Healthcare Assistant

Salary: £27,074 per year
Contract: Full Time
Location: Priory Hospital Burgess Hill

About the Role

Priory Hospital Burgess Hill is seeking a Mental Healthcare Assistant to join our experienced team. Set within attractive rural grounds on the edge of the South Downs National Park, our purpose‑built hospital provides acute mental health support for adult males, as well as psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) services.

Our acute and PICU services allow more people to be treated closer to home, and we work closely with the NHS to support the repatriation of out‑of‑area patients.

As an HCA, you will play a key role in supporting our patients’ recovery, wellbeing and independence.

What You'll Be Doing

You will be part of a compassionate, person‑centred team committed to helping patients move forward with confidence. Your role will include:

• Supporting qualified staff with the assessment and implementation of individual care plans
• Carrying out routine care tasks to promote patient dignity, wellbeing and comfort
• Providing responsive, practical support for personal care needs including dressing, bathing and toileting, in line with relevant care legislation
• Observing and monitoring patient wellbeing, reporting any unusual physical, mental or emotional changes promptly to senior staff or the primary nurse
• Helping maintain a safe, structured and therapeutic environment

Further details can be found in the full job description.

What You'll Bring to the Role

Working in mental health is incredibly rewarding—but it can also be challenging. Resilience, empathy and a genuine commitment to supporting others are key.

You will bring:

• A caring, compassionate and patient‑focused approach
• The ability to build positive relationships with patients and colleagues
• A willingness to undertake the Care Certificate as part of your probation (even if previously completed)
• Strong observational skills and the ability to act calmly under pressure

Experience in a care setting is desirable, but what matters most is your values, attitude and willingness to learn.

Benefits

We want you to thrive in your role and develop your career with us. You’ll be supported with training, development pathways and regular career conversations.

Adult Care Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Contributory pension scheme
• Flexible benefits including gym membership, IT technology schemes and private healthcare
• Access to development opportunities
• Sponsorship for professional qualifications through our Individual Professional Development (IPD) panel
• Leadership & management development
• Long service award
• Refer-a-friend bonuses

Healthcare Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Birthday Holiday – your birthday off as an extra day’s annual leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Flexible benefits including gym membership, IT technology schemes and private healthcare
• Access to development opportunities
• Sponsorship for professional qualifications
• Leadership & management development
• Long service award
• Refer-a-friend bonuses

Shortlisting may begin upon receipt of applications. This vacancy may close early if enough suitable candidates are identified.

About Priory

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and adult social care. With 13,000 colleagues across 280 services, we support over 26,000 people each year. We treat more than 70 conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and children’s mental health, and we provide residential and supported living services for autistic adults, people with learning disabilities, Prader–Willi Syndrome, brain injuries and older adults.

We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Learn more about our support here:
https://jobs.priorygroup.com/accessibility

All roles are subject to a successful disclosure from the DBS, Access NI or Disclosure Scotland (cost covered by Priory).
Recruitment agencies: please do not contact us regarding this vacancy.