Job overview
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) supports the delivery of therapeutic, recreational, and occupationally focused interventions for service users experiencing mental illness, including those with a history of offending. Based either in the Recovery Hub or on the ward, the OTA works under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist to promote rehabilitation, recovery, and meaningful engagement.
As part of the multidisciplinary team, the OTA contributes to the planning and delivery of a diverse and flexible programme of activities, developed collaboratively with service users and colleagues and overseen by an Occupational Therapist. This includes facilitating 1:1 and group interventions, supporting assessment and care planning through observation and feedback, and ensuring practice remains person‑centred and recovery‑focused.
The OTA also undertakes community‑based activities where required to support daily living skills, discharge planning, and wider community engagement. The role includes exercising appropriate autonomy in delivering therapeutic interventions while maintaining safe environments and upholding high professional standards.
Main duties of the job
·To provide a flexible programme of recreational, vocational and educational activities within the service in collaboration with the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT), volunteers and sessional workers.
·To provide support and engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote recovery, independence and well-being
·To support the development of a balanced therapeutic ward based programme for service users at different stages of recovery
·To contribute to the collaborative care planning process, monitoring service users progress, taking account service users goals and aspirations and adjusting interventions accordingly
·To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, planned with a registered OT.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical
·To work as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary team by contributing to a programme of therapeutic activities that support a person centred and recovery focused approach to an individual’s care and treatment during admission.
·To provide individual occupational interventions detailed within an occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plan using specialist technical and engagement skills under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
·To inform and assist with the development of occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plans.
·To independently facilitate 1:1 or group interventions in the Recovery Hub and ward settings in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy service.
·To co-facilitate additional group interventions alongside a qualified Occupational Therapist and other members of the multidisciplinary team in line with service need.
·To contribute to formal occupationally focused assessments led by the qualified Occupational Therapists using specialist skills to gather data via discussion and observation and provide feedback on these.
·To apply specialist knowledge with regards to community opportunities through signposting and providing information that will support discharge planning and enhance a person’s recovery opportunities and social inclusion.
·To be aware of risk management principles including the ability to safely manage the environment during clinical activity, managing risks identified within an individual’s risk assessment, abide by relevant policy and protocol and recognise the need for assessment of mental state and associated risk.
·To demonstrate ability to safely carry out restrictive interventions following Seni Lewis Training Programme.
Communication and working relationships
To form professional relationships with service users including carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
To support individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity.
To report effectively to the team on service user performance and progress.
To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to service user progress.
To utilise specialist communication skills with service user and their key supporters (including carers), multidisciplinary team members and other colleagues.
To use a range of communication styles to work with service users and their key supporters (including carers) as required and tailor therapeutic interactions as required.
Documentation
·To provide comprehensive written summary within clinical on a person’s progress during their admission based on observation and feedback obtained from the service user and others.
·To communicate, written and verbally, with external agencies and stakeholders as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist.
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards.
·To maintain up to date clinical records and data on clinical activity aligned to the Trust and Profession specific standards.
Leadership, supervision and appraisal
·In line with Trust guidelines to hold a high degree of self-awareness and be able to reflect on own clinical practice and performance via regular supervision, annual appraisal, reflective practice sessions and informal supports as required
·To act as a source of support for colleagues, students, sessional workers and volunteers to ensure a safe and effective service is provided.
Training staff and students
·To participate in training and development priorities and opportunities specialist within the service as required.
·To develop competencies in training and other health and safety requirements aligned to the role, as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.
·To support the induction, development and training of staff, volunteers and students as requested by the qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.
·To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.
·To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers.
·To participate in relevant training opportunities.
Service development and delivery
·To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision.
To keep up to date with current practice and service business plans and development issues with guidance from the service qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.
Professional development
·To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor.
To engage in supervision and annual appraisal as outlined by the Trust standards.
To keep a record of your training and development activities.
Clinical governance, quality, standards
To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the lead Occupational Therapist and ward teams
To comply with all Trust policies.
Line management, staff, budgets dept
Must be prepared to work some evenings/weekends if required.
To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job.
Research and development
·As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your programme
·To participate in audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.
Training and Development
·To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy including computing skills, group skills, food handling and Seni Lewis training skills within 12 months of appointment.
·To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal.
·To undertake personal development as identified in Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Person specification
Qualfications
Essential criteria
1. Health and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
2. Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable criteria
3. Further education qualification in health / mental health related subject
4. Any relevant therapies qualification e.g. creative arts
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Demonstrable experience of working in education/mental health/social care setting
6. Working with people with mental health problems and complex needs
7. Experience of working with and/or understanding of Occupational Therapy
Desirable criteria
8. Experience in working with service users with forensic history
Knowledge
Essential criteria
9. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
10. An understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
11. Ability to teach practical skills to service users.
12. Understanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
13. Ability to work independently of direct supervision in clinical areas and in community settings
14. Ability to plan and facilitate 1:1 and group activities.
15. Ability to interact with staff of all disciplines and work as part of a multidisciplinary team
16. Ability to assimilate new information and learn new skills
17. Knowledge of applying Health and Safety and risk awareness procedures and policies
18. IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools).
Desirable criteria
19. Positive interpersonal skills.
20. Ability to develop practical solutions to problems that may arise.
21. Understanding of professional conduct/ boundaries
22. Ability to use own initiative and lone work as per policy
23. Understanding of professional conduct.
24. Good observation skills
25. Knowledge of mental healthcare/NHS business and how it supports service user’s and carers
Other
Essential criteria
26. Willingness to develop and advance own learning
27. Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work and be open to new ideas and new ways of working
28. Good time management skills
29. Personal resilience
30. To be able to participate in full 5-day Seni Lewis training (physical demand)