Job summary
- Main area
- Acute, Inpatient
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shifts compromise of 3x Early shifts (9-5), 2x Late shifts (12-8) and one weekend shift every three weeks (either Saturday or Sunday, 9-5))
- Job ref
- 455-NLFT-0753
- Employer
- North London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Highgate Mental Health Centre
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £31,554 - £33,270 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Activity Worker PICU
Band 3
Thank you for your interest in the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT). This is an exciting time to join us and be part of our journey to improve mental health care across North London and deliver excellent services to our local people. We will achieve this through the North London Way, as we:
- Collaborate at every level by living our values to create the right conditions for us all to work together.
- Develop our new Trust culture, to help make our new Trust a great place to work and to receive great care.
- Empower our teams to lead the planned improvements in our services, by skilling them and giving them the tools to make the changes.
- Focus on delivering excellence at every level to improve our performance and ensure consistently high-quality care across all our services.
- Ensure that research, quality improvement, and technology lead the way and are embedded in our services.
- Take a trauma informed approach to everything we do
We proactively welcome diversity in our workforce and pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer. We aim to recruit from our local communities and provide opportunities to all including apprenticeships, veterans, care leavers and more.
The North London Way to deliver: Better Mental Health, Better Lives, Better Communities.
Our trust website is: https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/
As a values‑driven Trust, we recruit through our values. Our selection processes focus on behaviours, attitudes, and examples that reflect our organisational values and commitment to compassionate, high‑quality care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.
We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.
North London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to fair and transparent recruitment and requires applicants to provide accurate information, as misleading details may affect their application or employment and may be verified in line with the Fraud Act 2006. For further information please visit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.
Job overview
Activity Worker, Hospital Division
Full Time: 37.5 hours per week (Shifts and some weekend working)
We are looking for highly motivated people to be part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing positive care for our service users across Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust’s Hospital Division, in the role of Band 3 Activity Worker.
Working on our acute inpatient wards at Highgate Mental Health Centre campus, the post-holder will be supervised by the ward OT and will work with the ward team to co-ordinate a programme of meaningful ward activities based on service user choice and interests.
Training and a robust induction will be provided to support the post holder in this sometimes challenging environment and support role and professional development. Post holders will be expected to participate in their own skill development and engage in supervision and reflective practice as part of the role. All ward based staff are required to undertake training in the Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA).
It is advised that any applicants make contact with either lead OT at point of application to discuss the role.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be ward based, providing a programme of meaningful activity in order to support service user recovery. They will be expected to co-ordinate and run a variety of individual and group activities based on service user choice.
The post holder will liaise closely with nursing and OT staff to maximise opportunities for positive engagement in line with service user care plans.
The working pattern will comprise two shift patterns, including some weekend working.
The post holder will be required to maintain individual service user records and additional information to support audit.
The post holder will be responsible for carrying out all duties in a manner that will respect and maintain the dignity of the individual patient at all times.
Working for our organisation
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
-
We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
-
With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
-
We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
Why NLFT?
-
We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
-
We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
-
NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
-
Excellent internal staff network
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To coordinate a programme of ward activity and support service users to engage in a range of activity opportunities.
- To undertake supervision of patients as delegated and within sphere of own competence.
- To accompany patients to different on and off site venues appropriate to the activities in their care plan.
- To recognize and report a change in the patient’s behavior in relation to their mental state. To observe and report on patients’ abilities and progress with activities.
- Under supervision, to record interventions with patients in the multi-disciplinary notes. To participate in the maintenance of a safe environment by being aware of one’s own safety and always negotiating plans with the shift co-coordinator.
- To act as a resource for patients to assist them in continuing their interests and skills when discharged from the ward(s).
- Obtain patient and/or carers views about services provided and involve them in decision making in relation to activity planning.
- Accept regular training in the prevention and management of violence as required within their sphere of practice.
- Undertakes other tasks in consultation with the ward O
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Person specification
Experience or qualification
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning difficulties or associated training
- 6 months + experience
Communication skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent written communication skills
Meaningful activity & recovery
Essential criteria
- Understanding the value of meaningful activity and recovery principles
Desirable criteria
- Experience of using meaningful activity to support recovery
Practical skill sharing
Essential criteria
- Experience or understanding of teaching a practical skill
Team work
Essential criteria
- Experience of working as part of a team
Desirable criteria
- NHS experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to manage own work load
Desirable criteria
- ability to recognise own stressors and ask for support as needed
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
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jaqueline Petersen
- Job title
- Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0203 317 6663
- Additional information
Tom Ridsdale, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist
0203 317 6562
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Candi & Tavi
List jobs with North London NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors









