Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 4 Occupational Therapy Clinical Support Worker Higher Level

The closing date is 23 June 2025

Job summary

Do you have a passion for working with Adults within later life, and the drive to implement person centred interventions that will have positive impacts to both the service user and the people that are supporting them?

We have secured funding for an exciting new post for an Occupational Therapy Clinical Support Worker to work across the South Gloucestershire Specialised Care Home and Enhanced Dementia service (SCHEDS) and the South Gloucestershire Therapies teams. The role will include working across both services - SCHEDS 3 days per week and Therapies 2 days a week, working with a range of professionals.

What we can offer you

Along with mandatory supervision and appraisal, we encourage both professional and personal development. We are friendly teams and pride ourselves on the support we offer our colleagues. We fully encourage open discussion and learning environments for all members of the team.

In addition, we offer:

Paid mileage for clinical visitsOpportunities and support for career development and progressionEncouragement and opportunities to contribute to service improvementComprehensive induction periodRegular review of caseloadsMultidisciplinary support and supervisionAccess to learning materialsCommunity working hoursTeam building and away day eventsTeam social events

Main duties of the job

The South Gloucestershire Specialised Care Home and Enhanced Dementia service (SCHEDS)

SCHEDS provides psychosocial interventions for service users with complex needs, with both dementia and mental health illness.. The team work in two parts, supporting individuals and carers in their own homes, and those which reside in care homes.

The South Gloucestershire Therapies Team

The Later Life Therapies Team is part of the community mental health services for older adults. The post-holder will provide assessment and therapeutic interventions to people referred into the Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults who see people over 65 with a wide range of mental health conditions and difficulties including severe and enduring mental illness and dementia. r multidisciplinary team.

The main duties of the role will be providing robust support services and working under the supervision of our registered members of the team, contributing to a multidisciplinary approach, and the delivery of specific interventions and evaluation of these interventions to positively impact the lives of the service users we work with.

Please note that the South Gloucestershire services cover a large geographical area so applicants must have a valid driving licence and access to own transport. It is not possible to carry out the requirements of this role by using public transport.

About us

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.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

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

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-SGLOS030-0625

Job locations

Kingswod Civic Centre

High Street

Kingswood

BS15 9TR

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will assist Band 5 and 6 practitioners, to maximise the quality of life of an individual, no matter what setting they reside in. To liaise with care homes, and people in their own homes to offer support to enable promotion of a person centred approach. Working with people with mental health needs including Dementia, towards agreed objectives with the service user/ carers/ family.

Description of the duties

Clinical

Following personal development planning and targeted training, the competent practitioner will be in a position to work more autonomously in supporting service users.

As a result, you will have developed a broad underpinning knowledge at intermediate level, and have the ability to evaluate information and communicate effectively with a range of professionals.

This might include:

Supporting staff in care homes and people within their own homes, by listening to their concerns and formulation of support/ intervention plans as part of an multidisciplinary team.

Supporting service users discharged from hospital. Helping them settle into their home environment.

Communicating and advocating formally with GPs, family members and other agencies about the service user needs.

Working with a service user to identify how to achieve agreed objectives.

In conjunction with other senior staff, develop training/support plans for use with Care staff and families following Assessment of the individuals needs.

To provide information and education to the relative/carers as appropriate.

To help facilitate good communication and liaison between the service users/ care staff/ family, Complex Intervention Team, Primary Care and Care Quality Commission.

Key Result Areas

Be able to engage and develop trusting therapeutic relationships.

Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.

Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families and carers) team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.

Promote continuity of care by maintaining regular contact with service users during episodes of inpatient treatment, liaising closely with the ward/hospital and helping to facilitate early discharge.

Supporting people with a move to a care home

Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing documentation and letters.

Enable people to understand and manage their mental health needs in line with their relapse prevention strategies. This may include enabling people to manage their own domestic and personal resources, enabling people to access occupation.

Enable service users to access community resources.

Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including sometimes difficult or potentially difficult relationships. Which may include family members or others in their community.

