Therapy Assistant

A warm welcome awaits you to join us at Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (NHFT) as a therapy assistant supporting the occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy teams within the in-patient mental health service on the Berrywood Hospital site in Northampton.

The mental health in-patient therapy teams are a supportive and dynamic staff group comprising of registered occupational therapists, physiotherapists, degree level OT/physio apprentices, therapy assistants, sports and exercise instructors, volunteers, sessional workers, and students. The therapy team works closely alongside nursing staff and the wider multi-disciplinary team to provide quality and effective care for our patients with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dementia.

You will be working across the in-patient acute mental health wards for adults and/or older people under the direction and support of the occupational therapists and physiotherapists. You will be undertaking assessments and providing individual and group treatments enabling individuals to undertake day to day tasks which may be compromised by their mental and physical health.

The focus of treatments will include aspects such as daily living skills; social skills; mobility and range of movement; balance, strength and endurance; problem solving; confidence and self-esteem. The aim is to enable each individual to re-build (or slow deterioration of) daily living and coping skills to return to independent or supported living that meets their personal goals, quality of life and safety.

If you have existing practical skills and hobbies (for example gardening) that you can use as therapeutic activities with patients, that would be advantageous. Good levels of English (written and verbal) and computer literacy are essential, as well as a positive outlook to promote person centred and recovery focused care.

NHFT is an organisation committed to supporting all staff meet their potential and career aspirations. You will benefit from a comprehensive supervision and appraisal system, with multiple opportunities for training and development.

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the ‘About You’ Section of the document.

You will need an awareness of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and dementia and possess skills to positively engage and interact with people from a variety of backgrounds and with differing needs.

You must demonstrate an understanding of the focus of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in enabling individuals to undertake day to day tasks which may be compromised by their mental and physical health.

Although challenging and requiring a high level of personal resilience, the role is hugely rewarding, no two days are the same, and you will make a real difference to peoples’ lives. This could be the start or extension of an amazing and varied career - are you up for the challenge?