Healthcare Assistant - Thames Posted - Band 3

Job overview

We are seeking highly motivated, compassionate, and resilient healthcare professionals who have a background in mental health or a genuine passion for working within a female forensic mental health setting to join our multi-disciplinary team at Thames House.

Thames House is a 26-bedded low secure unit for women, supporting individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness and/or personality disorder. Many of our service users have previous experience of the criminal justice system. The service comprises a 10-bedded High Dependency Unit and a 16-bedded Low Dependency Unit, offering structured, recovery-focused care in a safe and therapeutic environment.

You’ll work a rotating shift pattern to cover our 24/7 service. This will be a mixture of early and late day shifts with one night week in every four.

We have established very effective ways of working with the patients to help them identify and reach their goals, whilst keeping them safe and supporting them onwards to a new life in the community.

We'll need you to have excellent communication skills with a positive attitude. We share a caring, non-judgmental and inclusive attitude, committed to the delivery of safe, high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting service users’ recovery and rehabilitation through therapeutic and person‑centred care
• Maintaining high standards of care within a safe, secure, and supportive environment
• Contributing to the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care and treatment for individuals with mental health needs
• Demonstrating professionalism, compassion, and resilience when working with complex and challenging presentations

This role attracts an RSU Lead payment of £1,446 per annum, in addition to your annual salary.

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application you are encouraged to read the “candidate guide to making an application” which is attached to all roles. Please include details around qualifications (including years these were gained particularly if we need to assess for clinical roles that these are still valid) and ensure that the supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses the essential criteria found in the JD.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount
• Pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (waiting lists may apply)
• Staff networking and support groups

You will contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care and treatment for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Completion of PEACE Teamwork Training and other mandatory role-specific training is required.

If you are successfully shortlisted, our Recruitment Day will be on Wednesday 25 February at Unipart House in Oxford. It is designed to give you a real feel for life at Oxford Health. You’ll have an extended period to meet our teams, learn about our services, and show us what you can do.

Please note that this recruitment day is by invitation only and is open exclusively to applicants who have successfully passed the screening stage.

• Please explain your interest in working at Thames House and in a female forensic mental health setting.

• Please describe any experience you have (paid or voluntary) supporting individuals with mental health needs or explain how your skills and qualities would transfer to this role.

• Working in a secure mental health environment requires compassion, professionalism, and the ability to manage challenging situations safely. Please provide an example of how you have demonstrated these qualities.

Name:
Caroline Thomas

Title:

Ward Manager

Telephone: