Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 01 August 2025

Job summary

We are searching for a 37.5 (full time) hours per week Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant to join us on Beech Ward based in Torquay, Torbay Hospital. Beech ward is a 16 bedded inpatient Mental Health Ward that supports primarily older adults with functional mental health difficulties.

At Beech Ward, we pride ourselves on being a dedicated, passionate and skilled team, driven by the motivation to improve the lives and mental health of older adults.

"Team support is outstanding." - Ruth, Staff Nurse on Beech

"We are a caring and compassionate team." - Hannah, Discharge Facilitator

"Staff go beyond the call of duty." - A service user.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work within a dynamic team in a service that has been rated as Outstanding by the CQC. Working alongside a Band 5 and Band 6 Senior OT, and within the MDT, you will ensure that service users receive a high standard of person-centred care which enables them to recover in a timely way.

Main duties of the job

The team aims to provide a recovery focused Occupational Therapy service to support people to re-engage with their lives.

Working as part of the Beech Team for older adults who have a mental health illness who require an acute and inpatient admission, the post holder will support and assist the qualified OT. The post holder will plan and facilitate therapeutic activities on and off the ward according to patients needs, within the framework laid down by the supervising OT. The post holder may also carry out individual interventions in the community and in peoples homes, as directed by qualified staff.

The post holder will contribute towards the development of an innovative and needs led OT service as part of the Beech Team.

The post holder may be required to work across sites on our sister units when clinical need arises to support the fellow teams in service delivery.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0467

Job locations

Beech Unit, Torbay Hospital

Lawes Bridge

Torquay

Devon

TQ2 7AA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Ability to engage and motivate individuals who are experiencing an acute phase of mental illness in activities of daily living
The ability to use a varied range of communication styles to engage patients in one to one activities and group activities.
Basic IT skills
Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users.
Assess patients response to activities and decide on appropriate action e.g. advise OT, summon assistance, alter the programme of activities.
Ability to follow instructions and report back to qualified staff as appropriate.
Plan and organise one off activity sessions on the ward, responding to the needs of small groups of current patients.
Requires flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to patient need, change your work pattern and be responsive to the needs of the ward.
Ability to work as part of a team
Good health record in relation to work
Physical fitness to carry out physical interventions when appropriate
Willingness to participate/coordinate a variety of sporting activities with reasonable adjustments if required.
Need to monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others
Willingness to work day shifts as required
Ability to work flexibly
Ability to travel to sites in areas covered by the Trust.

Experience

Desirable

An understanding of the effects of mental illness on a persons well being and ability to carry out activities of daily living
Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.
Running activity based groups and individual work.
Relevant work experience with people with a diagnosis of mental health problems.

Knowledge

Essential

Demonstrable understanding of recovery and mental health.
Understanding of how occupational therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.

Qualifications

Essential

Ability and desire to gain more understanding about mental health recovery and OT
Evidence of good standard of general education/qualification e.g. CSE, O Level, GCSE

Desirable

NVQ Level II/III or equivalent or willingness to work towards this

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Ability to engage and motivate individuals who are experiencing an acute phase of mental illness in activities of daily living
The ability to use a varied range of communication styles to engage patients in one to one activities and group activities.
Basic IT skills
Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users.
Assess patients response to activities and decide on appropriate action e.g. advise OT, summon assistance, alter the programme of activities.
Ability to follow instructions and report back to qualified staff as appropriate.
Plan and organise one off activity sessions on the ward, responding to the needs of small groups of current patients.
Requires flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to patient need, change your work pattern and be responsive to the needs of the ward.
Ability to work as part of a team
Good health record in relation to work
Physical fitness to carry out physical interventions when appropriate
Willingness to participate/coordinate a variety of sporting activities with reasonable adjustments if required.
Need to monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others
Willingness to work day shifts as required
Ability to work flexibly
Ability to travel to sites in areas covered by the Trust.

Experience

Desirable

An understanding of the effects of mental illness on a persons well being and ability to carry out activities of daily living
Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.
Running activity based groups and individual work.
Relevant work experience with people with a diagnosis of mental health problems.

Knowledge

Essential

Demonstrable understanding of recovery and mental health.
Understanding of how occupational therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.

Qualifications

Essential

Ability and desire to gain more understanding about mental health recovery and OT
Evidence of good standard of general education/qualification e.g. CSE, O Level, GCSE

Desirable

NVQ Level II/III or equivalent or willingness to work towards this

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.