Enabling people to explore a range of behavioural responses and to develop coping strategies in liaison with appropriate specialist teams.

Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care.

Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm; be able to alert the relevant authority where there are safeguarding concerns. Recognise the signs of abuse and know how to act on these.

Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.

Ability to think creatively and support individuals and carers, find new approaches to help meet a need.

Demonstrating or role modelling good practice to others.

Gathering further information to develop the assessment of the individuals needs.

Be able to use clinical supervision and be able to develop your on knowledge and skills.

To participate and assist in providing training and support groups.

Participate in audit and evaluation of the service.

To promote equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

To be aware of and adhere to No Secrets policy.

To keep all statistical information up to date.

To maintain written records and write documentation as required.

To carry out other duties as appropriate as the service develops.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Description of the duties

Clinical

Following personal development planning and targeted training, the competent practitioner will be in a position to work more autonomously in supporting service users.

As a result, you will have developed a broad underpinning knowledge at intermediate level, and have the ability to evaluate information and communicate effectively with a range of professionals.

This might include:

Supporting staff in care homes and people within their own homes, by listening to their concerns and formulation of support/ intervention plans as part of an multidisciplinary team.

Supporting service users discharged from hospital. Helping them settle into their home environment.

Communicating and advocating formally with GPs, family members and other agencies about the service user needs.

Working with a service user to identify how to achieve agreed objectives.

In conjunction with other senior staff, develop training/support plans for use with Care staff and families following Assessment of the individuals needs.

To provide information and education to the relative/carers as appropriate.

To help facilitate good communication and liaison between the service users/ care staff/ family, Complex Intervention Team, Primary Care and Care Quality Commission.

Key Result Areas

Be able to engage and develop trusting therapeutic relationships.

Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.

Promote continuity of care by maintaining regular contact with service users during episodes of inpatient treatment, liaising closely with the ward/hospital and helping to facilitate early discharge.

Supporting people with a move to a care home

Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing documentation and letters.

Enable service users to access community resources.

Enabling people to explore a range of behavioural responses and to develop coping strategies in liaison with appropriate specialist teams.

Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care.

Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.

Ability to think creatively and support individuals and carers, find new approaches to help meet a need.

Demonstrating or role modelling good practice to others.

Gathering further information to develop the assessment of the individuals needs.

Be able to use clinical supervision and be able to develop your on knowledge and skills.

To participate and assist in providing training and support groups.

Participate in audit and evaluation of the service.

To promote equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

To be aware of and adhere to No Secrets policy.

To keep all statistical information up to date.

To maintain written records and write documentation as required.

To carry out other duties as appropriate as the service develops.

Person Specification

communication

Essential

Good communication and literacy levels to be able to communicate and record effectively
Previous experience working within a healthcare setting at an advanced unqualified level
experience and knowledge of working as a support worker/ OT assistant
Evidence of being able to work autonomously under the support of a qualified practitioner

Desirable

Experience working with Adults in their later life
Experience with working with people living with Dementia
Knowledge of dementia principles and non pharmacological interventions
Able to deliver from a range of possible key therapeutic interventions ie. Psychosocial
Experience of undertaking carers' assessments
Experiance of formulating and running of service user support groups
Evidence of managing own caseload/ time management and organisational skills

Person Specification

communication

Essential

Good communication and literacy levels to be able to communicate and record effectively
Previous experience working within a healthcare setting at an advanced unqualified level
experience and knowledge of working as a support worker/ OT assistant
Evidence of being able to work autonomously under the support of a qualified practitioner

Desirable

Experience working with Adults in their later life
Experience with working with people living with Dementia
Knowledge of dementia principles and non pharmacological interventions
Able to deliver from a range of possible key therapeutic interventions ie. Psychosocial
Experience of undertaking carers' assessments
Experiance of formulating and running of service user support groups
Evidence of managing own caseload/ time management and organisational skills

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

Kingswod Civic Centre

High Street

Kingswood

BS15 9TR

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

Kingswod Civic Centre

High Street

Kingswood

BS15 9TR

Employer's website

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