Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job summary

An exciting new opportunity exists for a full time Band 3 Occupational Therapy Technician to join the team at Bluebird House based at Tatchbury Mount, Southampton.

Bluebird House is a purpose built secure forensic mental health service for Young People aged 12-18 years old. The unit provides care for up to 14 Young People with severe mental health and emotional difficulties through an attachment and trauma model. The unit is a highly innovative environment working towards best practice in the treatment and management of Young People in a secure environment.

The Occupational Therapy Team have excellent facilities within a Leaning and Therapy Centre which are shared with the Education team. Facilities include an ADL kitchen, fitness suite, games room, relaxation room, workshop and group rooms.

As an Occupational Therapy Technician, you will work as a valued member of the Occupational Therapy and Multi-Disciplinary teams, supporting the Occupational Therapy practitioners in the implementation of assessments, as well as group and individual interventions. The VdT Model of Creative Ability, and Sensory Integration Theory, underpin the Occupational Therapy team's practice.

The CAMHS Occupational Therapy team is seeking a resilient, enthusiastic and compassionate person to join its service at Bluebird House. The successful candidate must have excellent engagement and communication skills, a sense of fun, and a professional and innovative approach to practice.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

Under the supervision of an occupational therapist, the post holder will be expected to:

*Use specialised technical/creative skills to co-ordinate, develop and facilitate a flexible, person centred programme of therapeutic activities for individuals / groups of service users who experience mental health difficulties in a forensic setting.

*Support occupational therapists to undertake assessments and interventions.

*Support service users to access activities/resources.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, combining the expertise and services of multiple NHS providers to deliver high-quality healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
With a dedicated workforce exceeding 12,000 staff and a footprint that spans more than 200 sites across Hampshire, we offer an extensive range of services, including mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health care, reaching diverse communities across urban, rural, and coastal areas.
We are committed to delivering care with compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, ensuring that our patients and service users are at the heart of everything we do. By working closely with our partners, we're creating a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that champions staff development, well-being, and collaboration.
Join us and be part of an organisation dedicated to delivering exceptional healthcare; where your skills and ambitions can make a real difference to the communities we serve, now and in the future. 

Job description

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

Technical qualification e.g. City & Guilds or Health & Social Care NVQ Level 1 or 2, equivalent technical/life skills gained through work or personal experience.

Willingness to undertake the following training within 12 months of appointment:

-Supporting Safer Services

Desirable

Current UK driving licence.

AET (Award in Education and Training) or PTLS or equivalent teaching adults qualification or willingness to undertake.

Experience

Desirable

Health/social care teaching/

Education experience.

Experience as a carer.

Experience of working in mental health/forensic setting

Experience of working with young people

Experience of working with OT's before.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject t