Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

The closing date is 09 May 2025

Job summary

This role forms part of the Rehabilitation and Recovery service in North Devon which meets the needs of a cohort of people with complex psychosis.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our team.

Main duties of the job

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will work to design and provide a flexible range of therapeutic activities for individuals and/or groups of service users within the rehabilitation ward and hospital setting.

The Post holder will work closely with the Occupational Therapist on complex assessments and assist to provide interventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.

The successful post holder must have a passion for working with adults with mental health conditions, whilst being flexible, motivated and a team player.

The post holder will be required to have a high level of adaptable communication skills, be compassionate, respectful and value individual patient needs. They will have the ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner, be resilient and emotionally intelligent and engage positively with service users and their families and carers.

The post holder will be working in a friendly and supportive environment, with a focus on providing the very best patient care in a locality combining sea, moor, history and opportunity.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

Our values

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year Shift work enhancements applicable

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0328

Job locations

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note that the full Job Description has been uploaded as a separate document. Therefore please see attached Job Description for full details. Below is a brief overview:

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be based on the Rehabilitation and Recovery Ward, working with patients with complex psychosis.

The post holder will work as part of the multi - disciplinary and occupational therapy team, to carry out therapeutic interventions in order to support the patient to achieve their agreed goals and recovery plan.

The post holder will work closely with the Occupational Therapist on complex assessments and assist to provide interventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.

The post holder will deliver occupational therapy interventions in a variety of environments, including unpredictable ward environments, community resources and in patients homes.

The post holder will carry out skilled / technical creative and specialised support work engaging inpatients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, wellbeing and social inclusion, adjusting interventions accordingly.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note that the full Job Description has been uploaded as a separate document. Therefore please see attached Job Description for full details. Below is a brief overview:

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be based on the Rehabilitation and Recovery Ward, working with patients with complex psychosis.

The post holder will work as part of the multi - disciplinary and occupational therapy team, to carry out therapeutic interventions in order to support the patient to achieve their agreed goals and recovery plan.

The post holder will work closely with the Occupational Therapist on complex assessments and assist to provide interventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.

The post holder will deliver occupational therapy interventions in a variety of environments, including unpredictable ward environments, community resources and in patients homes.

The post holder will carry out skilled / technical creative and specialised support work engaging inpatients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, wellbeing and social inclusion, adjusting interventions accordingly.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive and varied experience working with groups and individuals in a facilitating role and at Band 3 or equivalent level.
  • Experience of working with adults and/or older adults experiencing mental health problems.
  • Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a rehabilitation environment particularly within mental health.
  • Previous care experience with people who have mental health difficulties.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general education (GCSE level or equivalent)
  • Relevant level 4 qualification e.g. Foundation Degree, City and Guilds, HNC, NVQ 4 or equivalent (and experience)
  • Ability and desire to gain more understanding about mental health recovery and Occupational Therapy.

Desirable

  • Other relevant training or development relevant to working within Mental Health Settings.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills, both written and verbal
  • IT Skills suitable for inputting accurately into an electronic patient record, word processing
  • Knowledge of mental health and basic understanding of physical health presentations.
  • Ability to plan and facilitate group activities and individual work with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
  • Understanding of how occupational therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.
  • Understanding of the issues around risk management, confidentiality and safeguarding principles.
  • Understanding and commitment to working within the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to work flexibly in an unpredictable environment.
  • Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisee.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisor.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive and varied experience working with groups and individuals in a facilitating role and at Band 3 or equivalent level.
  • Experience of working with adults and/or older adults experiencing mental health problems.
  • Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a rehabilitation environment particularly within mental health.
  • Previous care experience with people who have mental health difficulties.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general education (GCSE level or equivalent)
  • Relevant level 4 qualification e.g. Foundation Degree, City and Guilds, HNC, NVQ 4 or equivalent (and experience)
  • Ability and desire to gain more understanding about mental health recovery and Occupational Therapy.

Desirable

  • Other relevant training or development relevant to working within Mental Health Settings.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills, both written and verbal
  • IT Skills suitable for inputting accurately into an electronic patient record, word processing
  • Knowledge of mental health and basic understanding of physical health presentations.
  • Ability to plan and facilitate group activities and individual work with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
  • Understanding of how occupational therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.
  • Understanding of the issues around risk management, confidentiality and safeguarding principles.
  • Understanding and commitment to working within the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to work flexibly in an unpredictable environment.
  • Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisee.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisor.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Occupational Therapy Manager

Anne Dexter

anne.dexter@nhs.net

01271443203

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year Shift work enhancements applicable

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0328

Job locations

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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