Healthcare Support WorkerNHS

Job summary

To work as a member of the Home Treatment and Rapid Response services, working within the home treatment function delivering support to patients and their families using evidence based, profession specific and general mental health knowledge providing client centred, recovery orientated principles and practice for individuals, families and carers referred to the Service.

You will also work within the Rapid response function undertaking assessments 24/7 received from Urgent Mental Health Helpline as well as undertaking gatekeeping assessments.

To work in accordance with Trust and Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team Policies and Procedures and the Care Programme Approach.

To provide an alternative to inpatient admission treating patients in their home environment who are presenting in a crisis with significant distress.

Service covers Gravesham, Swanley and Dartford. Cross covering across other localities may be required for Rapid Response Service.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Main duties of the job

• Contribute in the assessment of clients referred to Home Treatment and Rapid Response
• To provide support to clients of Home Treatment and Rapid Response and their carers in relation to personal care, daily living and social activities, and help maintain the social network by the use of a range of home treatment interventions.
• To carry out specified interventions, alone on occasion, as per crisis plan and update as appropriate
• To monitor progress of Home Treatment and Rapid Response clients against the crisis plans and communicate findings, recommend changes to senior HOME TREATMENT AND RAPID RESPONSE staff in order for crisis plan to be reviewed.
• To report any changes in client presentation and safety to Senior Home Treatment and Rapid Response staff
• Work flexibly in order to respond to crisis work and adjust allocated work and prioritise at short notice as required by Shift Co-Ordinator.
• Engage clients and carers with Home Treatment and Rapid Response crisis plans and negotiate options available whilst promoting crisis prevention recovery and resilience.
• Support carers to enable clients to remain at home. On occasions assist client with administration of medication as per crisis plan.
• Promote work of Home Treatment and Rapid Response to clients, carers, other mental health professionals, statutory and non statutory agencies .

Job description

Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.

What is High Cost Area Allowance?

The High-Cost Area (HCA) allowance, also referred to as London Weighting, is a payment made to employees who work in London and the surrounding areas.

As this post is based in Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley, the successful applicant will receive an additional payment each month.

5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,346 per year and a maximum payment of £2,270 per year (the agreed annual amount will be divided into 12 equal amounts and paid monthly) (2026/27 figures)

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.

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.

Take a look at our Healthcare Assistant Video