Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
About
We provide NHS care and treatment for people living in south east England. Our mental health services provide care and treatment for people with conditions such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, dementia and personality disorder. Our vision is to provide outstanding care and treatment you can be confident in.
Health Care Support Worker
Closed for applications on: 28-Jul-2026 08:00
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 28-Jul-2026 08:00
Key details
Location
- Site
- Mill View Hospital
- Address
- Nevil Avenue
- Town
- Hove
- Postcode
- BN3 7HZ
- Major / Minor Region
- West Sussex
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
Salary
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 pa / pro rata for part time
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AFC: Band 3)
Specialty
- Main area
- Mental Health
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate individuals to join our teams working with adults with acute mental health needs on Pavilion Ward (Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit) at Mill View Hospital.
Pavilion Ward provides a comprehensive induction period that will support you to develop in to a knowledgeable and skilled healthcare assistant. There is a wealth of career development opportunities available to all of our colleagues, and you will be supported to undertake comprehensive training in specialist skills such as The Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA) and Immediate Life Support (ILS).
The ideal candidate will have a passion for supporting people in crisis and breaking down the stigma of mental illness. You will be working alongside a multi disciplinary team to deliver person centred, evidenced based care.
Pavilion Ward is a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit supporting ten male patients. We are passionate about least restrictive practice and nurse-led activities. We are an energetic and motivated team and you will supported in implementing positive changes in practice for patients.
Advert
In your role as a healthcare assistant, you will report to the nurse in charge and your main duties will involve completing observations to maintain patient safety, supporting patients with regular, therapeutic engagements. You will act as an escort to patients, whether to accompany them on therapeutic community leave or for conveyance to another healthcare setting. You will contribute to and follow each patients care plan to engage them in therapeutic interventions, and will be encouraged to share your views and expertise in developing person-centred plans for care and treatment.
We are currently recruiting for full time (37.5 hour) healthcare assistants to work a variety of shifts. Many of our colleagues across the hospital work flexibly, and this can be discussed with the interviewing manager if your application is successful.
Mill View Hospital is a fast paced and dynamic place to work, and no two days are the same. You will be supported in regular supervision by your line manager or other members of the management team, where you can discuss any concerns or ideas you may have to develop the service we provide.
Working for our organisation
All of our wards work two shift patterns:
Day 07:00-19:30
Night 19:00-07:30
All applicants can expect to work a roster that covers both day shifts and night shifts, as well as some weekend working. Both day and night shifts begin promptly with a handover from the nurse in charge from the previous shift, and so excellent timekeeping is required in this role.
There are pay enhancements available for antisocial hours and weekend working, and our colleagues report a significant uplift in take home pay when enhancements are added to their basic salary. If successful, you will be able to access SPFT Bank staffing, which will allow you to work extra bank shifts on top of your contracted shifts across SPFT sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a Healthcare Assistant on Pavilion Ward, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care to individuals experiencing acute mental health needs within a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide therapeutic support to patients, helping to promote recovery, maintain safety, and enhance their wellbeing throughout their admission.
You will build positive and professional relationships with patients, supporting them to engage in meaningful activities, maintain daily living skills, and achieve their individual recovery goals. You will undertake and record clinical observations, monitor patients' mental and physical wellbeing, and promptly escalate any concerns to the nursing team.
The role requires you to support the management of risk through the delivery of enhanced observations, therapeutic engagement, and the use of de-escalation techniques where appropriate. You will contribute to maintaining a safe, secure, and therapeutic ward environment, supporting patients who may present with complex mental health needs, distress, aggression, or challenging behaviours.
You will assist patients with attending appointments, activities, and Section 17 leave, and work collaboratively with families, carers, and partner agencies to support care delivery. Accurate record keeping, effective communication, and adherence to Trust policies and procedures are essential aspects of the role.
As a Healthcare Assistant, you will be expected to uphold the values of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, demonstrate compassion and respect in all interactions, and contribute positively to the ongoing development of the service. You will participate in mandatory training, supervision, reflective practice, and quality improvement initiatives to ensure the highest standards of care are maintained.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about mental health care, committed to supporting people through periods of acute illness, and motivated to make a meaningful difference to patients and their recovery journey.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Desirable criteria
- The Care Certificate
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working collaboratively i.e. with colleagues, wider teams, service users etc
Desirable criteria
- Prior secure/PICU experience
- Compassionate and caring
- An understanding of professional boundaries
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amy Hodgkins
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
You can search for similar jobs on the employer's job board, or visit our national jobs board Health Jobs UK.