Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent: N/A
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Some weekend and evening working may be required)
- Job ref
- 334-CLI-7910900-A
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bethlem Royal Hospital
- Town
- Beckenham
- Salary
- £33,262 - £36,027 per annum inclusive of HCAs
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Occupational Therapy Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) supports the delivery of therapeutic, recreational, and occupationally focused interventions for service users experiencing mental illness, including those with a history of offending. Based either in the Recovery Hub or on the ward, the OTA works under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist to promote rehabilitation, recovery, and meaningful engagement.
As part of the multidisciplinary team, the OTA contributes to the planning and delivery of a diverse and flexible programme of activities, developed collaboratively with service users and colleagues and overseen by an Occupational Therapist. This includes facilitating 1:1 and group interventions, supporting assessment and care planning through observation and feedback, and ensuring practice remains person‑centred and recovery‑focused.
The OTA also undertakes community‑based activities where required to support daily living skills, discharge planning, and wider community engagement. The role includes exercising appropriate autonomy in delivering therapeutic interventions while maintaining safe environments and upholding high professional standards.
Owing to the high volume of applications received, this vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date. Eligible candidates are therefore encouraged to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a flexible programme of recreational, vocational and educational activities within the service in collaboration with the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT), volunteers and sessional workers.
- To provide support and engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote recovery, independence and well-being
- To support the development of a balanced therapeutic ward based programme for service users at different stages of recovery
- To contribute to the collaborative care planning process, monitoring service users progress, taking account service users goals and aspirations and adjusting interventions accordingly
- To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, planned with a registered OT.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical
· To work as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary team by contributing to a programme of therapeutic activities that support a person centred and recovery focused approach to an individual’s care and treatment during admission.
· To provide individual occupational interventions detailed within an occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plan using specialist technical and engagement skills under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
· To inform and assist with the development of occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plans.
Documentation
- To provide comprehensive written summary within clinical on a person’s progress during their admission based on observation and feedback obtained from the service user and others.
- To communicate, written and verbally, with external agencies and stakeholders as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist
Leadership, supervision and appraisal
· In line with Trust guidelines to hold a high degree of self-awareness and be able to reflect on own clinical practice and performance via regular supervision, annual appraisal, reflective practice sessions and informal supports as required.
· To act as a source of support for colleagues, students, sessional workers and volunteers to ensure a safe and effective service is provided.
Training staff and students
· To participate in training and development priorities and opportunities specialist within the service as required.
· To develop competencies in training and other health and safety requirements aligned to the role, as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.
Service development and delivery
- To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
- To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision
Clinical governance, quality, standards
- To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the lead Occupational Therapist and ward teams
- To comply with all Trust policies.
Line management, staff, budgets dept
- Must be prepared to work some evenings/weekends if required
- To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job.
Research and development
· As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your programme
· To participate in audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.
Training and Development
· To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy including computing skills, group skills, food handling and Seni Lewis training skills within 12 months of appointment.
· To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal.
Person specification
Qualfications
Essential criteria
- Health and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable criteria
- Further education qualification in health / mental health related subject
- Any relevant therapies qualification e.g. creative arts
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of working in education/mental health/social care setting
- Working with people with mental health problems and complex needs
- Experience of working with and/or understanding of Occupational Therapy
Desirable criteria
- Experience in working with service users with forensic history
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- An understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- Ability to teach practical skills to service users.
- Understanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision in clinical areas and in community settings
Desirable criteria
- Positive interpersonal skills.
- Ability to develop practical solutions to problems that may arise.
- Understanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
- Ability to use own initiative and lone work as per policy
- Understanding of professional conduct.
Other
Essential criteria
- Willingness to develop and advance own learning
- Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work and be open to new ideas and new ways of working
- Good time management skills
- Personal resilience
- To be able to participate in full 5-day Seni Lewis training (physical demand)
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
- Louise McCombie
- Job title
- Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 020 32288400
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