Mental health and learning disability staffing

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Flexible nurses and HCAs

Flexible and scalable mental health and learning disability staffing services help you overcome workforce challenges and deliver quality care when needed. Whether it’s cover for short-term staff sickness or sustained support during times of increased demand, the Scottish Nursing Guild provides nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) for short- or long-term coverage depending on your requirements.

Highly skilled care team

Our specialist nurses and HCAs are experienced in providing care to patients with a range of conditions. Due to the varied nature of their work, they are competent in conducting risk assessments and managing patients with challenging behaviours and effectively protecting the people in their care. 

Case study – Delivering comprehensive mental health support to a client with complex needs

The Scottish Nursing Guild (SNG) helped a client who was diagnosed with PTSD, emotionally unstable personality disorder, and childhood trauma. She experienced multiple placement breakdowns while engaging in high-risk behaviours, including aggression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, ligaturing, overdosing and substance misuse. These behaviours required her admission to secure services arising from the significant risk of death and exploitation due to her lack of life experience.  

After discharge, she returned to her local authority and was admitted to inpatient psychiatric services. A 2:1 support package from SNG was arranged to help her transition to independent living, involving intensive community-based psychiatric support and a wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).  

Workers helped her learn to structure her life, manage money, budget, pay bills, cook and use public transport. By fostering therapeutic relationships with the team, this helped her to reduce her engagement in risky behaviours. As she progressed, she chose to distance herself from undesirable associates and relocate to a more resource-rich area.  

SNG continued to support her transition by helping her purchase new items for her home, registering with health professionals, identifying suitable community activities and creating positive friendships. The team also helped her access the gym, apply for a bus pass and navigate new transport routes.

She now leads an active community life with reduced crisis behaviours, recognising triggers and making positive choices.

Safeguarding patients with extensive clinical expertise

The Scottish Nursing Guild upholds standards of care that go above and beyond local regulations and guidelines. We only provide mental health and learning disability nurses and healthcare assistants with the right qualifications, skills and experience to manage the demands of the role. Our rigorous checks and processes ensure our agency workers have the references to demonstrate that they meet these criteria.  

Our team of mental health and learning disability nurses and healthcare assistants possess exceptional qualities that set them apart:

Versatility

Adaptable to cater to individual patient needs, whether working independently or as part of a team. 

Resourcefulness

Skilled in working in various settings, including hospitals and communities whilst consistently exceeding care standards. 

Risk management

Effective in assessing risk and managing challenging patients with compassion and care. 

Dedication

Dedicated to going above and beyond what is expected to deliver the best possible care service. 

Availability and flexibility

Prepared to travel and support clients when others cannot, whether for one-off shifts or longer-term temporary cover. 

Comprehensive support

Experienced working with healthcare and non-healthcare professionals to deliver care. 

Speak to our staffing team

24/7 crisis intervention and one-to-one care

Our mental health and learning disability nurses and healthcare assistants are available 24/7 to fill gaps in rotas, covering annual leave or providing critical support during peak demand.  

Benefit from our thorough assessment process, which ensures we send the most suitable professionals for crisis intervention or one-to-one support. Our fully briefed nurses and healthcare assistants hit the ground running, delivering the best care possible wherever in Scotland, Ireland or Northern Ireland you are based.

Where we provide mental health and learning disability support 

We understand the urgency of mental health and learning disability staffing needs, which is why we offer immediate and urgent support in various locations across Scotland, Ireland or Northern Ireland including:

  • Children and adolescent mental health or psychiatric units 
  • Psychiatric intensive care units 
  • Secure facilities 
  • Admission and assessment units 
  • Rehabilitation units 
  • Mother and baby units 
  • Eating disorder units 
  • Psychiatric rehabilitation units 
  • Dementia care 
  • Nursing and care homes 
  • Residential and community centres 
  • Drug and alcohol centres 
  • Prisons and custodial settings 
  • 24/7 crisis intervention and one-to-one care  
  • Schools 
  • Holiday camps 

Talk to a member of our team

Call us if you need to request a nurse, discuss your requirements or
wish to understand more about our wide range of services.

Scotland
0131 229 9988

Northern Ireland
0333 323 0336

Republic of Ireland
01 9023080

Our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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