Job summary
- Main area
- Therapy - MH Inpatients
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-MHS466
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Prospect Park Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £22,816 - £24,336 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/07/2024 23:59
- Interview date
- 02/08/2024
Employer heading
Occupational Therapist Assistant
Band 3
Job overview
Exciting opportunity has arisen within the in-patient mental health Therapy Team at Prospect Park Hospital for a Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant role.
Prospect Park Hospital serves all the localities in Berkshire and has approximately 170 inpatient beds. In this position you will be working across four adult acute wards, two older adult wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) supported and supervised by qualified Occupational Therapist.
You will be part of a diverse team composed of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, plus OTA’s & OTTI’s.
As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will have the opportunity to be trained in VDT MoCA (Model of Creative Ability) and jointly work with the qualified Occupational Therapist to deliver therapeutic interventions helping patients to take the next step in their journey of recovery. Working in a passionate Allied Health Professional team, you will have access to our Trust-wide Learning and Development programme.
The suitable candidate will be supported in career and personal growth with opportunities to help build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio, enabling you to extend your skills and ensure that you excel.
Main duties of the job
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As an enthusiastic OTA you will be working with adults and older adults, you will have a passion for caring, a warm personality and the resilience to play a vital role in helping patients take the next step in their journey.
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With excellent communication and people skills, you will be empathetic and sensitive to the needs of patients, their families, and carers.
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You will engage and motivate patients therapeutically, using verbal and non-verbal skills where there are barriers to communication and understanding.
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You will be working collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team, you will be eager to learn.
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Assist the Occupational Therapist with assessments and the organisation and facilitation of groups.
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Provide valuable practical and creative activities for patients.
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Helping patients return into the community, you will enjoy working across multiple locations and have access to your own car.
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Your energy and drive will be rewarded with the support of an enthusiastic Therapy team that strives to create a warm, friendly, and compassionate environment.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer. We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role:
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Good communication skills
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An ability to be flexible and work creatively in accordance with service needs.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips- see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.
If you're someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, you belong at Berkshire Healthcare!
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Merlin Dhas on 01189605000 or email: [email protected] who'll be delighted to help.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Good basic education
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level II/ III
- Qualification in a practical skill, such as IT, arts, or physical activity
Training
Desirable criteria
- Health and Safety
- Manual handling
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working as a member of a Team
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a Mental Health environment
- Experience of administrative duties
- Experience of facilitating or leading groups
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good observation and communication skills (verbal & written)
- Ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Ability to work independently and organise planned tasks effectively.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of therapeutic interventions and their application for individuals experiencing mental health crisis
- Knowledge of mental health conditions and policies
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Ability to work on Weekends, Bank Holidays and Extended Hours, including shift working depending on the service needs. Possible Weekend duty frequency: 1 weekend day every 3rd weekend
Desirable criteria
- Holding a Clean Driving licence
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Merlin Dhas
- Job title
- Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01189605000
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