Job summary
- Main area
- Core and Cluster Community Residential - Mental Health Services
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- 16.5 hours per week (We have a part time position available.)
- Job ref
- 350-MHC7516811
- Employer
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Hollins Park Hospital
- Town
- Warrington
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 Per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 20/10/2025
Employer heading
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Band 3
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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for individuals who have an interest in working with service users with a variety of mental health problems. An Occupational Therapy Assistant is required to commence in post at Hollins Park Hospital, Warrington the full-time post will be based on Austen Ward which is the male acute ward.
We are looking for a self motivated and caring individual who can facilitate group activities and assist the qualified Occupational Therapy staff as required.
Main duties of the job
Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist the post holder will be expected to:
To assist the Occupational Therapist in the provision of a flexible service user centred programme of therapeutic group activities for service users attending the Service. This service will provide social activities through the week and over the weekend including evenings.
To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team ensuring effective relationships with patients and staff.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of ward, department or community based therapeutic activities that are flexible according to the changing needs of service users.
To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence well-being.
Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, or with guidance from a Senior Activity Worker/Co-coordinator the post holder will facilitate and participate in planned group work and individual activities.
Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
To form professional relationships with service users, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
To give feedback to the team on service users performance/progress in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure including risk factors.
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are kept and recorded appropriately in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards
To participate, as appropriate, clinical and professional meetings held within the service.
To ensure a safe and well maintained environment in accordance with current Health and Safety legislation, COSHH, and local operational security policies and guidelines.
To adhere to the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Trust’s policies and guidelines.
In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and personal development planning in accordance with the Trust’s policies and guidelines.
To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff.
To keep a record of your training and development activities.
To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the Head OT.
To participate in OT/team audit and evaluation activities as agreed with a Senior Occupational Therapist or Manager.
To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
To ensure that work is conducted in accordance with the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Strategy and contribute to its development
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.
This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.
The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.
Mersey Care operates a non-smoking policy.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualification Credit Framework Diploma level 2 in Health & Social Care or a commitment to achieve this
- Qualifications in: (or a commitment to undertake and complete training within first year of appointment) to include: First Aid, Aggression Management training, Other training opportunities relevant to clinical area, Following agreed action plan set at appraisal
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to plan and deliver activities
- Clear effective written and verbal communication and excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent observation skill and able to relay key information to others
- Basic IT skills
- Able to recognise level of own competence, boundaries of role, scope for personal and service development and improvement
- Able to work on own initiative as part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team under directive supervision
- Ability to think creatively and assist in the planning of individual and group activity sessions for service users
- Ability to effectively organise own time, be reliable and punctual and prioritise work load
- Able to observe health and safety protocol
- Ability to problem solve within defined context
- Able to observe conflict situations in a positive and calm manner and follow policy and procedure related to the management of aggression
- Motivated to build on existing skills and knowledge as part of the CPD process
- Be a positive ambassador for the service
- An ability to work with warmth and empathy in an empowering and non-judgmental way
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the Occupational Therapy Process
- Knowledge of The Model Of Human Occupation (Kielhofner)
- Experience of working with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Health
- Experience working within inpatient services
- Experience of supporting Therapeutic activities for individual groups of service users
- Familiar with Electronic patient records
- Experience of the Model Of Human Occupation (Kielhofner)
- Experience of teaching others
Values
Essential criteria
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to independently perform delegated tasks within competence to the required standard
- Ability to be an effective role model
- Numeracy and Literacy skills; ability to keep accurate service user and department records to the required standard
- Able to carry out physical intervention and breakaway effectively following training
- Commitment to work with service users with Mental Health and Learning Disabilities
- Use Display Screen Equipment in work environment
- Able to work within inpatient environments
- Actively participate in own supervision
- Sound values and positive attitude towards people with mental health, learning and associated disabilities and complex needs
- Interested in working creatively to assist in the planning and delivery of a person centred Occupational Therapy service
- Required to complete skills and interests questionnaire at the time of recruitment
Desirable criteria
- Ability to reflect objectively and critically appraise own performance
- Skills and knowledge in a particular interest that could benefit Service Users
- Involvement in person centred planning and working
- An understanding of the role of advocacy
- Willing to be an authorised Trust lease vehicle driver
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
- Anisa Hussain
- Job title
- Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01925 664130
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