We are offering an exciting opportunity for a creative, and enthusiastic Occupational Therapy Assistant to join the Haldon Eating Disorders Unit at Wonford House, Exeter.
This specialist adult service supports individuals with eating disorders through evidence-based, occupation-focused interventions aimed at enhancing engagement in meaningful activities to promote health, wellbeing, and community integration.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant will play a key role in supporting our Band 6 Occupational Therapist in specialist assessment and intervention, particularly around the occupation of food and social eating, and in supporting individuals to overcome barriers to participation through reasonable adjustments and adaptive strategies. The successful applicant will have experience working with adults with complex needs, and be confident in working as part of a team to manage a specialist caseload, applying outcome measures, and contributing to multidisciplinary care. An interest or experience in sensory processing assessment and intervention is desirable.
The post also includes receiving clinical supervision, working alongside students, apprentices, and contributing to the group programme alongside other MDT members and the wider Haldon Eating Disorders Service.
We welcome applicants with transferable skills and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Main duties of the job
Assisting the Occupational Therapist in planning and organising within your designated area of work
Plan, organise and deliver activities and groups to engage service users within the eating disorder service.
Keep stores/materials well organised and well stocked as directed by qualified OT staff
Demonstrate the ability to work within own capability and seek support if situation exceeds capability.
The post holder is expected to work the majority of their time (80%) in direct patient contact.
Required to work flexibly, between the hours of 9am-20:30 over a 7 day week.
With supervision, enable service user engagement and achievement of therapeutic goal according to the agreed care plans.
Assist the OT to provide effective interventions, including group work, individual work, and escorted leave off the ward.
Positively promote independent living within the hospital, using a recovery based approach
Assist people who use our services to gain access to a range of resources
Communicating effectively with the other member of the OT team and other health professionals to ensure clinically-relevant information is received accurately and in a timely manner.
Ensure patient notes are maintained to required standard and reporting accurately when providing feedback to others.
Understanding of barriers to communication and ways to communicate effectively with service users
The ability to develop a therapeutic rapport with a range of patients.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be a curious, compassionate and committed Occupational Therapy Assistant who demonstrates enthusiasm for the role within their professional scope. They will be responsible for supporting to delivering specialist, safe, and evidence-based occupational therapy groups, contributing to formulation, interventions, and evaluations, with a strong focus on meaningful occupation, particularly relating to food, eating, and social participation for adults with eating disorders. Through occupation-focused approaches delivered individually and in groups, they will promote health, well-being, and community reintegration. Working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will provide occupational support, contribute to clinical discussions, and support holistic, person-centred care aligned with best practice guidelines. They will support clients to develop sustainable routines and roles, enabling recovery and preventing relapse.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* QCF level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification.
Experience
* Able to demonstrate understanding of recovery and mental health.
* An understanding of how Occupational Therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.
* The ability to engage and motivate individuals who are experiencing an acute phase of mental illness in activities of daily living.
* The ability to use a varied range of communication styles to engage patients in one-to-one activities and group activities.
* Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users.
* Able to assess patient responses to activities and decide on appropriate actions.
* The ability to follow instructions and report back to qualified staff as appropriate.
* Plan and organise one off activity sessions on the ward, responding to the needs of small groups and current patients.
* Working flexibly and responding quickly to patient need, being responsive to the needs of the ward.
* The ability to work as part of a team.
* An understanding of the effects of mental illness on a person's wellbeing and ability to carry out activities of daily living.
* Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.
* Running, and supporting to run activity based groups and individual work.
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.
£25,760 to £27,476 a yearPlus weekend and evening enhancements
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,Flexible working,Compressed hours
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
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