AHP Therapy Assistant

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is looking for a part-time AHP therapy assistant to work at the Hellingly Centre in Hailsham. The role involves supporting service users with mental health needs through engaging activities and collaborative care planning. Candidates should possess NVQ Level 3 or 4 qualifications in health care, along with experience in mental health settings. This position offers opportunities for training, development, and flexibility in working hours.

Benefits

Access to training and development opportunities

Use of on-site gym

Free parking

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals in mental health settings is essential.
• Relevant qualifications for therapeutic interventions are desirable.
• Strong team player with a background in facilitating activities.

Responsibilities

• Support service users through health and wellbeing activities.
• Assist in planning and delivering sessions in various domains.
• Provide feedback contributing to care plans.

Skills

Experience working with people with mental health difficulties

Team collaboration

Facilitating individual and group activities

Supervision experience

Training others in skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 Health care or equivalent

NVQ Level 4 Healthcare or equivalent

Job description

Are youkeen to worka fascinating and ever-changing environment?

Are you curious, creative and always looking for new learning opportunities and ways toimplementthis into practice?

We have a Band 4 Allied Health Profession Therapy Assistant vacancy in our central therapies team at the Hellingly Centre, a medium and low secure inpatient service for male and female service users.

Forensic mental healthcare is a unique and fascinating field which provides both challenge and opportunity in abundance.

At the Hellingly Centre, we specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

You will be working with service users who have committed criminal offences, but have also often been victims themselves. Service users regularly experience stigma for both mental health and offending history, so our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills.

Main duties of the job

As an AHP therapy assistant, you will play a pivotal role in supporting service users to enhance their health and wellbeing.

You will:

• Work together with allied health professions, service users' and their care teams to support effective communication and the engagement in a range of meaningful activities.
• Provide feedback and contribute to holistic care plans, aiding service users' recovery and journey through secure services.
• Have the opportunity to assist with planning and delivering individual and group sessions, across various domains, including: nature-based - at the on-site allotment, ward gardens and in the community, the Recovery Through Activity programme, education, other vocational roles, e.g. the on-site shop, cooking and baking, music, sensory exploration and modulation, physical activity, art and creativity and participation opportunities.

About us

The Hellingly Centre is a modern purpose built medium secure unit specialising in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

There are 4 specialist wards (2 male medium secure wards - Oak and Ash, 1 female medium secure ward - Blossom and 1 male low secure ward - Elm), each with a strong multi-disciplinary team.

We have a range of therapy facilities within the centre including: a gym, shop, music, woodwork and art rooms and Badger's Caf and allotment space on-site.

The centre is situated within the beautiful Hellingly Country Park and the Cuckoo Trail is also very close by. The local town, Hailsham is under 10 minutes away by car. There is a direct bus link to Eastbourne.

There is a small gym on-site which is available for staff to use. Badger's Cafe is on site and sells a good selection of hot drinks, meals and snacks. There is a large car park and parking is free.

Job responsibilities

Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Any relevant qualifications that may support with the delivery of therapeutic interventions is desirable.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and requirements.

There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice and training and development opportunities, including attendance to communities of practice.

This role is part time (30 hours), across Monday - Friday. Flexible working requests will be considered.

Please apply using the link in this advert. For any further information or if you have any questions regarding the role, please contact:

For further information, please contact Amy Boot ([e-mail]) or Emily Barnard ([e-mail])

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 Health care or equivalent in subject relevant to service area (B3)
• NVQ Level 4 Healthcare or equivalent in subject relevant to service area (B4)

- Knowledge/Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience of facilitating individual and group activities
• Experience of being supervised
• Experience of training others in technical/leisure/creative skills
• Experience of supervising others

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.