Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our friendly and dynamic multi-disciplinary therapy team on a 12-bedded stroke unit.
You will be working as part of our therapy team consisting of Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, Speech and Language therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants, supporting patients through their inpatient rehabilitation journey following stroke.
Previous experience in a rehab setting or as a rehab assistance is essential.
Why Join Us?
1. Supportive and experienced MDT environment
2. Opportunity to develop rehabilitation skills within stroke services
3. Meaningful, hands-on role making a real difference to patients’ recovery
Main duties of the job
As a Band 4 OT Assistant, you will play a key role in helping patients regain as much functional independence as possible using a goal-focused rehabilitation approach.
Working under the supervision of qualified therapists, you will:
4. Assist in the delivery of individual rehabilitation programmes and interventions
5. Carry out joint therapy sessions with therapists and patients
6. Work alongside other rehabilitation assistants
7. Run therapy and exercise sessions independently, as appropriate
8. Co-facilitate exercise groups jointly with another rehabilitation assistant
We are seeking someone who is:
9. Enthusiastic, reliable, and patient-focused
10. Able to work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team
11. Confident in following treatment plans and working independently when required
12. Committed to supporting patients through recovery and rehabilitation
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
13. We are kind.
14. We are respectful.
15. We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.
Starting with Us
NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Goodmayes, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5, pro rata for part time).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Working under the supervision of qualified therapists, you will:
16. Assist in the delivery of individual rehabilitation programmes and interventions
17. Carry out joint therapy sessions with therapists and patients
18. Work alongside other rehabilitation assistants
19. Run therapy and exercise sessions independently, as appropriate
20. Co-facilitate exercise groups jointly with another rehabilitation assistant
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
21. NVQ Level 2 or Equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
22. Previous experience of working within Care setting
23. Previous experience working as a B3 level or equivalent
24. Previous experience working in rehab/as a rehab assistant
Desirable criteria
25. Experience of multidisciplinary team working
Knowledge
Essential criteria
26. Basic understanding of therapy and patient therapy/nursing needs
Desirable criteria
27. Understanding of ADL equipment
Skills
Essential criteria
28. effective communication skills - verbal and in writing
29. Basic IT skills
30. Organisational skills
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
31. A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
32. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
33. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
34. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.