Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (07.30 - 20.00 or 19.30 - 08.00. Mix of days nights and weekends)
- Job ref
- 418-NUR2321-CW
- Employer
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bedford Hospital
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Children's Family and Mental Health Care Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
We are excited to have an exciting new opportunity for Children's Family and Mental health assistant nurse to join our team. The post holder is a key member of the direct care team who is additionally skilled in communication and therapeutic engagement with young people who have difficulties directly communicating their care needs.
The post holder is responsible for providing care and therapeutic support to patients and their families in conjunction with the Registered Nurse and directed by members of the wider multidisciplinary network, including Mental Health Practitioners from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Training will be provided.
Our 22 bedded Unit at Bedford supports medical and surgical and Mental health admissions including high dependency care, and is supported by a variety of clinical nurse specialists and practice development nurses. The unit supports both medical and nursing students and there is a big focus on staff education and development.
Main duties of the job
- Demonstrating caring, compassionate, professional behaviour fostering trust and confidence in the service for people in your care.
- Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives and members of the Multidisciplinary network of professionals regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
- Engage with and gather information from young people and carers to support a multidisciplinary formulation and care plan, recognising and responding appropriately to the emotional needs of young people and their families.
- Contribute to a full range of routine care tasks such as supporting self-care and completing routine observations, including physical observations when required.
- Work cohesively with all members of the ward team and promote effective liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary care network in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.
- Contributing to risk assessment and risk management planning by identifying and reporting issues of concern to the named nurse/ nurse in charge and supporting multi-disciplinary review.
- Contribute to assessment and support the development and implementation of care plans in conjunction with a Registered Nurse/Practitioner and the Mental health Practitioners.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To provide on-going continuous assessment and adjustment of interventions, develop and implement new activities in response to young people’s needs, recording and escalating concerns relating to care accurately and in a timely way.
• Maintaining a good standard of record keeping that meets the expected standards in the nursing notes and to ensure that a qualified member of staff countersigns entries.
• To participate in the management of challenging or disturbed behaviour in accordance with the Trust procedures.
• Maintaining a safe clinical environment, prevention and control of infection by ensuring compliance with policies, standards and procedures and undertaking delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the ward and service.
• To contribute to discharge planning in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Team, young people and carers.
• To form professional relationships with young people and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
• Participate in patient assessment (under the direction of and after appropriate delegation from the Registered Nurse) to deliver high standards of care.
• Obtain informed consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• To monitor and record progression, highlight concerns and report any perceived changes in young people’s wellbeing to the team.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Significant experience working with children
- Experience working in a health care setting
Desirable criteria
- GCSE A*- C in both English Language and Mathematics or equivalent in these two subjects e.g. Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy at Level 2
Experience
Essential criteria
- Has substantial evidence of experience as a nursing/care assistant in a health or social care setting, either public, private or voluntary sector
- Experience of working in an Acute Hospital setting
- Experience of working with young people who are experiencing mental health needs.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with a range of learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, eating disorders.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Awareness of implementing change and willingness to learn new skills.
Desirable criteria
- Counselling skills
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Olivia Zielinska
- Job title
- CAU Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01234355122
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