Band 3 Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Swindon
Occupational Therapies (OT) are a specialist intervention team offering interventions to help individuals overcome challenges and enable them to do what they need and want to do, striving for a balance in self care, productivity and leisure. This could include regaining or maintaining their ability to perform daily tasks, participate in meaningful activities and supporting their functional recovery.
We have an exciting and rare opportunity for an individual to join our team as an OT Assistant, and hopefully join the OT apprenticeship in September 2026, a first step to becoming a qualified OT.
It is essential that the applicant meets the entry requirements for the apprenticeship and are committed to learning and completing the full course, alongside working 3 days a week. This is initially a 1 year fixed term role working full time as an OT Support Worker, which would be extended on successful passing of the probation period, acceptance by UWE onto the apprenticeship course and support of your Supervisor on the ward. The role would then be extended for the duration of the apprenticeship for 4 years. We will endeavour to have a B5 OT job available in AWP on completion, but cannot guarantee this.
This role will be predominately based on Applewood ward at Sandalwood Court (adult acute mental health ward).
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an organised, forward thinking, enthusiastic and motivated individual to undertake our developmental Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Apprenticeship role.
You will support the delivery of therapeutic interventions on Applewood ward; including supporting the Occupational Therapists with assessments, groups, and treatment plans using the Occupational Therapy process.
You will work within the multidisciplinary team and engage with on the job learning, clinical placements and university modules if you are successful in being offered an apprenticeship.
High levels of professionalism, flexibility and excellent communication skills are required to work effectively in this role. Previous experience in a health care setting is desirable, particularly mental health focussed and group work.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will become an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team at Sandalwood Court. You will work alongside the registered Occupational Therapists to assess occupational therapy needs and strengths in order to develop individualised and collaborative treatment plans for our service users.
You will be required to carry out delegated work from the team to support the provision of person centred care under various levels of supervision, appropriate to your knowledge and skills.
You will be flexible in your approach to building therapeutic relationships with service users and will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.
As this is a future apprentice position opportunity, you will be required to successfully complete an Occupational Therapist Apprenticeship whilst undertaking the requirements of the position.
Applicants will be required to have already obtained the required entry requirements (detailed below) and able to provide evidence of any certification of qualifications, to ensure they are eligible. This willneed to be evidenced before an unconditional offer of employment can be made.
Due to the clinical environment, applicants will need to be aged 18 or over, and therefore a minimum age limit would apply to this role.
Your exact pattern of work and study time will need to be agreed with your line manager.
You will need to be able to evidence approximately 6 hours per working week of your working hours, across the full duration of your programme as new learning. Depending on the delivery mode of your apprenticeship programme this requirement may be met through a combination of assessor contacts, university and online attendance and workplace learning and mentoring.
Eligibility for an Apprenticeship Programme
Eligibility criteria for apprenticeships are dictated by the National Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the UK government.
Within the funding rules it stipulates that to be eligible for anapprenticeship: Within these rules it stipulates that:
(1) You must have been an ordinary resident of the UK/EU country for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the apprenticeship (which does not include time on a student visa).
(2) You must have enough time remaining on your current visa to cover the full duration of the apprenticeship programme.
(3) Not completing another government funded programme of learning at the same time as the apprenticeship.
We will be required to check the above eligibility criteria before an unconditional offer of employment, which includes the apprenticeship programme, can be made.
If a candidate is unable to meet the required entry level for the apprenticeship, then they will be unable to commence the future apprenticeship element of this post.
We as a Trust have no jurisdiction on the funding rules set by the ESFA or Government therefore we are unable to employ ineligible applicants into this apprenticeship position.
Please see job description for full list of responsibilities.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Maths and English Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) by start of the programme
* Evidence of recent* successful level 3 (A Level equivalent) study (* last 3 years). Or Assistant practitioners apprentice and Foundation degree
Experience and Knowledge
* A full understanding of the role of an occupational therapist and a passion to pursue this as a career choice.
* Demonstrates an understanding of how mental health, developmental and physical health conditions and limitations can affect the lifestyle opportunities of people and how occupational therapy works to overcome these.
* Experience of working as part of a team and under your own initiative
* Experience of or working within Health and/or social care OT services.
Skills and Abilities
* IT and study skills competent in all Microsoft programmes
* Ability to take direction and to follow detailed policies and protocols
* Good communication skills, demonstrates tact, diplomacy and listening
* Excellent organisational skills and time management ability (managing working, studying and completing assignments in own time, alongside work-life balance)
* Flexible and adaptable to change
* Groupwork or creative activity skills
Other Requirements
* The right to work in the UK without current or future visa sponsorship requirements.
* Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
* Full current driving licence
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.
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