Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen in one of the Croydon Acute Inpatient Unit Men's wards for new full-time Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). You will be working with a large and experienced Multidisciplinary Team who value an active ward programme for service users. You will be providing ward based group and 1:1 activities to support assessment and treatment interventions, supporting service users accessing activities on and where appropriate, off the ward, and working with the OT on assessments. You will be supported with regular supervision from your ward OT. You will also have opportunities to work alongside Peer Support Workers, Link workers, Volunteers and Students.
There are opportunities to connect with the wider network of Activity Coordinators, OTs, Peer Workers and Volunteers in the Trust. SLaM supports access to training and CPD opportunities for all grades of staff to support career progression and has a range of apprenticeship opportunities.
We welcome applications from individuals who have energy and enthusiasm and recognise the value of engagement in activity for Service Users with mental health issues in their recovery journey.
Applicants need to have good communication skills and the ability to collaborate with and actively engage acutely ill mental health service users in a range of therapeutic and recreational activities.
Due to an anticipated very high application rate we may close this application early
Main duties of the job
To support Occupational Therapists and other Allied Health professionals in delivering structured, goal orientated therapeutic interventions.
Use technical / creative skills to assist in the provision of a flexible, client centred programme of recreational and therapeutic activities for individuals / groups of patients who all have complex psychosis or other mental health presentations and associated behaviour, which can include aggression.
To offer group and individual activities under the direct and indirect supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
To assist the Multi-disciplinary team to drive forward high quality care, safe, effective and timely interventions
About us
The Croydon Acute Inpatient Unitwards support service users who are acutely unwell in mental health crisis. There are 2 women's wards, two men's wards and a men's PICU (Intensive Care Unit)
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oGCSE or equivalent level English and Maths
- oHealth and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
Desirable
- oCreative qualification eg arts, photography, oPsychology qualification
- o Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of providing group and 1:1 interventions in a mental health setting
- oDemonstrable experience of working in mental health/social care setting
- oExperience of report writing and form filling
- oExperience of working both independently and in a team
Desirable
- oExperience of mental health difficulties or of caring for someone with a mental health difficulty
Knowledge
Essential
- oAn understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- o Knowledge of mental healthcare/NHS business and how it supports service user's and carers
- oAn understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- oUnderstanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
Desirable
- oKnowledge of applying Health and Safety and risk awareness procedures and policies
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times
- Group work skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools competently for example)
- Ability to develop practical solutions to problems that may arise
other
Essential
- oWillingness to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work
- oWillingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
- oWillingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
- oTo be able to participate in full 5 day Seni Lewis training (physical demand)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oGCSE or equivalent level English and Maths
- oHealth and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
Desirable
- oCreative qualification eg arts, photography, oPsychology qualification
- o Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of providing group and 1:1 interventions in a mental health setting
- oDemonstrable experience of working in mental health/social care setting
- oExperience of report writing and form filling
- oExperience of working both independently and in a team
Desirable
- oExperience of mental health difficulties or of caring for someone with a mental health difficulty
Knowledge
Essential
- oAn understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- o Knowledge of mental healthcare/NHS business and how it supports service user's and carers
- oAn understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- oUnderstanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
Desirable
- oKnowledge of applying Health and Safety and risk awareness procedures and policies
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times
- Group work skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools competently for example)
- Ability to develop practical solutions to problems that may arise
other
Essential
- oWillingness to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work
- oWillingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
- oWillingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
- oTo be able to participate in full 5 day Seni Lewis training (physical demand)
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).
