Occupational Therapy Assistant

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is the health provider for the delivery of an innovative prison-based assessment and treatment service for individuals with personality related needs.

This service is based within HMP Garth which is a category B men's adult prison based in Leyland. The service is part of the National Offender Personality Disorder Strategy and is delivered as a partnership between HMP Garth and Mersey Care NHS Trust.

The service provides 1:1 and group-based interventions based on Professor Livesley's framework and model of interventions for individuals with personality related needs.

These structured interventions are provided as part of a therapeutic milieu which involves a focus on attachment, trauma and systemic approaches, alongside comprehensive risk assessment and management.

Core aims of the service are consistent with those of the OPD Pathway in improving psychological wellbeing, reducing risk, improving staff skills and competencies and pathway focused intervention.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of a range of therapeutic interventions under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. The applicant will recognise the value of engaging in activity alongside residents to enhance well-being and develop skills.

Applicants should have experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams supporting individuals with personality related needs. This experience should include working with clients who struggle with challenging behaviour and find it difficult to engage with services. The successful candidate will be required to work effectively within a challenging and busy environment and will manage the personal, professional and ethical opportunities and challenges that such work can involve.

The post-holder will be joining a dedicated partnership team from a range of backgrounds and experiences. Team members have high levels of skill, passion, humour(!) and are committed to ensuring the on-going development of the service.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Date posted

24 August 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-SEC5566550

Job locations

HMP Garth

Ulnes Walton Lane

Leyland

PR26 8NE

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of unit/wing based therapeutic activities that are flexible according to the changing needs of the residents

2. To actively engage residents in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being.

3. The post holder will be required to work at times single handed under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist.

4. To form professional relationships with residents, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

5. To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of unit/wing based therapeutic activities that are flexible according to the changing needs of the residents

2. To actively engage residents in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being.

3. The post holder will be required to work at times single handed under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist.

4. To form professional relationships with residents, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

5. To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good level of education
Willingness to work towards NVQ level 3

Desirable

NVQ level 3 or willingness to work towards.

Knowledge/Experience

Desirable

Experience of working in a care setting
Experience of individuals with Mental Health problems

Skills

Essential

When fully competent knowledge and skills equate to level 3 NVQ
Able to communicate effectively
Ability to work as a member of a team
Knowledge of the value of therapeutic activities
Ability to utilise positive empathy
Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified therapist
Professional attitude
Flexibility
Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

Good understanding of issues of confidentiality
Creative skills

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good level of education
Willingness to work towards NVQ level 3

Desirable

NVQ level 3 or willingness to work towards.

Knowledge/Experience

Desirable

Experience of working in a care setting
Experience of individuals with Mental Health problems

Skills

Essential

When fully competent knowledge and skills equate to level 3 NVQ
Able to communicate effectively
Ability to work as a member of a team
Knowledge of the value of therapeutic activities
Ability to utilise positive empathy
Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified therapist
Professional attitude
Flexibility
Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

Good understanding of issues of confidentiality
Creative skills

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.