Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.

We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospitals and community bases. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible.

Job overview

What would you do in a zombie apocalypse? How would you sell a freezer to an eskimo? These are the types of quirky questions and challenges that will come from working with children and young people. It will certainly keep you on your toes and get you thinking.

 We are looking for Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) to join our energetic, friendly, supportive and caring team. HCAs are crucial to the running of a Mental Health Unit, they work alongside nurses, doctors, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, family therapists, and dieticians to provide 24/7 compassionate care to young people admitted to the PICU (our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit for Children and Young People).

Main duties of the job

We are seeking individuals who are compassionate and enthusiastic and who are able to work collaboratively with the patient and family during an acute phase of a young person’s illness.

If you are looking for a career where you can develop yourself and grow within, or you are looking for a new opportunity, a career change and challenge we encourage you to apply.

Working for our organisation

 As were developing a brand new team, this is the chance to be involved in building a service from the ground up, there will be team building and teaching prior to the unit opening in Spring 2023, allowing people to build their confidence and skill base.

This new purpose built 8 bedded psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) for children and adolescents will be based at the Warneford hospital.

Other benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:

  • Excellent opportunities for career progression
  • 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
  • NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
  • Staff accommodation
  • Competitive pension scheme
  • Lease car scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme

    • Detailed job description and main responsibilities

    For more information or to arrange an informal visit to Highfield Unit, please contact us on the details below.

    Please also review the job description for further information about this role.

    Person specification

    Knowledge Requirements

    Essential criteria

  • Good written and verbal skills
  • Good numeracy and literacy
  • Ability to use a computer to meet the requirements of the role

    • Skills

    Essential criteria

  • Ability to communicate effectively
  • Evidence of effective interpersonal skills
  • Commitment to personalised, recovery oriented care

    • Personal Qualities

    Essential criteria

  • Awareness of personal and professional boundaries
  • Able to meet the needs of the service in respect of flexible working hours, deployment and work bases
  • Able to manage under stressful conditions and to be emotionally resilient

    • Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:

  • Excellent opportunities for career progression
  • 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
  • NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
  • Staff accommodation
  • Competitive pension scheme
  • Lease car scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
  • Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
  • Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
  • Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
  • We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
  • Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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