South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

The closing date is 12 January 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapy Assistant (Band 3) to join our Calderdale Vocational Team in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our community based team provides vocational support led by occupational therapists for people in the Calderdale area, with referrals coming directly from the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT). Following a referral, the team assesses the person's vocational needs and sets treatment priorities based on their vocational goals and preferences before delivering support primarily in a community setting. This is a permanent position 30-hours per week.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

Using a strength-based approach, the Vocational Team offers a range of vocational services including work retention, support into volunteering, education and training along with supporting ways of developing practical skills. Staff within this specialist team are skilled at working with complex barriers that impact the pursuit of vocational goals. This includes support with issues such as interpersonal and social functioning, lack of confidence and experience along with motivational and engagement issues. Social inclusion and locality networks are central to the approach of the team whilst excellent partnerships with third sector providers enable opportunities for service users to engage with their wider communities with our initial support. The role of the Occupational Therapy Assistant is to deliver these crucial therapeutic interventions in line with the individuals vocational care plan and under the supervision of the Occupational Therapists.

Please contact Richard Bates (Team Manager) for further information on 07766905736 or by email Richard.bates@swyt.nhs.uk.

Visa sponsorship under the Health and Care Worker visa route can only be considered if the prorated salary meets the minimum threshold of £25,000, as required by the UK Visas and Immigration. For Band 3 roles, only full-time positions at the top of the pay scale meet this threshold. Therefore, sponsorship may not be possible depending on salary increment placement and working hours.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Date posted

29 December 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, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-CK2380

Job locations

Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre

Great Albion Street

Halifax

HX1 1YR

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will:

Under the supervision/direction of registered health care professionals/associate practitioner, within a delegated framework for agreed tasks, seek support as and when necessary, in the delivery of therapeutic interventions, psychological and physical care to a defined group of people.

As part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential.

Develop and maintain meaningful therapeutic relationships with people. Adopt a polite, positive and empathetic approach, communicating effectively and informatively.

Demonstrate an understanding of the care and treatment programmes of a designated group of service users to enable you to instruct, advise & guide service users, family and carers. To make the appropriate adjustments independently (within own competence and skill set) and be able to communicate any changes to service users and registered health care professionals.

Be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan eg, following the observation policy, taking, recording of physical observations etc, and responding to issues of concern appropriately. This may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, health & safety.

Exercise a degree of independence, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks. Assess situations, identify and resolve potential problems, within own competence and skill set.

Ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained. Treat everyone eg, service users, their relatives, visitors, colleagues etc, with respect, dignity, courtesy and in accordance with the Trusts Values.

Contribute to the care planning process. Understand the principles underlying care planning eg, enabling the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/ independence/recovery.

Implement care within well-established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans. Organise a range of activities eg, facilitate meaningful activities for individuals or small groups.

Apply knowledge of longer term health conditions eg, Diabetes, Obesity, smoking cessation etc, providing advice and support.

Undertake the physical aspects of care eg, moving and handling of service users. Use items of equipment in delivering care eg, hoists, wheelchairs etc. (as appropriate to the role), ensuring appropriate instruction on their use has been received.

Assist in dealing with verbal/physical aggression using de-escalation techniques, this may include the need for restraint and/or seclusion (as appropriate to the role and in line with Trust policy and training).

Attend to the service users personal care needs as required (as appropriate to the role).

Participate in a flexible rostering arrangement providing 24-hour/7 day care (as appropriate to the role).

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.1 Care provision:

To deliver excellent levels of customer services to people. Assess, problem solve or report, in a timely and proactive manner, when these standards have not been met.

Work with a degree of independence within defined parameters, as directed by a registered health care professional (or associate practitioner if part of the team).

Prioritise own tasks, exercising initiative and judgement in response to peoples needs. Refer and seek guidance/supervision on issues outside of post holders level of competency or authority to more senior health care professionals.

Contribute to the initial assessment/admission/discharge process and formulation/implementation of individualised packages of care to help maximise service user recovery/rehabilitation potential.

Act as a link or associate link for a specific area of practice (as appropriate).

Clearly, accurately and contemporaneously, contribute to care documents, report observations and other service user information, in written and electronic format. Demonstrate competent IT skills, accurate data inputting and use of the internet.

Accurately record clinical measurements and physical observations (as appropriate), which may include: monitoring of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration, weight etc, and handle specimens of bodily fluids. Identify potential risks and respond appropriately.

Contribute to ensuring service user needs are met eg, emotional, personal, basic wound care, dietary, environmental etc, ensuring their privacy, dignity, rights and choices are maintained at all times. Support individuals to self-manage their own health and social wellbeing and promote individuals positive self-esteem and sense of identity.

Participate in the management and support of individuals who exhibit challenging behaviour or present a significant imminent risk to themselves or others. Recognise and respond to changes in their presentation, including reporting the issue to a registered health care practitioner/associate practitioner as required. Respond appropriately to any emergency situation.

Participate in supportive observation/interventions minimising the negative effects of disruptive/abusive behaviour, or in the prevention and management of violence and aggression (PMVA) (as appropriate). Utilise de-escalation and physical control techniques as necessary. Taking reasonable steps to protect themselves from the risk of violence.

If appropriate to the role, when directed and risk assessed by a health care practitioner, accompany/escort service users within/outside Trust grounds. Apply care principles to enable service user to meet maximum level of independence.

Ensure action to reduce risks to health and safety and all possible steps are taken in identifying, managing and reporting risks, to help safeguard the welfare, safety and security of people, eg, children, service users, visitors and staff. Contribute to the reduction of hazards in the environment, considering safety, security, theft or damage.

Use effective verbal/written communication at all times, incorporating tact, empathy, consideration, courtesy and confidentiality. Adapt style of communication to respond to service user communication difficulties and psychological, social, physical and spiritual needs.

Work with sensitivity and an understanding of the issues experienced by service users.

Ensure moving and handling of people/loads is carried out in a safe and effective manner, in accordance with policy and training, as directed by a registered health care professional/associate practitioner.

Work in a flexible and collaborative manner with others. Adapting to the needs of the service, despite many demands on attention.

Understand the roles and contributions of other care providers in and outside of the team, enabling those who are significant to the service user to play an active role in their care.

Support the Trusts culture of commitment to delivering quality services and outcomes.

Maintain and continuously improve knowledge & understanding of health & social care services; including systems, policy, and current issues, particularly with regard to own area of work and service users.

Make use of opportunities for sharing good practice and learning.

Proactively identify additional activities in accordance with the role, which would increase post holder efficiency and the efficiency of the team; offer suggestions for improvement and implement these activities in agreement with the team.

Undertake any additional duties deemed appropriate to the role.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms.Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.