conveying information accurately with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records.

Desirable

• Experience in facilitating groups.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work 24hr Shifts, 7 days a week and across all clinical areas.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
• Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical requirements).

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.

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bethlem Royal Hospital, Effra and Thames Wards, River House

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham, Kent

BR3 3BX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bethlem Royal Hospital, Effra and Thames Wards, River House

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham, Kent

BR3 3BX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Effra Ward Manager

Maxima Hernandez

[email protected]

02032288400

Details

Date posted

03 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£30,630 to £32,346 a year Per annum plus HCAS depending on allocation (Inner or Outer )

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-8314463-LF

Job locations

Bethlem Royal Hospital, Effra and Thames Wards, River House

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham, Kent

BR3 3BX

United Kingdom

Supporting documents

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