Health Care Assistant: mental health branch
Course contents:
1. Code of practice Mental Health Act 1983.
2. First aid and safety.
3. Good communication skills.
4. Drugs used in mental illness.
5. Awareness of mental illnesses.
6. Causes of mental illnesses.
7. Health and hygiene.
Mental health assistants
The work
Mental health care assistant, also known as psychiatric assistant, work in hospitals or in the community helping people who suffer from a range of
conditions such as anxiety and stress-related illnesses, to more severe problems including personality disorders, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse.
Mental health care assistant can work with a variety of different patients or specialize in a particular group such as adolescents or offenders. Their work may involve counselling and supporting.
Hours and Environment
Mental health care assistant in the NHS work 37.5 hours a week, which can include evening, weekend and night shifts. In the community, most work is done during the day, although there may be an on-call rota for emergencies. Many hospitals offer flexible hours of work. Some assistant work extra hours, either as overtime or for nursing agencies that supply staff to the private sector.
Mental health care assistant work in hospitals, residential hostels, day centres, patients’ homes, and special units, for example, for drug dependency. Those who work with offenders may be based in a secure unit or special hospital.
Skills and Interests
To be a mental health care assistant, you should:
• be understanding, sympathetic and non-judgmental
• be a good listener and able to gain a patient’s trust
• be able to interpret body language and other non-verbal communication
• be able to relate well to families
• stay calm and in control in difficult situations
Entry
There are no set entry requirements for work as a mental health care assistant; however, previous voluntary experience in a caring role may be useful.
It may be possible to enter this field of work through an apprenticeship scheme.
You should be in good physical health. There is no maximum age for entry and maturity and life experience is an asset. Many employers conduct a police check.
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