Children's Family and Mental Health Assistant Nurse

Job Overview

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a Children's Family and Mental Health Assistant Nurse to join our team. The post holder will be a key member of the direct care team, with additional skills in communication and therapeutic engagement, particularly when supporting young people who may have difficulty expressing their care needs. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing high‑quality care and therapeutic support to patients and their families, working alongside Registered Nurses and under the guidance of the wider multidisciplinary team.

This includes collaboration with Mental Health Practitioners from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Full training will be provided. Our 22‑beded unit in Bedford supports medical, surgical, and mental health admissions, including high‑dependency care. The unit is supported by a range of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Practice Development Nurses. We are also actively involved in supporting both medical and nursing students, with a strong emphasis on staff education, training, and professional development.

• Demonstrate caring, compassionate, and professional behaviour at all times, fostering trust and confidence among those in your care.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives, and members of the multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care, using a range of appropriate communication skills.
• Engage with young people and their carers to gather relevant information that supports multidisciplinary assessment and care planning, recognising and responding appropriately to their emotional needs.
• Undertake a full range of routine care duties, including supporting self‑care and completing routine observations, as well as physical observations when required.
• Work collaboratively with all members of the ward team and promote effective liaison across the wider multidisciplinary network to ensure the highest standard of patient care.
• Contribute to risk assessment and risk management planning by identifying and escalating concerns to the named nurse or nurse in charge, and supporting multidisciplinary reviews.
• Support the assessment, development, and implementation of care plans in partnership with a Registered Nurse/Practitioner and Mental Health Practitioners.
• Provide ongoing assessment and adapt interventions as required, developing and implementing activities in response to the needs of young people. Accurately record and promptly elevate any concerns relating to care.
• Maintain high standards of record keeping in line with nursing documentation requirements, ensuring all entries are countersigned by a qualified member of staff where appropriate.
• Participate in the management of challenging or distressed behaviour in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• Maintain a safe clinical environment, supporting infection prevention and control by adhering to relevant policies, standards, and procedures. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and effective running of the ward and service.
• Contribute to discharge planning in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, young people, and their carers.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with young people, communicating in a manner that respects their views, autonomy, and cultural background.
• Participate in patient assessments, under the direction and delegated authority of a Registered Nurse, to ensure high standards of care are delivered.
• Obtain valid informed consent prior to delivering care, in accordance with Trust policies.
• Monitor and document progress, identify and elevate concerns, and report any changes in a young person's wellbeing to the wider team in a timely manner.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health…