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Job summary

Main area
Occupational Therapy
Grade
band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (core hours of 8am and 5pm with flexibility required)
Job ref
351-SPS1465-TG
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
L7F9 L2092 Water Meadow View
Town
Preston
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Per Annum (subject to confirmation)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

band 4

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in late winter 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. As we prepare to open this unit, we have an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.  

One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart. 

The post holder will work alongside more senior experienced therapist(s) to consolidate and develop their skills, through regular contact and supervision from the senior therapist(s).The post holder will work between the core hours of 8am and 5pm with flexibility required on occasion to meet the needs of those we support.  

The post holder will observe general behaviour, functional ability and responses of service users when engaged in therapy activities to make routine records of the information following each intervention and to report to the appropriate member of the multi-disciplinary team. 

They will support assessments of service users practical social inclusion needs and supported by qualified occupational therapists where appropriate, design individualised interventions that meet these needs 

 

Main duties of the job

When you join us, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career. 

  • Communicate effectively with all members of the team and carry out work as outlined within professional competency frameworks for assistants 
  • Work under direction from a qualified Occupational Therapist
  • Work directly with complex individuals who require assessment and intervention to support discharge from an inpatient service.
  • To be able to adapt their communication skills to meet the needs of individuals
  • To model person centred communication to carers/staff teams
  • Maintain information and knowledge of and links with community resources and actively support individuals to use these resources, thereby countering discrimination and encouraging social inclusion
  • Complete client records and client sensitive information according to professional guidance and LSCFT policy
  • Be an integral member of the MDT.
  • To attend relevant professional meetings at the request of a senior Clinician.
  • To share and disseminate information in a professional manner with other members of the broader multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. 

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Maintain competency in IT skills including the use of OT specific software
  • Seek opportunities to deliver interventions in the most socially and culturally way.
  • Evaluate the outcomes interventions and ensure support regarding health & wellbeing is effective and acceptable to the individual and, if appropriate, their support network
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of mental illness on people’s physical and mental wellbeing and advice on strategies to reduce the impact of their difficulties through work with the individual
  • Fulfil shared team roles in responding to individuals’ ongoing and changing clinical needs, liaising with other professionals and evaluating and monitoring risk factors, communicating all the above to the wider team as necessary. 

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent
  • Qualification in health or care e.g. NVQ LEVEL 4 or Training to Diploma or foundation level or Assistant practitioner qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Working knowledge of key issues in learning disabilities
  • Sound working knowledge of professional issues e/.g. confidentiality
  • Knowledge of the role of occupational therapy, specifically in the field of learning disabilities

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of carrying out therapeutic work with individuals with learning disabilities
  • Experience of working with people in a person centred way
  • Experience of delivering informal training to carers
  • Experience of adapting communication skills to meet others needs

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to prioritise duties and tasks independently
  • Ability to work under supervision and independently
  • Good self-management skills
  • Ability to respond appropriately to sensitive situations

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel within the trusts footprint
  • Health- the post holder must be assessed as having a level of fitness to carry out tasks/ duties after reasonable adjustments., ability to undertake moderate physical effort including working on the floor to meet the needs of clients
  • Ability to work with clients who may may require behavioural support

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Justine Eaton
Job title
Recruiting Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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