When supporting individuals with complex mental health needs, continuity of care is often the key to achieving the best possible outcomes.
Why continuity of care matters in mental health complex care
Mental Health
Complex Health Care Assistant (HCA, Carer or Support Worker)
Join Almond Care – Where Compassion Meets Career
Award-winning provider of complex care at home
At Almond Care, we specialise in supporting both adults and children with complex needs to live independently – in the comfort of their own homes. Now, we’re on the lookout for dedicated Complex Care Assistants in ST4 to join our outstanding team supporting a female with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) with Progressive Muscular Dystrophy. She also has a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube Insertion due to the challenges associated with swallowing and the risk of aspiration, so if you have experience with this or a similar condition, you would be perfect for her. However, full training will be given and all healthcare candidates with all least 6 months’ care experience will be considered.
Pay: From £12.75 per hour
Shifts: 8am to 8pm (12 hour days) and 8pm to 8am (12 hour nights), Monday to Sunday
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, ST4
What you’ll gain:
This is more than a job – it’s a chance to build real expertise. You’ll receive full specialist training in:
- Tracheostomy care
- Ventilator care
- PEG feeding
- Suction management
- Bowel & bladder management
- Medication administration
- Skin integrity care
- Physiotherapy
- Plus: Personal care, social activities, and light domestic tasks
Who we’re looking for:
- Compassionate, flexible, and ready to make a difference
- Passionate about care – experience is great, but not essential
- Eager to learn and grow in a rewarding healthcare career What’s in it for you?
- Paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Monthly rolling rotas for stability
- Full training, support, and Care Certificate
- Specialist career pathways in complex care
- Team meetings & ongoing development
- A valued role in a growing, forward-thinking company
Ready to take your first step into a fulfilling care career?
We’d love to hear from you!
Full job description available on request
All applicants will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Almond Care is an equal opportunities employer. Some roles may require a specific gender due to client preferences under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1.
We have many differing roles, so please tell all of your healthcare friends and get them to get in touch.
Support Worker
Location: ST11, Stoke-on-Trent
Role: Support Worker
Salary: £24,700 per year
Role Summary
To provide and maintain a high standard of care to the people we support with varied and complex care needs, allowing them to live independent and fulfilling lives within their own homes. To work either as part of a team or independently, ensuring that at all times the people we support receives an effective and efficient service that meets their chosen lifestyle, within a safe environment.
Key Requirements
- Providing emotional support to individuals and their families.
- Providing practical support for individuals and their families, such as helping with household tasks, personal care and paperwork.
- Supporting and monitoring their healthcare needs, including administering medication and temperature checks.
- Supporting them to pursue hobbies and interests.
- Supporting the learning of new skills or gaining employment.
- Teaching life skills, such as budgeting and paying bills.
- Helping with everyday tasks such as meal preparation, writing a shopping list, going shopping or maintaining their housing tenancy.
- Helping them to access community facilities and be included in community groups.
- Understanding their communication needs and adapting your communication to each individual, e.g. sounds, tones, body language.
- Working with other professionals, such as doctors and therapists, to ensure consistency of support.
- Analysing an individual’s needs and drawing up a focused support plan.
- Becoming both a role model and companion to the individual and uncovering shared interests, such as hobbies and outings.
All shifts must be logged in and out of at the correct times.
- Notify the manager immediately of any change in availability.
- Liaise regularly with the manager
- Notify the manager promptly of any change in family circumstances e.g. non-access to the home or deterioration of health of the individual you are supporting.
- Attend meetings as convened by the manager/ management team.
- Complete accident/incident forms accurately and submit promptly to the manager.
Take part in an induction program and attend ongoing Mandatory training as agreed by your Manager.
To ensure that Almond Care policies and procedures are adhered to at all times
RGN (Complex Care Nurse)
Are you an experienced and passionate RGN: Complex Care and are you ready to take the next step in your career to meet the challenge of this exciting role?
Position: RGN (Complex Care)
Location: Canterbury (CT4)
Pay: £45,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience.
Job type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: Core hours of 8.00am – 8.00pm or 8.00pm – 8.00am (Monday – Sunday). Mixture of day and night shifts.
WE DO NOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP
Almond Care is an award winning, specialist, UK provider of complex care in the home, working with adults and children to support them in leading an independent lifestyle of their choice.
Job Description
Personalised Care:
- Develop and implement individualised care plans in collaboration with the client, their family, and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).
- Monitor and manage symptoms such as breathlessness, muscle weakness, communication difficulties, and swallowing issues.
- Support and educate the client and their family on disease progression and palliative care options.
