[ref. a9989200] Recovery Worker/Occupational Therapy Assistant

apartmentLancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust placeChorley calendar_month 

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

  • Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
  • Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
  • Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job overview

Do you have excellent communication skills that would enable you to work within a challenging inpatient mental health unit that constantly strives to provide the best possible experience for our service users and their carers?

We have a permanent opportunity for a compassionate, respectful and enthusiastic team player committed to promoting excellence, teamwork and accountability to join the Adult Occupational Therapy Team at the Chorley Inpatient Mental Health Service.

The post involves working alongside experienced Occupational Therapists, Therapy Assistants, Recovery Workers and the Multidisciplinary Team with inpatients experiencing acute mental health problems.

The Chorley occupational therapy mental health team provides assessment and interventions for clients, operates over a 7 day flexible service .You will work across wards engaging clients in activity to support them in their recovery. Candidates with an experience of leading physical, musical, drama or arts activity groups would be regarded as very suitable.

Our aim is to make a person’s stay in hospital as short as possible and to ensure that their experience is a positive one. This will be achieved by creating the right environment and delivering the right interventions in the right place at the right time.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for highly motivated individuals with excellent interpersonal qualities. The successful candidate must be willing to work flexibly in a fast paced environment, have a positive outlook and knowledge of the value of activity and occupation on mental wellbeing.

In addition, a key priority is to ensure the delivery of a quality service, which genuinely engages with service users, carers and other stakeholders.

Applications are invited from people who have previous experience of working within mental health or people focused roles. You must be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the issues that contribute to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties as well as demonstrate ability and confidence in facilitating both group and individual interventions.

You will be familiar with the five ways to wellbeing and be able to recognise how different activities can help people to recovery and remain well.

In return, we are committed to staff development and provide encouragement and support to staff to continue their lifelong learning. We are also passionate about the supervision process. You will be expected to participate in the process for yourself and provide support to others as appropriate.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks.

We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification, or visit our website via Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Can demonstrate the skills and knowledge gained through work (paid/unpaid) in a care setting and an interest in completing NVQ Level III or Higher in Health and Social Care
  • Currently hold a NVQ Level III or Higher in Health and Social Care or QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Ability to work with people of all ages and adapt/develop physical health programmes that reflect physical abilities and interests
  • Can demonstrate a clear commitment to the Trust values and can provide practical examples of where they have worked with: We are always learning, We are respectful, We are kind, We are a team
  • Demonstrate skills in motivating service users using activity

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with service users with mental health problems – for example working in a caring environment such as a nursing home, care home, hospital ward, home carer
  • Previous work in a multi-disciplinary team

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Group work skills
  • Previous experience working in inpatient settings
  • Able to work in a changing environment

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Please be aware the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when submitting an application is monitored and if you have used AI to generate an application, you are required to declare this on your application form. AI-generated content may lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.

Personalisation is essential when submitting an application form to convey your skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively.

Please ensure that you read the person specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document. Applications from job share partners are welcome and other forms of flexible working will be considered for all posts.

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).

You are advised to consider applying for LSCft vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within three weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

LSCft is committed to celebrating difference as an asset and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds helps to create a more flexible, creative and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from people regardless of age, disability (particularly those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

Our goal is for the Trust to be truly representative of the communities we serve so we are particularly keen to receive applications from people in under-represented groups. If there is anything you’d like to discuss in relation to your application then please ask.

apartmentLancashire Care Foundation TrustplaceChorley
alongside experienced Occupational Therapists, Therapy Assistants, Recovery Workers and the Multidisciplinary Team with inpatients experiencing acute mental health problems. The Chorley occupational therapy mental health team provides assessment...
apartmentLancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation TrustplaceLeyland, 4 mi from Chorley
Foundation Trust’s Central + West Network to work as a Specialist Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist The role will be predominantly in the Home First Team, made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and technical instructors. With a focus...
apartmentNHS JobsplaceChorley
For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification, or visit our website via Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT.