Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant, Secure Care

The closing date is 27 August 2025

Job summary

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? We're offering a unique opportunity for multipleOccupational Therapy Assistantsto become part of our dedicated team atRowan View, a medium secure hospital withinMersey Care's Secure Care Division.

In this specialist role, you'll work closely with individuals with amental health and/or learning disability & autism diagnosis, helping them build meaningful lives through compassionate, person-centred care.

We're looking for empathetic, motivated individuals who are eager to contribute to the ongoing improvement of our care services. If you're driven by purpose and thrive in a supportive, multidisciplinary environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for assisting in the delivery of meaningful activities of daily living within the Occupational Therapy service, under the direction and supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist. You will be required to actively work as part of The Multi-Disciplinary Team. You will be expected to work in an innovative way to support the smooth running of the Occupational Therapy Service and will be required to offer individual and group activities alongside all other Occupational Therapy staff and under the indirect and direct supervision of a Qualified Occupational Therapist.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

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.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Date posted

15 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-SC7407758

Job locations

Rowan View

Maghull Health Park

Liverpool

L31 1FN

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of therapeutic activities and interventions as directed by the occupational therapist.

2. To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being within hospital and community environments.

3. The post holder will be required to facilitate 1:1 and group sessions under the Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms model.

4. Support service users to attend and participate in sessions that promote recovery through attendance at Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms courses.

5. To provide an update and overview of service users participation, engagement level and skills following sessions.

6. To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

7. To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

ORGANISATIONAL

8. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are kept and recorded appropriately in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards.

PROFESSIONAL

9. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.

10. To ensure a safe and well maintained environment in accordance with current Security directions, Health and Safety Legislation, COSHH, and local operational security policies and guidelines.

11. To adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Trusts policies and guidelines.

12. In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and personal development planning.

13. To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff.

14. To keep a record of your training and development activities.

QUALITY

15. Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist the post holder will facilitate and participate in planned group work and individual activities set within service users treatment plans.

16. To give feedback to the team regarding the service users performance / progress in areas of self-management, productivity and leisure including risk factors.

17. To participate, as appropriate, clinical and professional meetings held within the service.

18. To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects allocated by the Senior Occupational Therapist.

19. To participate in Occupational Therapy Team audit, evaluation activities and service user feedback questionnaires.

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of therapeutic activities and interventions as directed by the occupational therapist.

2. To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being within hospital and community environments.

3. The post holder will be required to facilitate 1:1 and group sessions under the Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms model.

4. Support service users to attend and participate in sessions that promote recovery through attendance at Occupational Therapy and Life Rooms courses.

5. To provide an update and overview of service users participation, engagement level and skills following sessions.

6. To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

7. To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

ORGANISATIONAL

8. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are kept and recorded appropriately in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards.

PROFESSIONAL

9. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.

10. To ensure a safe and well maintained environment in accordance with current Security directions, Health and Safety Legislation, COSHH, and local operational security policies and guidelines.

11. To adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Trusts policies and guidelines.

12. In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and personal development planning.

13. To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff.

14. To keep a record of your training and development activities.

QUALITY

16. To give feedback to the team regarding the service users performance / progress in areas of self-management, productivity and leisure including risk factors.

17. To participate, as appropriate, clinical and professional meetings held within the service.

18. To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects allocated by the Senior Occupational Therapist.

19. To participate in Occupational Therapy Team audit, evaluation activities and service user feedback questionnaires.

Person Specification

VALUES

Essential

Continuous Improvement
Accountability
Respectfulness
Enthusiasm
Supportive
High professional standards
Responsive to service users
Engaging leadership style
Strong customer service belief
Transparency and honesty
Discreet
Change oriented

Skills

Essential

Good communication skills, verbal and written
Good people skills - friendly and honest
Self-motivated and able to motivate others
Ability to recognise and cope effectively with personal stress
Ability to follow instruction and work under direction
Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
Good time management skills
Ability to be an effective role-model
Clear effective written & verbal communication
Basic IT skills

Desirable

Driving licence

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

Experience of working in Learning Disabilities and/or Mental Health Services.
Basic awareness of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Desirable

Experience supporting individuals with behaviours that challenge.
Creativity and ability to adapt activities to the needs of the patients

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level 2, with an aim to complete NVQ Level 3 at a later date

Desirable

Other qualifications liked to role, ie, gym instructor qualification

Person Specification

VALUES

Essential

Continuous Improvement
Accountability
Respectfulness
Enthusiasm
Supportive
High professional standards
Responsive to service users
Engaging leadership style
Strong customer service belief
Transparency and honesty
Discreet
Change oriented

Skills

Essential

Good communication skills, verbal and written
Good people skills - friendly and honest
Self-motivated and able to motivate others
Ability to recognise and cope effectively with personal stress
Ability to follow instruction and work under direction
Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
Good time management skills
Ability to be an effective role-model
Clear effective written & verbal communication
Basic IT skills

Desirable

Driving licence

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

Experience of working in Learning Disabilities and/or Mental Health Services.
Basic awareness of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Desirable

Experience supporting individuals with behaviours that challenge.
Creativity and ability to adapt activities to the needs of the patients

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level 2, with an aim to complete NVQ Level 3 at a later date

Desirable

Other qualifications liked to role, ie, gym instructor qualification

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rowan View

Maghull Health Park

Liverpool

L31 1FN

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rowan View

Maghull Health Park

Liverpool

L31 1FN

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)