Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 3 Occupational Therapy Technician - Bristol

The closing date is 07 August 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an established Occupational Therapy service working in the Larch Therapy Unit, alongside other Occupational Therapy staff, but with a workload based on the inpatient wards at Callington Road Hospital which comprise Acute, Primary Intensive Care, Rehabilitation and Older Adults units. The post holder will work alongside a Band 6 OT and a Band 5 OT, as well as the broader MDT, as they consolidate and develop a focused and progressive service for the service users on the ward.

Main duties of the job

The person we recruit will have a broad knowledge of everyday skills and an interest in a variety of activities. We deliver a comprehensive programme of activities to inspire, encourage and support individuals who have mental health problems on their journey to recovery. As part of the team you will plan and deliver 1:1 or group sessions under the supervision of occupational therapists largely within the hospital but also occasionally in the local community.

The applicant should be an effective communicator who enjoys working alongside people and helping them achieve their goals. They should also be a confident home cook with skills and interests in other practical and creative activities. They will need experience of working with people with mental health problems, or personal knowledge of how mental health problems can affect people.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-BR119-0725

Job locations

Callington Road

Marmalade Lane

Bristol

BS4 5BJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Practice

1. Work in a collaborative and cooperative manner with service users, their families/carers and other health and social care professionals. Recognise and respect their involvement in the planning and delivery of care.

2. Assist in the maintenance of a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the service users, relatives carers and others.

3. Contribute to the team approach, providing accurate and relevant feedback to registered staff: participate in team discussions and meetings regarding care of service users.

4. Develop a therapeutic relationship with service users to encourage and maximise their interest and participation in therapeutic activity.

5. Organise day to day activities for groups and individual therapy programmes including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation under the supervision of the mental health professionals.

6. Play a part in preparation of risk assessments; CPA/SAP.

Education & Health Promotion

1. To keep up to date with changing practices and attend relevant training appropriate to the role as directed.

2. Promote positive attitudes towards mental health.

3. Attend regular statutory training and updates.

4. Participate in appraisal and supervision processes from identified Senior Practitioner.

5. Contribute to the learning environment of staff/students Finance and Workforce.

6. To play a role in making best use of available workforce and material resources and contributing to provision of best therapy possible.

7. Follow Trust and Service Policies relating to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.

8. Play a part in the service provision that is both safe and therapeutic within span of knowledge.

9. Develop effective time management skills.

10. Record Keeping and Administration.

11. To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and local joint arrangements and professional guidelines. This will include the upkeep of contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with relevant COT Guidelines and Trust Policy.

Practice Development & Clinical Audit

1. To participate with support in clinical audit.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Practice

2. Assist in the maintenance of a safe therapeutic environment beneficial to the needs of the service users, relatives carers and others.

3. Contribute to the team approach, providing accurate and relevant feedback to registered staff: participate in team discussions and meetings regarding care of service users.

4. Develop a therapeutic relationship with service users to encourage and maximise their interest and participation in therapeutic activity.

5. Organise day to day activities for groups and individual therapy programmes including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation under the supervision of the mental health professionals.

6. Play a part in preparation of risk assessments; CPA/SAP.

Education & Health Promotion

1. To keep up to date with changing practices and attend relevant training appropriate to the role as directed.

2. Promote positive attitudes towards mental health.

3. Attend regular statutory training and updates.

4. Participate in appraisal and supervision processes from identified Senior Practitioner.

5. Contribute to the learning environment of staff/students Finance and Workforce.

6. To play a role in making best use of available workforce and material resources and contributing to provision of best therapy possible.

7. Follow Trust and Service Policies relating to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.

8. Play a part in the service provision that is both safe and therapeutic within span of knowledge.

9. Develop effective time management skills.

10. Record Keeping and Administration.

Practice Development & Clinical Audit

1. To participate with support in clinical audit.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

A level or above relevant to post

Desirable

practical skills qualification

Experience

Essential

Evidence of mental health of social care experience

Desirable

Experience of managing risk

Skills

Essential

Wide range of practical skills and interest offered cooking gardening fitness etc.

Desirable

Experience of organising and running group activities

Person Specification

Education

Essential

A level or above relevant to post

Desirable

practical skills qualification

Experience

Essential

Evidence of mental health of social care experience

Desirable

Experience of managing risk

Skills

Essential

Wide range of practical skills and interest offered cooking gardening fitness etc.

Desirable

Experience of organising and running group activities

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Callington Road

Marmalade Lane

Bristol

BS4 5BJ

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Callington Road

Marmalade Lane

Bristol

BS4 5BJ

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)