Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant - Meadowcroft

Bsmhft; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant to Meadowcroft, a male PICU unit at Mary Seacole House in Birmingham. The role is full-time (37.5 hours per week) with flexible shifts to provide a 7-day service.

You will assist the OT team, facilitate group activities and 1:1 sessions, and support nursing staff and ward managers to promote patient wellbeing and functional recovery.

Qualifications

• Experience facilitating structured group activities in a clinical setting.
• Ability to run 1:1 sessions with service users.
• Strong collaboration with OT, nursing staff and ward management.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and delivery of treatment and care plans under supervision of an Occupational Therapist.
• Support OT process including assessment, planning and delivery of therapeutic activities in a mental health inpatient setting.
• Deliver group and 1:1 therapeutic activities to promote recovery and functional skills.
• Participate in MDT care planning and ensure adherence to trust policies.

Skills

Group facilitation

1:1 sessions

Team collaboration

Communication

Job description

Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant - Meadowcroft

Band 3

Main area Occupational Therapy Assistant Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (shifts) Job ref 436-8308426

Site Mary Seacole House Town Birmingham Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 02/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 10/11/2026

Please note that this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a full time Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) position at Meadowcroft, a Male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Mary Seacole House

The individual will need to facilitate group activities, 1:1 sessions and assist and support the qualified occupational therapy staff, nursing staff and ward manager as required. Hours would be varied, working flexibly in the week and at the weekend to facilitate a 7-day service, which meets the needs of the service user.

You will be based in Meadowcroft working as a key member of the team where you will use meaningful activity to promote the health, wellbeing and functional abilities of patients on the ward, as part of their overall multidisciplinary care plan. You will support service users to engage in a therapeutic programme of care, as delegated by an occupational therapist, nurse, ward manager demonstrating adherence to the Trust Values and operating as a member of the team, service, and organisation.

The activities will involve both one to one work and groupwork, both on the unit and with individuals' accessing community resources which supports the use of activity to aid recovery and enable a timely and sustained discharge. Therefore, it is important that you are able to work dynamically and be able to think of creative and new ideas.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of treatment and care plans where appropriate under the direction and supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist and in collaboration with the nursing team and ward manager.

Theses duties will extend to using The Occupational Therapy Process to assist in assessment, planning and the implementation of Therapeutic Activities within an In-Patient Mental Health Setting.

We can offer a range of training and development opportunities linked to your personal development plan, access to a network of OTs and other allied health professionals (AHPs) within acute services and across our organisation.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The main goal of an OTA on a male PICU is to engage patients in therapeutic activities that promote mental stability, improve functional daily living skills, and reduce the distress associated with a deterioration in mental state. You serve as a vital motivational bridge, helping patients transition from acute illness to a state where they can safely participate in a broader care plan.

• Group Facilitation: Plan and run structured, low-demand groups directly on the ward. These typically include life skills (e.g., cooking, budgeting), productive hobbies (e.g. arts and crafts), and physical health or relaxation groups.
• One-to-One Engagement: Build professional, supportive relationships with patients who are too unwell, paranoid, or agitated to tolerate a group setting.
• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Observe and report on how patients manage basic and domestic tasks like personal hygiene, meal preparation, and cognitive organization.
• Information Gathering: Help the qualified OT administer standardized or non-standardized functional and vocational screenings to identify a patient's core strengths and barriers
• Dynamic Risk Assessment: Monitor patients continuously for sudden changes in mood, behaviour or risk levels during activities.
• Safe Environments: Ensure all tools and materials used in sessions (such as kitchen utensils, arts and crafts supplies, or gym equipment) are strictly accounted for and used safely in line with PICU security protocols.
• Crisis Management: Undergo mandatory training in Averts techniques to safely assist the nursing team if an acute incident occurs

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

We are unable to support applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work the United Kingdom (UK)

Interview and Application

• Experience in Healthcare working in an Acute Setting
• Experience with Delivering 1:1/group Theraputic Interventions

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months.

All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust’s induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your second week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed. Our selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship.

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.