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Job summary

Main area
Occupational Therapy Assistant/Exercise Technician
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
22.5 hours per week (Part time - 22.5 hours per week)
Job ref
222-HOU-279
Employer
West London NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Lakeside MHU (West Mid)
Town
London
Salary
£33,262 - £36,027 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/09/2026 17:00
Interview date
06/10/2026

Employer heading

West London NHS Trust logo

Occupational Therapy Assistant/Exercise Technician

Band 4

West London NHS Trust  provides a full range of mental health, community  and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

Occupational Therapy Assistants work alongside Occupational Therapists to support the delivery of person-centred interventions, helping service users achieve their recovery goals and improve their independence, wellbeing, and physical health.

We are recruiting a Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant/Exercise Technician posts within Lakeside Mental Health Unit. The role involves supporting assessment and treatment programmes, delivering individual and group activities, facilitating exercise and wellbeing sessions, and working as part of the multidisciplinary team. Post holders will work under the supervision of a senior Occupational Therapist to support recovery-focused care for service users with complex mental health needs.

Main duties of the job

To ensure that the professional standards and ethics as set out by the West London NHS Trust are adhered to at all times.

 

 

Clinical:

 

·         To deliver exercise/fitness programs and group sessions within an acute inpatient setting to aid improvement and support physical and mental health.

 

·         To continually review and evaluate service user’s progress, treatment plans and risk assessments as the patient’s condition changes, making suitable alterations to their sports and exercise programmes.

 

·         To identify conditions that may limit or compromise participation.

 

·         To induct service users in the safe use of the gym equipment.

 

·         All interactions with service users should be underpinned with empathy and a clear understanding of the effects of disability in the areas of productivity, leisure and activities of daily living (ADL).

 

·         To be able to manage own caseload appropriately and using evidence-based intervention strategies.

 

·         To understand consent and gain consent from service user for intervention.

 

·         To recognise when service users have achieved their goals and to set, review and re-design programs collaboratively with the service user.

 

·         To ensure accurate and reliable documentation of patient records are maintained in accordance with local and Trust standards.

 

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m. 

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BTEC extended diploma/Level 3 National Diploma in Sports and Fitness/Personal Training OR equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
  • Sports and Exercise related training and/or development

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working within a fitness setting
  • Experience of working as a gym instructor, with groups and individuals, screening, assessing and designing exercise programmes
  • Experience of coaching/leading sports activities with people of differing abilities
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of assessing and advising on healthy lifestyle issues
  • Ability to teach a variety of sports
  • Experience of working with service users with physical health conditions
  • Experience of working in a mental health or healthcare setting.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Good written skills
  • Good verbal communication skills
  • Basic IT skills
  • Group work skills
  • Effective team worker
  • Good organisational skills
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Health/safety and risk awareness
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of mental health conditions

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Reliable
  • Non-judgemental
  • Enthusiasm for working in a challenging area
  • Flexibility to change and innovation
Desirable criteria
  • Good self-awareness
  • Personal experience of mental health problems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Train work experience quality standard - gold standardNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gwyneth Ataderie
Job title
Deputy Lead Occupational Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07927131110

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Human Resources – Trust Headquarters
West London NHS Trust
1 Armstrong Way - Southall
UB2 4SA
Telephone
Mob: 07483968676
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