Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a creative, enthusiastic and engaging person to support the delivery of occupational therapy programmes with children and young people as a Senior Occupational Therapy Support Worker within Hywel Dda Health Board within Hywel Dda Health Board.
We help children and young people take part in the daily activities (occupations) that are important to them - at home, at school and elsewhere.
Some children and young people have difficulty doing the things they want or have to do because they have physical, learning or mental health needs. Others struggle due to illness or family circumstances, or because of changes that happen as they grow and develop.
Main duties of the job
We're seeking to appoint a proactive, motivated and dynamic individual to support Occupational Therapists within the community teams across Hywel Dda Health Board, and whose values are aligned to those of Hywel Dda University Health Board:
Working with and supporting children and their families to meet OT goals and to be as independent as possible, the role aims to encourage and enable Children and Young People to participate in activities that are important to them in their life. This could be essential self care skills, within school or leisure/hobbies. Ideally you will have experience working with Children and Young people and have an understanding of the challenges they face.
You should be able to demonstrate clinical reasoning skills to enable you to assess and treat patients within protocols without immediate direct supervision. Our team is dynamic and friendly. We actively support and encourage staff to develop personally and professionally through clinical supervision and training.
To apply you should have a NVQ Level 3 qualification relevant to this area of work or other equivalent training, qualifications or experience.
The post holder will be expected to travel between settings. Mileage allowance is payable.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest.
Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.
Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).
Community facilities, including:
48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homes.
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whatever the reason, we support children and young people to take part in the activities and routines that give purpose and meaning to their lives. These include:
self-care activities getting dressed, eating and sleeping
productive occupations learning, writing, doing PE
play and leisure playing with friends and doing sports or hobbies.
We help children and young people grow, thrive and reach their full potential by identifying:
Activities they do well and those they find difficultPersonal, environmental and task-specific factors that help or limit their ability to take partDifferent ways of doing things, teaching new skills or changing the environment to make it easier for them to participate, have fun and achieve.
(Royal College of Occupational Therapy, 2024)
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 27/06/2025.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whatever the reason, we support children and young people to take part in the activities and routines that give purpose and meaning to their lives. These include:
self-care activities getting dressed, eating and sleeping
productive occupations learning, writing, doing PE
play and leisure playing with friends and doing sports or hobbies.
We help children and young people grow, thrive and reach their full potential by identifying:
Activities they do well and those they find difficultPersonal, environmental and task-specific factors that help or limit their ability to take partDifferent ways of doing things, teaching new skills or changing the environment to make it easier for them to participate, have fun and achieve.
(Royal College of Occupational Therapy, 2024)
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 27/06/2025.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of Level 3 qualification relevant to workplace OR other equivalent training, qualifications or experience
- Level 4 experience with a willingness to complete relevant Level 4 qualification within a specified timescale after successful appointment
- I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications
- Numeracy and literacy to at least level 2 (GCSE level grade C or above)
- Good knowledge of Occupational Therapy through acquired experience and/or training
- Working knowledge of therapeutic equipment
- Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care
Desirable
- Evidence of role related CPD activities
- Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations
- Knowledge of Clinical Governance, including research and audit
- Knowledge of relevant outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of interventions
- Knowledge of Health Board and priorities and practices
- Knowledge of a range of rehabilitation interventions across all therapies
Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience of working within a therapy service or other relevant field. This may include voluntary as well as paid experience
- Working with a variety of people with differing needs
- Working as part of a team
- Working independently
- Managing own time and prioritising activities
- Contributing to improving services
- Self-development and learning
- Use of adapted techiques for improving patient independence
Desirable
- Experience of working with groups
- Experience of working in a community setting
- Supervision of staff
- Experience of using Motivational interviewing or solutions focused interventions
- Experience of coping independently with distressing or emotional situations in challenging work environments
- Experience of using virtual communication platforms, i.e. Skype, Teams, Zoom
Other
Essential
- Able to travel to deliver service, including between sites in a timely manner
- Flexible approach to needs of the service
Language Skills
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of Level 3 qualification relevant to workplace OR other equivalent training, qualifications or experience
- Level 4 experience with a willingness to complete relevant Level 4 qualification within a specified timescale after successful appointment
- I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications
- Numeracy and literacy to at least level 2 (GCSE level grade C or above)
- Good knowledge of Occupational Therapy through acquired experience and/or training
- Working knowledge of therapeutic equipment
- Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care
Desirable
- Evidence of role related CPD activities
- Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations
- Knowledge of Clinical Governance, including research and audit
- Knowledge of relevant outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of interventions
- Knowledge of Health Board and priorities and practices
- Knowledge of a range of rehabilitation interventions across all therapies
Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience of working within a therapy service or other relevant field. This may include voluntary as well as paid experience
- Working with a variety of people with differing needs
- Working as part of a team
- Working independently
- Managing own time and prioritising activities
- Contributing to improving services
- Self-development and learning
- Use of adapted techiques for improving patient independence
Desirable
- Experience of working with groups
- Experience of working in a community setting
- Supervision of staff
- Experience of using Motivational interviewing or solutions focused interventions
- Experience of coping independently with distressing or emotional situations in challenging work environments
- Experience of using virtual communication platforms, i.e. Skype, Teams, Zoom
Other
Essential
- Able to travel to deliver service, including between sites in a timely manner
- Flexible approach to needs of the service
Language Skills
Desirable
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.
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.
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).
