Mental Health Care Assistant

The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation trust are looking to recruit a mental health care assistant into the Enhanced Care Team that will offer support to mental health patients. The team will comprise of a Lead Nurse, Band 6 RMNs and Mental Health Care Assistants who have/ are working towards a care certificate. If you are interested and available please apply today or email directly to speak to our recruitment team - we are looking forward to hearing from you!

This will be a 24/7 service and staff will need to work flexibly to support the clinical areas.

The role of a MHCA is a very privileged role, you will provide personal care and support to patients at their most vulnerable times. You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team to provide a compassionate, caring and safe environment for our patients.

Main duties of the job

Providing enhanced care and continuous observations to patients with mental health conditions or patients experiencing psychological distress. Deliver therapeutic interventions that will reduce agitation and distress and promote recovery. To identify factors that increase and decrease agitation/distress for the patient. To always deliver care according to the principles of least restriction.

Mandatory Requirements for this role includes:o Minimum of 12 months care experience.o In receipt of the Care Certificateo Restraint training.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5,000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme alongside a strong commitment to developing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family ensures you feel valued from your initial interview and throughout your time with us.

We are clinically led and provide joined-up care by bridging hospital and community services, alongside delivering regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford, with community sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh, and services delivered in patients' homes across Guildford and Waverley.

We work in partnership with Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated us as Outstanding. We are proud of our achievements and continue to invest in our people and infrastructure.

To learn more about life at Royal Surrey, please watch our short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

14 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£27,106 to £28,850 a year

per annum including High Cost Area Supplement

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

384-AGB-EMF21561-B3

Job locations

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To therapeutically engage with patients who have a mental health condition or are experiencing psychological distress.- To always deliver care in accordance with the principles of least restriction and in line with national guidance including NICE guidelines for managing disturbed behaviour- To understand continuous risk assessment of the patient and escalate any increase in risk.- To identify when patients are experiencing anxiety/distress and therapeutically engage with them to alleviate these symptoms.- To identify escalation of risk and actively de-escalate the situation.- To undertake therapeutic activities with the patient, that are appropriate to their presentation.- To identify an issue that prevents the therapeutic engagement of the patient- Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.- Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.

Job responsibilities

To therapeutically engage with patients who have a mental health condition or are experiencing psychological distress.- To always deliver care in accordance with the principles of least restriction and in line with national guidance including NICE guidelines for managing disturbed behaviour- To understand continuous risk assessment of the patient and escalate any increase in risk.- To identify when patients are experiencing anxiety/distress and therapeutically engage with them to alleviate these symptoms.- To identify escalation of risk and actively de-escalate the situation.- To undertake therapeutic activities with the patient, that are appropriate to their presentation.- To identify an issue that prevents the therapeutic engagement of the patient- Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.- Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English).
• Care certificate

Knowledge

Essential

• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others

Desirable

• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient's needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English).
• Care certificate

Knowledge

Essential

• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others

Desirable

• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient's needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

To therapeutically engage with patients who have a mental health condition or are experiencing psychological distress.- To always deliver care in accordance with the principles of least restriction and in line with national guidance including NICE guidelines for managing disturbed behaviour- To understand continuous risk assessment of the patient and escalate any increase in risk.- To identify when patients are experiencing anxiety/distress and therapeutically engage with them to alleviate these symptoms.- To identify escalation of risk and actively de-escalate the situation.- To undertake therapeutic activities with the patient, that are appropriate to their presentation.- To identify an issue that prevents the therapeutic engagement of the patient- Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.- Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience/development
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English).
• Care certificate

Knowledge

Essential

• At least one year's experience as a Healthcare Support Worker or equivalent experience
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour
• Communication: exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, and relatives, remaining sensitive and empathetic
• Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom
• Resilient: able to respond appropriately to potentially difficult interpersonal situations or demands of the role, including distress and agitation
• Approachable and self-aware, and demonstrate the ability to self-reflect
• Self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to encourage others

Desirable

• Able to provide quality care responsive to the patient's needs without close supervision and taking the initiative within protocols, policies, and care plans