Clinical Duties:
- Administer medications and monitor effectiveness and side effects.
- Provide enteral feeding support (PEG/NG feeding) if required.
- Assist with respiratory care, including use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), suctioning, and cough assist devices.
- Perform regular assessments of mobility, skin integrity, and nutritional status.
Communication & Coordination:
- Work closely with the MND multidisciplinary team, including neurologists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, respiratory specialists, and palliative care services.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation in line with NMC and local trust policies.
- Act as an advocate for the client, promoting autonomy and informed decision-making.
Emotional and Psychological Support:
- Provide compassionate support to clients and families during emotionally challenging times.
- Refer to counselling and bereavement services as appropriate.
Professional Development:
- Keep up to date with best practices in MND care and attend relevant training or study days.
- Participate in clinical supervision and reflective practice sessions.
EssentialQualifications and Skills
- Registered Nurse with the NMC (Adult branch)
- Experience in community nursing, palliative care, neurology, or complex care
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Full UK driving licence (if community-based)
Full job description available on request
All applicants will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Almond Care is an equal opportunities employer.
Some roles may require a specific gender due to client preferences under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1.
Learning Disabilities Nurse
Are you an experienced and passionate RGN: Children’s Care and are you ready to take the next step in your career to meet the challenge of this exciting role?
Position: Learning Disabilities Nurse (Children’s Services)
Location: Sileby, Leicestershire (LE12)
Pay: £40,000 – £45,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience.
Job type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: 40 hours per week (days and nights) including weekends and bank holidays as per rota pattern.
WE DO NOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP
Almond Care is an award winning, specialist, UK provider of children’s complex care in the home, working with adults and children to support them in leading an independent lifestyle of their choice.
Job Description
Working as Children’s Complex Care Worker at Almond Care Children’s Services you will be:
- Working alongside our nurses to deliver complex care support to our young people.
- Daily duties will include, personal care, meeting the young people’s specific health needs, engaging with the young people, maintaining a safe environment, ensuring safeguarding.
- Following a thorough induction and training programme, your duties will include:
- Supporting, mentoring and educating our children in day-to-day activities to develop their emotional and social needs.
- Developing personal skills in line with care plans to achieve outcomes set out by the home and professionals involved in the children’s care.
- Positive engagement to encourage our children and young adults in their development.
- Reporting and recording key aspects of care and health outcomes.
- Developing your professional skills as part of on-going development.
- Managing all elements of the young people’s health and wellbeing.
- Delivering a high standard of personal care.
- Supporting with tracheotomy care, suction, PEG feeding and epilepsy management.
- Communicating with the nurses on shift and receiving guidance from them.
Job Purpose
- To provide the highest quality of care and support as part of the care team to Service Users and in accordance with Company policies, procedures and practices and standards set by the Regulatory Body.
- Support and supervise the young people in the implementation of an individual programme of life skills, key skills and independence skills and leisure in their Home and the community.
- Support young people within the home in accordance with their personal/pathway/placement plans/health care plans and the policies, procedures and practices of the home.
- Make accurate and appropriate entries in young people’s records, diaries and reports as necessary in accordance with company and local policies, procedures and practices.
- Support and enable young people to maintain a level of personal hygiene through offering guidance and support to support with their personal care.
- Work with and manage behaviour and offer support to the young people, visual guides and plans needed due to the young people’s needs.
- Organise and participate in appropriate activities and enable young people to take part in a wide variety of activities, ensuring activities are suitable for the individual.
- Safeguard all young people within the home and ensure their safety and wellbeing is always priority.
- Administer medication in accordance with Company and Regulatory Body policies and procedures.
- Ensure that medication is stored in safe manner in accordance with policy.
Full job description available on request
All applicants will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Almond Care is an equal opportunities employer.
Some roles may require a specific gender due to client preferences under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1.
Children’s RGN
Working as Children’s Complex Care Worker at Almond Care Children’s Services you will be:
Are you an experienced and passionate RGN: Children’s Care and are you ready to take the next step in your career to meet the challenge of this exciting role?
Position: RGN (Children’s Services)
Location: Sileby, Leicestershire (LE12)
Pay: £40,000 – £45,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience.
Job type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: 40 hours per week (days and nights) including weekends and bank holidays as per rota pattern.
WE DO NOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP
Almond Care is an award winning, specialist, UK provider of children’s complex care in the home, working with adults and children to support them in leading an independent lifestyle of their choice.
Job Description
- Working alongside our nurses to deliver complex care support to our young people.
- Daily duties will include, personal care, meeting the young people’s specific health needs, engaging with the young people, maintaining a safe environment, ensuring safeguarding.
