Senior Occupational Therapy Assistant | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 21 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £27,485 - £30,162 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Bedfordshire, LU4 0FB |
| Company: | Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7752398/364-A-9724 |
Summary
A unique opportunity for an Occupational Therapy Assistant who wants to gain more experience and work on an inpatient mental health forensic unit with service users experiencing mental health difficulties.
This Senior Occupational Therapy Assistant post will enable a person to move on to the apprenticeship scheme, gain skills working with this client group. In-house training will be provided.
As part the Therapy team the post holder will be allocated a delegated patient caseload by the qualified OT and be expected to work independently, assessing the patient’s care needs and/or modifying existing treatment plans and delivering this care without much
supervision. This includes progressing patients, reassessing and discharging within the scope of practice.
Support qualified OT staff by taking an active clinical role within the ward team guided by evidence based protocols produced by the registered practitioners.
To support efficient service delivery, the practitioner will delegate tasks to others in the team and supervise lower banding occupational therapy staff.
Your will work under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Occupational Therapist and in the MDT.
You will be working autonomously and supporting patients in the ward environment
You will be able to develop and deliver interventions that can make a real difference to people's life.
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank
ROLE SUMMARY
The post holder will assist in the overall delivery of care, treatment and therapeutic activity as determined by the lead practitioner/OT; ensuring prescribed treatment is carried out according to the agreed treatment plan and in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team.
The post holder will provide an intensive level of support to patients admitted to the Robin Pinto unit. They will be responsible for the delivering therapeutic sessions under supervision, and on their own initiative, delivering treatment plans to service users within a wide range of settings.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
· To work in collaboration with the service user, their support network and the MDT to manage their mental health and related risks
· To work with the service user to achieve their identified goals.
· To work both individually or on a group basis with service users as indicated
· To communicate with a range of people including service users, colleagues and other healthcare professionals on a range of complex and sensitive matters, using the appropriate and relevant methods of communication i.e. verbal, written and IT.
· To observe patients behaviour, verbal and non-verbal communication and act on and report on complex risks and record as necessary.
· To ensure that service user confidentiality is kept at all times and that all records and communications are kept in line with Trust policy.
· To be familiar with patients risk assessment, plan and develop interventions reflecting it.
· To ensure that all relevant information required is recorded accurately in the appropriate record system and that all records are completed in line with the organisation’s record management procedures.
· Act when necessary in the service users best interest when this may not be their expressed wish
· To liaise with outside agencies, family, carers, community agencies etc
· To effectively deal with any adverse situation.
· To work effectively with multi-disciplinary team.
· To use evidence based interventions and approaches
This advert closes on Thursday 5 Feb 2026