Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You'll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you'll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people's lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
An innovative vacancy has arisen for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist working as an Occupational Therapist- Health Trainer at the Thurrock Recovery College.
About the Recovery College
Thurrock Recovery College is a partnership between Inclusion (part of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust), Thurrock and Brentwood Mind (a local charity), Essex Partnership University NHS Trust and the students of the college. Together, we deliver an exciting and innovative wellbeing service for Thurrock that is free, confidential and focused on supporting Thurrock's communities and residents.
In April 2025 the College began an exciting new partnership to create the Mid and South Essex Recovery College – a joint initiative between Inclusion, part of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Mid Essex Recovery College, part of Provide Community, and Trust Links.
The Recovery College is all about providing an educational learning environment for people who experience difficulties with, or have an interest in, mental health and wellbeing.
Our courses across Thurrock help us learn what gives us the best chance of staying well and living the most fulfilling lives we can. Our belief is that recovery is a journey of discovery, to find hope, happiness, health and opportunities.
Advert
Main duties of the job
The role will include supporting in the co-production and co-delivery of courses and workshops to students (Users of the Recovery College), supporting students to identify meaningful Individual Learning Plans and to assist individuals in the transitioning from secondary mental health services to utilise Recovery College.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
* Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
* Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
* If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
* We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
* 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
* Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
* Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
* £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
* Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
* Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
* Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key responsibilities of this role will be
A commitment to understanding and embedding the principles of the Recovery College ethos and model within all aspects of your work
Leading in the design, implementation and evaluation of co-produced occupational focused psychoeducational groups which are delivered both face to face and online.
Supporting students in identifying Individual Learning Plans to support their recovery journeys.
You will be supported through regular professional supervision and appraisal. Monthly professional reflective practise sessions jointly held with the other Occupational Therapists within the Mid and South Essex Recovery College partnership.
As an individual you will have commitment to continue your own development and actively participate in providing a variety of learning opportunities for students and the rest of the team.
In return we offer excellent training and development through our Workforce Development Department and within the service. Support is maintained through regular supervision and appraisal to assist you the successful candidate in setting realistic objectives enabling you in maintaining a positive attitude towards delivering quality customer care.
Opportunities to help you continue to develop throughout your carer include; Band 5 preceptorship programme, Band 5 educational group, Band 5 support group, leadership training programmes and a wide range of career progression and training opportunities.
Please see the above information and that contained within the Job Description and Person Specification attached for full detail
Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.
As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.
Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on or email [email protected] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.
The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.
Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.
Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered 'suitable alternative employment' to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.