Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 3 Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Apprenticeship Route

The closing date is 28 August 2025

Job summary

Occupational Therapies (OT) are a specialist intervention team offering interventions to help individuals overcome challenges and enable them to do what they need and want to do, striving for a balance in self care, productivity and leisure. This could include regaining or maintaining their ability to perform daily tasks, participate in meaningful activities and supporting their functional recovery.

We have an exciting and rare opportunity for an individual to join our team as an OT Assistant, and hopefully join the OT apprenticeship in September 2026, a first step to becoming a qualified OT.

It is essential that the applicant meets the entry requirements for the apprenticeship and are committed to learning and completing the full course, alongside working 3 days a week. This is initially a 1 year fixed term role working full time as an OT Support Worker, which would be extended on successful passing of the probation period, acceptance by UWE onto the apprenticeship course and support of your Supervisor on the ward. The role would then be extended for the duration of the apprenticeship for 4 years. We will endeavour to have a B5 OT job available in AWP on completion, but cannot guarantee this.

This role will be predominately based on Beechlydene ward in Fountain Way hospital, a mixed working age adult acute mental health ward.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an organised, forward thinking, enthusiastic and motivated individual to undertake our developmental Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Apprenticeship role.

You will support the delivery of therapeutic interventions on Beechlydene ward; including supporting the Occupational Therapists with assessments, groups, and treatment plans using the Occupational Therapy process.

You will work within the multidisciplinary team and engage with on the job learning, clinical placements and university modules if you are successful in being offered an apprenticeship.

High levels of professionalism, flexibility and excellent communication skills are required to work effectively in this role. Previous experience in a health care setting is desirable, particularly mental health focussed and group work.

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.

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.

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.

Details

Date posted

14 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-WTS158-0825

Job locations

Fountain Way

Wilton Road

Salisbury

SP2 7FD


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will become an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team on Beechlydene. Working alongside the registered Occupational Therapists to assess cognitive and functional ability in order to develop individualised and collaborative treatment plans for our service users.

You will be required to carry out delegated work from the team to support the provision of person centred care under various levels of supervision, appropriate to your knowledge and skills.

You will be flexible in your approach to building therapeutic relationships with service users and will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.

Please see job description for full list of responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will become an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team on Beechlydene. Working alongside the registered Occupational Therapists to assess cognitive and functional ability in order to develop individualised and collaborative treatment plans for our service users.

You will be required to carry out delegated work from the team to support the provision of person centred care under various levels of supervision, appropriate to your knowledge and skills.

You will be flexible in your approach to building therapeutic relationships with service users and will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.

Please see job description for full list of responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Maths and English Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) by start of the programme
  • Evidence of recent* successful level 3 (A Level equivalent) study (* last 3 years). Or Assistant practitioners apprentice and Foundation degree

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • A full understanding of the role of an occupational therapist and a passion to pursue this as a career choice.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of how mental health, developmental and physical health conditions and limitations can affect the lifestyle opportunities of people and how occupational therapy works to overcome these.
  • Experience of working as part of a team and under your own initiative

Desirable

  • Experience of or working within Health and/or social care OT services.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • IT and study skills competent in all Microsoft programmes
  • Ability to take direction and to follow detailed policies and protocols
  • Good communication skills, demonstrates tact, diplomacy and listening
  • Excellent organisational skills and time management ability (managing working, studying and completing assignments in own time, alongside work-life balance)
  • Flexible and adaptable to change

Desirable

  • Groupwork or creative activity skills

Other Requirements

Essential

  • The right to work in the UK without current or future visa sponsorship requirements.

Desirable

  • Full current driving licence
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Maths and English Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) by start of the programme
  • Evidence of recent* successful level 3 (A Level equivalent) study (* last 3 years). Or Assistant practitioners apprentice and Foundation degree

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • A full understanding of the role of an occupational therapist and a passion to pursue this as a career choice.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of how mental health, developmental and physical health conditions and limitations can affect the lifestyle opportunities of people and how occupational therapy works to overcome these.
  • Experience of working as part of a team and under your own initiative

Desirable

  • Experience of or working within Health and/or social care OT services.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • IT and study skills competent in all Microsoft programmes
  • Ability to take direction and to follow detailed policies and protocols
  • Good communication skills, demonstrates tact, diplomacy and listening
  • Excellent organisational skills and time management ability (managing working, studying and completing assignments in own time, alongside work-life balance)
  • Flexible and adaptable to change

Desirable

  • Groupwork or creative activity skills

Other Requirements

Essential

  • The right to work in the UK without current or future visa sponsorship requirements.

Desirable

  • Full current driving licence

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

Fountain Way

Wilton Road

Salisbury

SP2 7FD


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

Fountain Way

Wilton Road

Salisbury

SP2 7FD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead OT

Megan Moody

megan.moody4@nhs.net

07514722826

Details

Date posted

14 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-WTS158-0825

Job locations

Fountain Way

Wilton Road

Salisbury

SP2 7FD


Supporting documents

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