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Job summary

Main area
Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
246-GYW7363925
Employer
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Hellesdon Hospital
Town
Norwich
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 gross per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Band 4

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams.  We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

Please note, NSFT uses tools to screen any applications generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Job overview

Do you have skills in motivating people, building people’s independence and supporting individuals to achieve their Recovery goals!?

The Forensic Community Mental Health Team (FCMHT) in Secure Services are looking for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner (OTAP) to provide support for service users preparing for discharge, to facilitate reintegration into the community. 

Main duties of the job

Within this role you will be working under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist. You will work with service users at all stages of the Occupational Therapy process and would be expected to work closely with the wider MDT as part of the assessment and treatment process

You will provide 1:1 and group therapy interventions which support service users to work towards goals as part of their Recovery Journey. You will be expected to have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Within this role you will be instructing and guiding service users during therapeutic interventions. To enable you to provide high quality care you will build professional therapeutic relationships with service users and communicate in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

Working for our organisation

NSFT Secure Mental Health Services have been consistently rated "Good" by the CQC and we need you to join us on our journey to Outstanding. As a part of the wider NSFT Secure Services OFT team, the post-holder will receive regular clinical and management supervision, and professional guidance from our knowledgeable, friendly and supportive team. 

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Within the service, we follow a Recovery-based and trauma-informed approach, working alongside Service Users who have a mental health diagnosis. The majority have also had contact with the criminal justice system. Your role would be to instil hope, inspire confidence, and work collaboratively with individuals to meet their goals and build on life skills. You will work alongside Service Users, an Occupational Therapist and the MDT.

We are looking for someone who ideally has experience of working with adult mental health service users and can adapt their skills to work with our client group.

Working alongside our colleagues in the inpatient Occupational and Fitness Therapy (OFT) team you will support service users in their transition from inpatient services into the community. 

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @NSFTjobs

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health OR Apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5 OR Equivalent Qualification at L5 or above in a related subject

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with groups of people
  • Ability to work both independently and under supervision
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working within mental health

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • An understanding of Occupational Therapy and the importance of meaningful occupations.
  • Health and safety risk awareness

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel independently (driving patients in pool cars)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingWomens Staff NetworkCycle to Work

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
Emma Softley
Job title
Lead Occupational Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01603 786782
Additional information

Please contact Emma Softley, Lead Occupational Therapist or Nina Mason, AHP Lead for Great Yarmouth and Waveney, for an informal chat about the post

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