Following a thorough induction and training programme, your duties will include:
- Supporting, mentoring and educating our children in day-to-day activities to develop their emotional and social needs.
- Developing personal skills in line with care plans to achieve outcomes set out by the home and professionals involved in the children’s care.
- Positive engagement to encourage our children and young adults in their development.
- Reporting and recording key aspects of care and health outcomes.
- Developing your professional skills as part of on-going development.
- Managing all elements of the young people’s health and wellbeing.
- Delivering a high standard of personal care.
- Supporting with tracheotomy care, suction, PEG feeding and epilepsy management.
- Communicating with the nurses on shift and receiving guidance from them.
Job Purpose
- To provide the highest quality of care and support as part of the care team to Service Users and in accordance with Company policies, procedures and practices and standards set by the Regulatory Body.
- Support and supervise the young people in the implementation of an individual programme of life skills, key skills and independence skills and leisure in their Home and the community.
- Support young people within the home in accordance with their personal/pathway/placement plans/health care plans and the policies, procedures and practices of the home.
- Make accurate and appropriate entries in young people’s records, diaries and reports as necessary in accordance with company and local policies, procedures and practices.
- Support and enable young people to maintain a level of personal hygiene through offering guidance and support to support with their personal care.
- Work with and manage behaviour and offer support to the young people, visual guides and plans needed due to the young people’s needs.
- Organise and participate in appropriate activities and enable young people to take part in a wide variety of activities, ensuring activities are suitable for the individual.
- Safeguard all young people within the home and ensure their safety and wellbeing is always priority.
- Administer medication in accordance with Company and Regulatory Body policies and procedures.
- Ensure that medication is stored in safe manner in accordance with policy.
Full job description available on request
All applicants will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Almond Care is an equal opportunities employer.
Some roles may require a specific gender due to client preferences under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1.
Supporting mental health is a vital part of care plans
Mental health is increasingly recognised as an integral part of overall health, yet there remains a significant gap in how we address it, particularly for individuals with complex needs.
Using Positive Behaviour Support for children exhibiting challenging behaviour
Challenging behaviour in children and young people often stems from them not having their needs met.
Helping school leavers with SEND take their next steps
Young people with special educational needs and disabilities often need more support, especially when it comes to transitioning between life stages.
Leaving school is a big change for every young adult, and taking the next step can be daunting.
Knowing their options can ensure you and your child can make the right choice for them.
Preparation at school
The support system in place for children with SEND places importance on preparing them for adulthood.
Schools legally must provide career advice from Year 8 onwards, and for children with SEND, this must be specifically tailored.
Teachers and staff are recommended to work with employers, housing agencies, and disability organisations to help children understand what options are available for the future.
Some children with complex needs also have an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan. This plan must focus on preparing for adulthood from Year 9 onwards, helping your child put plans in place to achieve the future they want.
Becoming a young person
Under the SEND system, a child is classed as a young person from the final Friday in June after they turn 16.
As a young person, they gain rights separate from their parents. This means they can:
- Request an EHC needs assessment
- Make decisions about their current EHC plan
- Ask for a personal budget
This means that whilst you can still guide your child, as a young adult they gain more control over their education.
Post 16 education
In the UK, young people must stay in education until they are 18.
Whilst they can leave school at 16, education or training must continue, even if combined with paid or voluntary work.
There are a few different paths that your child can choose.
Progressing to sixth form
Staying at school offers young people familiarity, which is ideal for young people and children not ready to move to a different type of setting.
SEND support is also continued into sixth form by many schools. This means that your child can get extra support whilst completing their GCSEs, BTECs and A Levels.
Colleges
Mainstream and Specialist Further Education colleges provide a range of courses your child might prefer. They offer a wider range of subjects than most sixth forms, giving your child a chance to pursue something they are more interested in.
They offer a different environment to schools, but it is often a stepping stone to more independence.
Many mainstream colleges also offer SEND support. This can come in the form of:
- Accessible information
- Mentoring
- Specialist tuition
- Assistive technology
- One-to-one and small-group learning
- Therapy
Alternative training options
Classroom-based education does not work for everyone and often can be difficult for children and young people with SEND.
Training options such as apprenticeships, traineeships, and supported internships offer young people a chance to both learn in a new setting and experience the workplace environment.
These options allow young people to work whilst remaining in education and receiving qualifications.
Taking the time to talk to your child about the future is important.
Our trained staff can offer support for children and young adults with SEND, as well as their families.
Get in touch today for help and support for your child.
The significance of Men’s Health Week and regular health checks for men
This week provides an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on a crucial issue which is often sidestepped: men’s health.
