East London NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapist Assistant to join our team, to cover a fixed-term period of maternity leave for 9 months, at our Older Adults Inpatient Mental Health ward in Bedford (Fountains Court). Fountains Court is a 26-bed acute assessment unit for older adults with a functional mental health illness and/or cognitive impairment/dementia.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing occupational therapy interventions under the guidance of the ward occupational therapists, within Fountains Court. The post holder will work within the already well-established MDT to promote and facilitate the OT programme both on the ward and in the community through 1:1 intervention, group work and enabling clients in accessing local community resources to support their discharge. We are looking for someone with a good understanding of mental health, dementia and the role of Occupational Therapy.

About us

Within this role you will have opportunity for personal development, through training opportunities, supervision, and attending the OT department's Band 3/4 development peer group. You will have regular supervision and support day-to-day from the qualified OT's based at Fountains Court and regular contact with the Older Persons Head OT.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-BED7308373

Job locations

Fountains Court

Merton Road

Bedford

MK40 3AF

Job description

Job responsibilities

To support the Occupational Therapy service in its provision of assessment, treatment and resettlement of service users within the Older Adults Mental Health service on the wards, in the OT department and in the community.

Contribute to the planning, provision and evaluation of the OT therapeutic programme, including group work and 1-1 interventions.

To develop specialist knowledge and skills in Older Adults acute mental health and dementia.

To maintain positive key relationships with the following:

Occupational Therapy colleagues

Modern Matron, Clinical Practice Lead and nursing staff aligned to ward

Multi-Disciplinary Teams working to aligned ward

Service users and their families/ carers.

Links with external agencies and other appropriate community services

Job description

Job responsibilities

Contribute to the planning, provision and evaluation of the OT therapeutic programme, including group work and 1-1 interventions.

To develop specialist knowledge and skills in Older Adults acute mental health and dementia.

To maintain positive key relationships with the following:

Occupational Therapy colleagues

Modern Matron, Clinical Practice Lead and nursing staff aligned to ward

Multi-Disciplinary Teams working to aligned ward

Service users and their families/ carers.

Links with external agencies and other appropriate community services

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Ability to plan and organise group and 1:1 activities
Ability to organise own time and plan tasks
Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times

Desirable

Experience of working with older people with mental health and/or Dementia
Experience of working within an occupational therapy team or MDT

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

Understanding of the role occupational therapy
Basic understanding of planning for 1:1 and group activities
Awareness of risk assessments
Experience of developing and facilitating groups

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Ability to plan and organise group and 1:1 activities
Ability to organise own time and plan tasks
Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times

Desirable

Experience of working with older people with mental health and/or Dementia
Experience of working within an occupational therapy team or MDT

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

Understanding of the role occupational therapy
Basic understanding of planning for 1:1 and group activities
Awareness of risk assessments
Experience of developing and facilitating groups

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Fountains Court

Merton Road

Bedford

MK40 3AF

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Fountains Court

Merton Road

Bedford

MK40 3AF

Employer's website

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