Occupational Therapy Assistant

If you are looking for a bank or substantive post and a new challenge, and have a particular interest in Forensic services then this is the position for you.

The Forensic Services based at St Bernard’s Hospital on the Ealing site in London are comprised of a number of specialist areas including Women’s and Men’s services at both low and medium security. The post holder will join an already established Occupational Therapy service and will be based in the Low Secure and Community directorate.

We have a wider Occupational Therapy service comprising of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, activity coordinators and Recovery Support workers.

You will be supervised and supported by Occupational Therapist to deliver an occupational therapy led program within the Forensic services.

We have a service wide requirement to deliver a range of off ward group programmes that develop service user’ skills and function in line with recovery principles and practice. These include social skills, transitions, life skills, goal setting, self-catering and leisure management a lot of these skills are developed within our vocational programme.

You will support OT’s clinical caseload and have responsibilities to provide a range of individual and group activities that develop service user’ skills and function in line with recovery principles and practice.
These include social skills, self-catering, transitions, life skills, cyber safety, and leisure management and vocational interventions.
The post also offers an opportunity to develop clinical skills in screening assessments. We currently use the Model of Human Occupation; however, we are working towards all Occupational Therapists and OT assistants being trained in the use of the Vona Du Toit Model of Creative Ability. We would ensure that you receive the relevant training and support when you join the team.
We have clear clinical models and pathways for service users moving from our acute wards into rehabilitation and through into the community with occupational performance skills being central to the readiness for transition through each stage of a service user recovery.
You will be instrumental in ensuring service users are referred into the available work roles and gain the qualifications that they need to develop their skills and CV’s and move into external work and educational options.

Forensic services are interesting and challenging areas to develop a career in Occupational therapy. We have a close knit team who are very supportive and have years of experience and expertise in this clinical area.

We have a wide range of services and facilitate cross service learning, teaching and development. We have many training options available to our staff.

As an Occupational Therapy Service we have a strong commitment to CPD within the trust and provide a range of opportunities for staff with the expectation that learning is shared and clinical excellence is achieved. We have regular AHP forums, study days and learning lessons conferences.

Our working hours are Monday to Friday 8-4pm or 9-5pm. However, we recognise the need to be flexible and support both compressed hours, full time and part time hours, depending on the role and also school hours 10 till 2pm will be considered

As part of the interview process you may be offered other available posts within the trust. We are in close contact with other Heads of Occupational Therapy and an interview with forensics can ensure you are also made aware of other roles within the trust.

We expect and welcome informal enquiries and particularly visits to the service prior to interview. We consider this a key part of the process of understanding the Occupational Therapy role in forensic services.

To provide a client-centred range of meaningful occupations under the supervision of the occupational therapy service to a defined caseload of service users, within the local services or forensic division working with multi-disciplinary team members.

To promote a range of individual and group orientated approaches in leisure, work, productivity and self-care.

To contribute to the evaluation and continued development of the occupational therapy service.