Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner (Sensory Integration)

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to work within our innovative and expanding Occupational Therapy Team at Ashworth Hospital, Maghull Health Park.

We are looking for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner who can demonstrate compassion and empathy to our patients with a drive to improve the quality of care services within a high secure, forensic environment as part of Mersey Care's Secure Care Division.

This role will support an innovative new clinical offer within the Occupational Therapy service which will offer Sensory Integration assessment and treatment to the High Secure service users.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for assisting in the delivery of meaningful activities of daily living within the Occupational Therapy service, under the direction and supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist who is also trained in Ayres Sensory Integration. You will hold a small caseload under supervision and be responsible for the delivery of interventions. You will be required to actively work as part of The Multi-Disciplinary Team. You will be expected to work in an innovative way to support the smooth running of the

Occupational Therapy Service and will be required to offer individual and group activities alongside all other Occupational Therapy staff and under the indirect and direct supervision of a Qualified Occupational Therapist.

The above post will be implemented in line with The Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

About us

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.

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-SC7618951

Job locations

Ashworth HSS

Parkbourn

Liverpool

L31 1HW

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of therapeutic activities and interventions as directed by the occupational therapist.

To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being within hospital and community environments.

You will be required to facilitate 1:1 and group sessions under the Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms model with an Ayres Sensory Integration focus.

Support service users to attend and participate in sessions that promote recovery through attendance at Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms courses.

To provide an update and overview of service users participation, engagement level and skills following sessions.

To form professional relationships with service users, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Please refer to attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of therapeutic activities and interventions as directed by the occupational therapist.

To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being within hospital and community environments.

You will be required to facilitate 1:1 and group sessions under the Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms model with an Ayres Sensory Integration focus.

Support service users to attend and participate in sessions that promote recovery through attendance at Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms courses.

To provide an update and overview of service users participation, engagement level and skills following sessions.

To form professional relationships with service users, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Please refer to attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Foundation Degree or equivalent or equivalent work-based experience

Experience

Essential

Assessing, planning and implementing individualised programmes of care.
Understanding local and national influences on health care delivery, including Public Health.
Experience of previous work in health care.
Clinical Governance and Risk Management.
Actively Involved in professional development.
Knowledge of Health Promotion strategies

Desirable

Knowledge of developing self care skills in patients/clients

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Essential

Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills
Ability to travel, for work purposes

Values

Essential

Continuous Improvement
Accountability
Respect
Enthusiasm
Support
High professional standards
Responsive to service users
Engaging leadership style
Strong customer service belief
Transparency and honesty
Discreet
Change oriented

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Foundation Degree or equivalent or equivalent work-based experience

Experience

Essential

Assessing, planning and implementing individualised programmes of care.
Understanding local and national influences on health care delivery, including Public Health.
Experience of previous work in health care.
Clinical Governance and Risk Management.
Actively Involved in professional development.
Knowledge of Health Promotion strategies

Desirable

Knowledge of developing self care skills in patients/clients

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Essential

Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills
Ability to travel, for work purposes

Values

Essential

Continuous Improvement
Accountability
Respect
Enthusiasm
Support
High professional standards
Responsive to service users
Engaging leadership style
Strong customer service belief
Transparency and honesty
Discreet
Change oriented

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ashworth HSS

Parkbourn

Liverpool

L31 1HW

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ashworth HSS

Parkbourn

Liverpool

L31 1HW

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)