Are you a proactive and motivated individual keen for a career working with occupational therapy?  Are you keen to learn more about the role of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health and to support individuals within this service line? Would you like to be part of a pioneering Occupational Therapy service to embed co-production at all levels of care?

A career at Cygnet comes with excellent benefits. Whether it’s saving you money on the high street, with healthcare, holidays & leisure – or securing your future with professional development and a pension – we support you to be happy both in & out of work.

Apply now to enjoy excellent career prospects while reaping the rewards of making a difference to others – every day.

Post:    Occupational Therapy Assistant

Salary: £20,500 p.a.

Base:   Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, Beach Road, Weston-Super-Mare, BS22 9UZ

Responsible for: Supporting the occupational therapist with assessments, treatment and development of therapy programmes for individuals in our care

Responsible to: Ward Occupational Therapist and Head of Occupational Therapy (Line manager)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (flexible to cover a 7 day service including late shifts and weekends)

Location: Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, Beach Road, Weston-Super-Mare, BS22 9UZ 

Job Summary

As an occupational therapy assistant you will work under the guidance of an occupational therapist to complete elements of the occupational therapy process. This may include interventions on a group or individual basis both within the hospital and in the wider community, grading and adapting activities to suit individual strengths and needs and aspects of report-writing and care plans. You will have the support of Qualified Occupational Therapists, fellow Occupational Therapy Assistants as well as Activities Coordinators who will provide therapeutic interventions and meaningful activity engagement for each patient.

Main duties

In this role you will be supporting Occupational Therapists to perform their role in the assessment, treatment and development of individuals in our care including through the following tasks:

• Assist the OT in the day to day duties and running of the department
• Undertake assessment and intervention programmes with clients as delegated by an OT underpinned by appropriate experience / knowledge
• Implement individual care plans

Service Description

Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke provides an emergency admissions service for men and a pathway for women from low secure to rehabilitation including a specialist service for personality disorder.

Kewstoke hospital has more than 16 acres of landscaped grounds and overlooks the Bristol Channel. This beachside location, just outside Weston-super-Mare, helps us provide a quiet, peaceful and therapeutic environment.

We have a designated qualified Occupational Therapist (OT) and OTA on each ward as well as Activity Coordinators to support delivery of the therapy programme around the hospital. Our environment has a holistic focus and includes a gym, ADL kitchen, IT suite, café, faith room and other ward therapeutic spaces.

The occupational therapy team focuses on enhancing practical life skills and coping strategies. We concentrate on community based activities, the use of public transport, cooking and development of hobbies and interests.

We work closely with our multi-disciplinary team to support the individuals in our care throughout their journey. The team consists of psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers as well as external therapists and 24/7 support from the nursing team. This MDT working enables us to meet the changing needs of our service users as they progress through their care pathway, while ensuring their safety is maintained and their independence supported.

About us

Cygnet was established in 1988. Across our 11 different service lines, we have evidence-based established models of care to ensure we provide the highest quality care and support.  Our dedicated and expert teams of over 10 000 employees, support over 2800 individuals in a range of services across England, Scotland and Wales.

We have built a reputation for delivering pioneering services and outstanding outcomes for the people in our care, through co-production, recovery and rehabilitation.

Five reasons why you should apply

• We care about people in our services
• Career pathway progression to support your development and skills, including professional practice skills training, OTA assistant practitioner apprenticeships (level 3 and level 5 which contributes towards UCAS points)
• You will be an integral part of a well-established MDT with extensive experience
• Direct guidance of a qualified occupational therapist
• Be part of a large national professional network of over 150 OTs

The Successful Candidate should be/have:

• GCSE Maths and English
• An understanding of Occupational Therapy
• Experience of teamwork – health care preferable.
• Excellent communication and organisation skills
• Creativity & problem solving skills

In return we will offer you:

• A competitive salary of £20,500 per annum
• Clinical supervision from an Occupational Therapist
• Free parking and free meals for staff on duty
• Employee referral scheme: recommend a friend to us and claim a cash reward for their successful hire.
• Group pension: a generous pension plan helping you save for your future.
• NHS Discount Cards & Blue Light Card – includes big brand discounts.
• Wellbeing centre with exercises, recipes, financial and mental health advice.
• Plus much more…

Job Description and person specification

Please see full job description and person specification in the attached document

Requirements:

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS and reference check and an offer of employment will be subject to successful clearance.