Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Currently Mon-Fri. However, this may change to a 7-day rota pattern to cover some evenings and weekends.)
- Job ref
- 383-5876-SPE-25
- Employer
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Kedleston Unit
- Town
- Derby
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 pa, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/07/2025 08:00
- Interview date
- 07/08/2025
Employer heading
Occupational Therapy Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.
Job overview
Previous applicants need not apply.
As an enthusiastic Occupational Therapy Assistant at the Kedleston, Low secure & Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit, you will work under the directions of a qualified Occupational Therapist to create opportunities for individuals with severe and enduring mental health problems who have a history of offending behaviours. Our service is an all male, working age adults, forensic low secure unit.
By facilitating practical activity groups and individual sessions. You will contribute towards a balanced therapeutic programme, providing service-users with appropriate life skill opportunities while maintaining a safe environment.
The post involves facilitating one-to-one sessions with a patient and also leading in group interventions. The post holder will be aiming to promote social inclusion, enabling independence and enhancing the autonomy of the service user.
This post will involve working within the OT team, and the wider MDT, including external professionals.
Contribute to a service which aims to provide patient focused care, promoting independence and recovery.
As a member of the Kedleston Unit Occupational Therapy Team, the post holder will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the Occupational Therapy Team, the post holder will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide recovery focused interventions including group work, one to ones, and individualised treatments.
The post holder will be expected to support the Occupational Therapists in delivering person centred therapeutic activities and work within their job role parameters.
This position is in an Occupational Therapy Team, within a low secure, forensic mental health unit, covering 2 all male adult wards (1 admission and assessment ward and 1 rehabilitation ward); working with the wider MDT to provide a safe and effective discharge back into the community or suitable step down placement.
To assist the Occupational Therapist with patient assessments within the hospital and in the community.
To develop practical / living skills with individuals and groups .
To observe patients' behaviour, responses, and abilities, and report these observations, with accuracy and in a professional manner.
To record relevant information in patients contact notes, complying with good practice guidelines.
Working for our organisation
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
Benefits include:
- Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
- 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service
- Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
- Health service discounts and online benefits
- Incremental pay progression
- Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
- Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network, amongst others.
- Health and wellbeing opportunities
- Structured learning and development opportunities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As part of the multi-disciplinary team, the Occupational Therapy Assistant will work flexibly in an occupation-focussed way, by developing and delivering meaningful activity within an individual and group environment that focusses on person-centred care and recovery principles.
The post holder will ensure each assessment and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to.
You will support the Care Programme Approach, including enabling service users/carers/ significant others to become involved in decision making processes for the implementation and evaluation of treatment.
Within the role you will need to have the ability to work independently under the guidance of the Occupational Therapists, to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service within the secure hospital and, within community settings.
You will be required to gain an awareness of the potential risks of each individual and the environment, and be able to assess for escalation of risks and how to manage challenging situations.
You will need the show initiative, drive and ability to think creatively for solutions.
You will support the Occupational therapists and patients, effectively and efficiently prioritising competing demands.
Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate a range of skills, including effective communication, empathy, self-awareness and self-reflection skills.
DHcFT can offer both personal and clinical development opportunities, in addition to regular professional and clinical supervision, personal development plans, and support for continual professional development activities.
As a member of the team the post holder will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational therapy based treatments using a range of appropriate interventions, based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation.
They will promote social inclusion, enabling independence and enhancing the autonomy of the patient. This will involve being proactive in initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationship with patients.
The post holder will be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to Occupational Therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, etc) and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed.
Ensure that the Trust values, policies and procedures are adhered to.
Working with service users within the limitations of inpatient environments and being aware of potential hazards. Taking responsibility for utilising local support systems as necessary, e.g. manual handling, management of violence and aggression, lone worker policy, etc.
This job description will be reviewed annually with the post holder according to the needs and development of the service; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement.
The post holder may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the requirements of the Job.
Person specification
Qualifications / Knowledge / Experience
Essential criteria
- Relevant practical qualification (eg, BTEC, Care Certificate, NVQ 3) in healthcare
- Relevant experience in healthcare.
- Knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Therapist Assistant role within mental health services.
- Experience of working alongside / within an Occupational Therapy team
Desirable criteria
- Relevant experience of working with people with mental health conditions in a professional capacity.
- Knowledge or understanding of forensic mental health services.
- Experience of independently planning, preparing and facilitating group interventions.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Awareness of mental health conditions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; observations, listening and empathy skills.
- Basic IT skills required to utilise applications such as Microsoft teams, outlook emails and learn the trust patient system.
- Organisational and problem solving skills.
Desirable criteria
- De-escalation skills and ability to remain calms in escalating or challenging situations.
- Receptive to changing environments and ability to promote a positive approach to meet client's needs.
- Knowledge of physical health and mental health co-morbidities in relation to safely planning activity sessions.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Velmer Boreland
- Job title
- Senior Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01332 980145
- Additional information
In Velmer's absence, please contact Megan Cauldwell, Occupational Therapist on 01332 980 145.
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Recruitment Team
Kingsway Hospital
- Telephone
- 01332 564856 option 1, option 1
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