Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 3 Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Bristol

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have full-time and part-time opportunities within our Secure Services Occupational Therapy team, working with mental health service users in a secure in-patient setting.

Fromeside is a regional medium secure unit, which provides a service to 81 in-patient service users with mental health needs. Wickham unit is a 31-bedded low secure service, providing recovery-focussed care.

The occupational therapy team is a well-established, integral and valued part of the multi-disciplinary clinical team. The therapies team predominantly provide a Monday to Friday 9-5 service.

The person we recruit will have a broad range of 'life skills', and should be able to engage, motivate, and support service users with mental health needs in a wide range of activities. Ideally you will have some experience in running groups or 1:1 sessions in some capacity. In this post, you will work closely with qualified occupational therapists, but also have the opportunity to use your initiative and work independently. You will work to support service users in achieving their potential to function as independently as possible in all aspects of their life.

Main duties of the job

We promote recovery through engaging in meaningful activities to maintain or improve the service user's level of functioning and quality of life. Much emphasis is placed on providing service users with the opportunity to develop or adapt life skills. We aim to empower each individual to fulfil their maximum potential and independence, physically, psychologically and socially. We deliver a comprehensive programme of activities to inspire, encourage and support individuals who have mental health needs on their journey to recovery. As part of the team you will plan and deliver 1:1 or group sessions under the supervision of occupational therapists.

On joining the team, you will receive a comprehensive, structured induction package, you will have the chance to work with a supportive team in a unique and innovative environment. You will receive regular supervision and support in this post. We run monthly CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and have opportunities for engaging in ongoing training and development. Others who have worked within this role have gone on to carry out their Occupational Therapy apprenticeship alongside their post within the team.

About us

The Occupational Therapy Team at this site work together to provide a comprehensive and inspiring service to all our inpatients. We are looking to recruit a Band 3 Occupational Therapy Support Worker who would like to work with our team, in this setting. We have a large and well-resourced department for the provision of activities (including 2 workshops, an art room, a caf, gym, sports hall and a large garden)

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Date posted

10 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year (pro rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-SEC033-0425

Job locations

Fromeside

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Bristol

BS16 1ED

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Work in a collaborative and cooperative manner with service users, their families/carers and other health and social care professionals. Recognise and respect their involvement in the planning and delivery of care.

2. Assist in the maintenance of a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the service users, relatives carers and others.

3. Contribute to the team approach, providing accurate and relevant feedback to registered staff: participate in team discussions and meetings regarding care of service users.

4. Develop a therapeutic relationship with service users to encourage and maximise their interest and participation in therapeutic activity.

5. Organise day to day activities for groups and individual therapy programmes including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation under the supervision of the mental health professionals.

6. Play a part in preparation of risk assessments; CPA/SAP.

You should be an effective communicator who enjoys working alongside people and helping them achieve their goals. You will need experience of working with people with mental health needs, or personal knowledge of how mental health can affect people. We are a large welcoming supportive team, consisting of Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Support Workers, Education and Active Life.

Please see attached job description for further details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

2. Assist in the maintenance of a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the service users, relatives carers and others.

3. Contribute to the team approach, providing accurate and relevant feedback to registered staff: participate in team discussions and meetings regarding care of service users.

4. Develop a therapeutic relationship with service users to encourage and maximise their interest and participation in therapeutic activity.

5. Organise day to day activities for groups and individual therapy programmes including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation under the supervision of the mental health professionals.

6. Play a part in preparation of risk assessments; CPA/SAP.

Please see attached job description for further details.

Person Specification

Essential experience, skills and qualifications

Essential

NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or substantial equivalent experience gained in a role supporting people with significant health or social care needs
Good communication skills
Demonstrates an understanding of how mental health issues can affect people
Experience of working as part of a team and under your own initiative
Ability to take direction and to follow detailed policies and protocols

Person Specification

Essential experience, skills and qualifications

Essential

NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or substantial equivalent experience gained in a role supporting people with significant health or social care needs
Good communication skills
Demonstrates an understanding of how mental health issues can affect people
Experience of working as part of a team and under your own initiative
Ability to take direction and to follow detailed policies and protocols

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

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Fromeside

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Bristol

BS16 1ED

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Fromeside

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Bristol

BS16 1ED

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)