Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job summary

Exciting opportunity has arisen within the in-patient mental health Therapy Team at Prospect Park Hospital for a Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant role.

Prospect Park Hospital serves all the localities in Berkshire and has approximately 170 inpatient beds. In this position you will be working across four adult acute wards, two older adult wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) supported and supervised by qualified Occupational Therapist.

You will be part of a diverse team composed of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, plus OTA's & OTTI's.

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will have the opportunity to be trained in VDT MoCA (Model of Creative Ability) and jointly work with the qualified Occupational Therapist to deliver therapeutic interventions helping patients to take the next step in their journey of recovery. Working in a passionate Allied Health Professional team, you will have access to our Trust-wide Learning and Development programme.

The suitable candidate will be supported in career and personal growth with opportunities to help build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio, enabling you to extend your skills and ensure that you excel.

Main duties of the job

Under direction from a qualified occupational therapist, the post holder will:

• As an enthusiastic OTA you will be working with adults and older adults, you will have a passion for caring, a warm personality and the resilience to play a vital role in helping patients take the next step in their journey.

• With excellent communication and people skills, you will be empathetic and sensitive to the needs of patients, their families, and carers.

• You will engage and motivate patients therapeutically, using verbal and non-verbal skills where there are barriers to communication and understanding.

• You will be working collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team; you will be eager to learn.

• Assist the Occupational Therapist with assessments and the organisation and facilitation of groups.

• Provide valuable practical and creative activities for patients.

• Helping patients return into the community, you will enjoy working across multiple locations and have access to your own car.

• Your energy and drive will be rewarded with the support of an enthusiastic Therapy team that strives to create a warm, friendly, and compassionate environment.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites