Support Worker

Afton Ward are looking for a dedicated Mental Health Support Worker to join our supportive Multi-disciplinary Team on the Isle of Wight. This work can be exciting, challenging and rewarding. The team are looking for someone who is compassionate, caring and able to take direction. This post is a permanent 30 hour contract.

The successful candidate will become part of the team on our 8 bedded ward. The patient cohort includes patients who have a Dementia diagnosis and patients who have a significant functional mental health diagnosis alongside frailty. Our multi-disciplinary team is committed to providing effective and timely care and support to all those people who come into the ward.

We are looking for an innovative, motivated and enthusiastic person who has the passion, commitment and therapeutic skills to assist in delivering compassionate and high quality care to individuals who are experiencing a crisis in their mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Our client group is diverse and you will encounter many differing mental health conditions amongst those using our service. Effective communication skills are required. You will be expected to work a mixture of early, late, potentially long days (combination of early & late hours) and night shifts.

We like to think that all staff on Afton Ward are part of a respectful, flexible, hard-working, welcoming and collaborative team; we expect successful applicants to support that philosophy., Support workers on Afton Ward contribute to a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals to ensure that the clinical, environmental and social needs of our service users are met.

Support and supervision for all staff is a fundamental part of the culture of the ward and individuals are actively encouraged to seek out learning opportunities.

To be responsible for providing the highest quality of care for people with mental ill health under the supervision of qualified staff.

To work effectively as part of a team.

To work closely with colleagues within Mental Health Service as a whole, and across other services as required.

To work with colleagues to manage people with complex needs and high levels of dependency.

Under the supervision of qualified staff, to undertake nursing needs assessments and reviews as requested.

The post holder will be expected to work alongside other staff to share and promote good practice.

To contribute to service improvements relating to mental ill health, in line with both the local and national modernisation agenda.

Southern Health is one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK, specialising in mental health and learning disabilities, as well as offering physical health community-based services.

With a workforce of more than 7000 and a footprint that spans more than 200 sites across Hampshire, we're committed to providing the best possible healthcare, reaching a range of diverse communities, whilst placing patients and staff at the forefront of all our endeavours.

We are currently working closely with other NHS Trusts to combine all our collective community, mental health, and learning disability services, with the plan to create a new larger, more integrated and accessible organisation.

The transformation will happen in stages; Hampshire CAMHS, part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust joined Southern Health in February 2024, with Isle of Wight NHS Trust mental health and community services transitioning across in May 2024. The final combination of Southern Health and Solent NHS Trust services is expected in late 2024, when our new organisation, to be known as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, will be formed.

Our new Trust will continue to cater to the unique needs of different communities, making healthcare across the county more accessible, as well as offering staff more opportunities for career development, training and partnership working.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare in Hampshire.