Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Clinical Support Assistant

The closing date is 16 October 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting and rewarding post for an Occupational Therapy assistant (OTA) at our Amberstone Hospital, part of the East Sussex Rehabilitation Pathway.

We are looking for a friendly, positive, enthusiastic, team player who would like to join the Occupational Therapy team and wider ward MDT to support the wellbeing and recovery of people who come to stay to manage their mental health, predominately Psychosis.

You will be working under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist to offer individual and group interventions that help people engage in activities that support people reach their rehabilitation goals and increase their quality of life. We run a group programme, offer one to one sessions with our aim being to encourage integration into the community and promote independence.

Main duties of the job

You will be guided by the OT in your work and will be expected to work autonomously.To use a recovery approach in assisting service users to follow treatment plans and work towards their chosen goals.Complete basic functional assessments as well as monitor, review and evaluate service users progress including 1:1 interventions sessions, graded exposure or home visits.Good communication skills are required.General computer and administration skills are required.To network with community services in assisting service users' integration into the community, such as accessing vocational resources, supporting with administration, applying for bus passes/benefits.You will be responsible for running groups. It is important that you work dynamically and be able to think of creative and new ideas. Groups will include coffee mornings, learning groups, cooking, gardening and out and about groups off the unit.Working with people with mental health issues including psychosis is preferred for this post. However, most importantly the successful candidate to be self motivated, keen to learn and have a clear understanding of how to support people's recovery.Regular supervision by an OT is offered.The ability to travel is essential for this role due to the location and the nature of the tasks required for this post.Part time post, 2 day shifts a week (15 hours a week) will be mainly weekdays 9am - 5pm with one weekend every 4 weeks.

About us

East Sussex Care Delivery Service (CDS) provides specialist community and inpatient mental health services for adults over the age of 18, living within East Sussex. We believe in providing outstanding quality, safe and effective care and treatment that everyone can be proud of.

Amberstone is a 28 bed Recovery and Rehabilitation unit, situated in rural East Sussex (approximately 2 miles from Hailsham and 8 miles north of Eastbourne) and provides rehabilitation for adults who are recovering from serious mental illness. The focus is to enable people to reach their full potential and achieve a smooth transition into the community. The ward works closely with Community Rehabilitation colleagues as an integral part of the award-winning East Sussex Rehabilitation Pathway.

Wide range of training opportunities within the Trust- including opportunity to apply for the OT apprenticeship.

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

354-AE-21204

Job locations

Amberstone Hospital

Carters Corner

Hailsham

BN27 4HU

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description

Key responsibilities:

To work under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist (OT) in the delivery of clinical interventions using a range of technical and creative skills to engage clients in occupational activities
To monitor the client progress and feedback to the OT
Under the supervision of an OT, facilitate and participate in planned group work, individual activities, one to one rehabilitation practise and ongoing continuous assessment with supervision
Contribute to occupational therapy assessments e.g. Activity of Daily Living Assessments (ADL) and treatment plans under the guidance of an OT
Provide a range of activities, instructing and guiding clients with more complex needs to support them in achieving identified occupational therapy goals, with some supervision.
To contribute to the generic tasks of the team as directed by a registered OT
To actively promote client centred OT interventions using a recovery focused, enabling approach

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description

Key responsibilities:

To work under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist (OT) in the delivery of clinical interventions using a range of technical and creative skills to engage clients in occupational activities
To monitor the client progress and feedback to the OT
Under the supervision of an OT, facilitate and participate in planned group work, individual activities, one to one rehabilitation practise and ongoing continuous assessment with supervision
Contribute to occupational therapy assessments e.g. Activity of Daily Living Assessments (ADL) and treatment plans under the guidance of an OT
Provide a range of activities, instructing and guiding clients with more complex needs to support them in achieving identified occupational therapy goals, with some supervision.
To contribute to the generic tasks of the team as directed by a registered OT
To actively promote client centred OT interventions using a recovery focused, enabling approach

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills
Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning
Health care or relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent skills

Knowledge

Essential

Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
Experience of being supervised

Desirable

Experience running groups/activities
Experience training others in technical/leisure/ creative skills

Skills

Essential

Establish and Maintain communication with people on routine matters
Provide and receive confidential client information
Computer skills to collate and report client progress on daily basis

Desirable

Experience of lone working

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills
Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning
Health care or relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent skills

Knowledge

Essential

Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
Experience of being supervised

Desirable

Experience running groups/activities
Experience training others in technical/leisure/ creative skills

Skills

Essential

Establish and Maintain communication with people on routine matters
Provide and receive confidential client information
Computer skills to collate and report client progress on daily basis

Desirable

Experience of lone working

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.