Occupational Therapy Assistant

Would you like to explore a rewarding career experience as an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

We are currently looking for an Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our team at Cygnet Hospital Clifton.

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm

Post: Occupational Therapy Assistant

Salary: Starting from ?£25,000 per year

Responsible for: Supporting Occupational Therapists to perform their role in the assessment, treatment and development of individuals in our care

Responsible to: Head of Occupational Therapy (Line manager)

Service Line: Low secure male personality disorder.

The post holder will work within a well-established Occupational Therapy team and multi-disciplinary team based on one of two wards at site.

About the service:

Cygnet Hospital Clifton is a 25-bed specialist low secure service for men with a personality disorder, who may also present complex mental health needs and challenging behaviours.

The treatment model we provide at Cygnet Hospital Clifton is delivered in the context of a cohesive multidisciplinary, psychologically informed team approach, with the patient at its centre.

We aim to create opportunities for sustained positive behavioural change, by applying a consistent approach where the men in our care feel encouraged to develop positive interpersonal skills to reduce maladaptive or pathological behaviours.

The hospital is set out across two wards:

• Ancaria Ward is the admissions/ initial treatment ward, which offers a defined pathway through to Acorn Ward
• Acorn Ward focuses on rehabilitation, in preparation for moving on into the community or supported living.

Our dedicated clinical teams provide a full multi-disciplinary programme that includes: Occupational Therapy, psychology, psychiatry and social work offering service users the opportunities and support they need to return to community living either with support or independently.

Our Occupational Therapy department supports service users to engage in meaningful occupations and overcome any barriers that prevent this. We focus on supporting individuals to develop the skills needed to live a more independent and fulfilling life in the community.

To support with this, we have a full therapy programme that includes a range of self-care, productive and leisure-based activities. Our Occupational Therapy pathway has different stages of treatment and the interventions offered will change as our service user’s progress through each stage of this pathway.

In this role you will:

• Deliver planned activities for patients under the direction of the ward Occupational Therapist (OT) and Multidisciplinary Team
• Assist the OT in the day to day duties and running of the department
• Develop and run a meaningful therapy timetable
• Undertake assessment and intervention programmes with clients as delegated by a senior occupational therapist underpinned by appropriate experience / knowledge
• Contribute ideas, create and facilitate events and activities safely and support people to structure their time through meaningful activity
• Have involvement in the delivery of one to one and group interventions
• Implement individual care plans during activity sessions and take into account specific interests and opportunities to promote choice and independence

5 reasons why you should make an application today:

• We care about people in our services
• We are a very supportive and friendly team
• You will be an integral part of a large, well established MDT with extensive experience to draw from
• We offer lots of in-service training in OT assessments and interventions
• We support the learning and professional growth of our staff members and have supported several OTAs to progress towards studying for an Occupational Therapy qualification.

The Successful Candidate should be/have:

• A good understanding of mental health diagnosis
• Knowledge of recovery approaches and social inclusion
• Experience of supporting service users with mental illness, learning disabilities and autism
• A relevant healthcare qualification is desirable
• Effective communication skills, good organisations skills and a positive attitude

A career at Cygnet comes with excellent benefits. Whether it&rsqu