Job summary

Are you a compassionate, experienced carer driven to make a real difference in older adult mental health?

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is looking for dedicated Band 3 Healthcare Support Workers to join our acute team at Thanet Mental Health Unit in Margate.

In this vital role, you will work directly alongside nurses, doctors, and therapists across a 24-hour shift pattern to deliver hands-on, high-quality care. You will play a key part in supporting older adult patients through acute admissions and assessment--providing a safe, therapeutic environment while helping them maintain their independence, dignity, and wellbeing.

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience working within a mental health or learning disability setting.
• A genuine commitment to providing comfort, respect, and dedicated time to patients, their families, and carers
• Level 3 in Health and Social Care (NVQ or equivalent), strong communication, computer literacy, and the Care Certificate (or ability to achieve it within 6 months).
• Confidence in carrying out physical health checks (MEWS), assisting with daily living activities, facilitating therapeutic tasks, and maintaining accurate records.

If you thrive in a dynamic, supportive care environment, we would love to welcome your expertise to our team.

Main duties of the job

• Recording and reporting accurately any changes related to the patient's current behaviour and/or risks to Nurse/healthcare professional in Charge in a timely manner.
• Recording care given and reporting omissions accurately and in a timely manner.
• Supporting and carrying out therapeutic observations as required and instructed.
• Promoting a healthy, safe and secure environment by adhering to Trust statutory health and safety requirements and maintaining confidentiality of information at all times in compliance with Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidance.
• Supporting new team members.
• Demonstrating a professional approach to work, and abide by the Trust values.
• To provide comfort, compassion, empathy and time to patients and their carers, family and loved ones.
• Undertake and maintain all essential training to role.
• Working confidently in a variety of environments which present different challenges whilst continuing to act in a professional manner.
• Balancing all aspects of the job role across the 7-day working pattern.
• Being flexible and responsive to competing demands.

About us

We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.