Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant to join the Occupational Therapy team within Acute Adult Mental Health Inpatient Services at Rochford Hospital. You will play a key role in supporting service users on their recovery journey by delivering meaningful therapeutic activities, facilitating groups, and promoting engagement, independence, and wellbeing. Working alongside Occupational Therapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to a compassionate, recovery-focused service that makes a real difference to people's lives every day.

Main duties of the job

• Support Occupational Therapists in the assessment, planning, and delivery of therapeutic interventions.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate a range of therapeutic groups and activity programmes.
• Encourage and motivate service users to engage in meaningful activities that promote recovery, independence, and wellbeing.
• Assist service users in developing daily living, social, and vocational skills.
• Monitor, record, and report service users' progress and participation in therapeutic activities.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with Trust policies and professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to deliver person-centred care.
• Contribute to the development of individual treatment plans and recovery-focused goals.
• Promote a safe, supportive, and therapeutic ward environment.
• Support risk management processes and follow safeguarding procedures where appropriate.
• Assist with the organisation and preparation of therapeutic resources and activity materials.
• Participate in supervision, training, service development, and continuous professional development activities.
• Uphold Trust values, policies, and procedures at all times.

About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

• Support the delivery of high-quality, recovery-focused occupational therapy interventions for service users within the inpatient mental health setting.
• Assist in the planning, organisation, and facilitation of therapeutic groups and individual activities that promote engagement, independence, and wellbeing.
• Encourage service users to participate in meaningful occupations and activities that support recovery and rehabilitation goals.
• Observe, monitor, and document service users' progress, reporting any changes or concerns to the Occupational Therapist and wider multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to the implementation of individual care plans and occupational therapy programmes.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical records in accordance with Trust policies and professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with Occupational Therapists, nursing staff, and other members of the multidisciplinary team to deliver person-centred care.
• Support service users in developing and maintaining daily living, social, and functional skills.
• Assist in the preparation, organisation, and maintenance of therapeutic resources, equipment, and activity areas.
• Promote a safe, therapeutic, and inclusive environment, adhering to health and safety, risk management, safeguarding, and infection prevention procedures.
• Build positive and professional relationships with service users, carers, families, and colleagues.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, training, and continuous professional development activities.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and uphold the Trust's values and standards of care at all times.

Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential

• NVQ level 3
• Understanding of the use of activities
• Understanding of health and safety

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in the NHS in skills based work e.g. cooking, craft, sports etc
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems

Skills
Essential

• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Good oral & written communication skills based on fluency on the English language
• Self and time management skills
• Full UK Drivers Licence

Desirable

• Observational skills and ability to record them

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Rochford Hospital, union Lane, Rochford, SS4 1RB, United Kingdom. Website: https://eput.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: AHP Lead Mid & South Essex Inpatient & Urgent Care, Gandhimathy Gopishankar, gandhimathy.gopishankar@nhs.net, 07773394437