Occupational Therapy Assistant

Cygnet Health Care; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health care provider in the East Midlands is seeking an Occupational Therapy Assistant to support therapists in delivering meaningful activities and interventions. You will assist in the day-to-day running of the department and contribute to a therapy timetable aimed at promoting residents' independence. Ideal candidates should possess experience in therapeutic environments and knowledge of mental health recovery models.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a therapeutic environment is desirable.
• Ability to support individuals with meaningful activities.
• Knowledge of the Recovery Model in mental health.

Responsibilities

• Deliver planned activities for patients under OT direction.
• Assist the OT with day-to-day department duties.
• Implement individual care plans during activity sessions.

Skills

Support occupational therapists

Deliver planned activities

Develop therapy timetables

Implement individual care plans

Involvement in group interventions

Job description

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Location: Cygnet Hospital Derby.

Hours: Full Time - 40 hours per week

Closing date: 11th November 2025 (please note, this vacancy will close early if we receive a high volume of applications)

Post: Occupational Therapy Assistant

Salary: Starting from £28,612.50.

Responsible for: Supporting Occupational Therapists to perform their role in the assessment, treatment and development of individuals in our care.

Responsible to: Head of Occupational Therapy (Line manager)

Service Line: Low secure male/female and male high dependency unit (HDU)

Summary of the site

Cygnet Hospital Derby provides low secure and mental health rehabilitation care based on the Recovery Model. Our integrated male care pathway includes Litchurch Ward, our low secure ward, and the Wyvern Unit, our mental health rehabilitation service. Alvaston Ward, our specialist female personality disorder service, is one of the leading services of its kind in the East and West Midlands.

Our Occupational Therapy department supports service users to engage in meaningful occupations and overcome any barriers that prevent this. We focus on supporting individuals to develop the skills needed to live a more independent and fulfilling life in the community. To support with this, we have a full therapy programme that includes a range of self‑care, productive and leisure‑based activities. Our Occupational Therapy pathway has different stages of treatment and the interventions offered will change as our service user’s progress through each stage of this pathway.

In this role you will:

• Deliver planned activities for patients under the direction of the ward Occupational Therapist (OT) and Multidisciplinary Team.
• Assist the OT in the day‑to‑day duties and running of the department.
• Develop and run a meaningful therapy timetable.
• Undertake assessment and intervention programmes with clients as delegated by a senior occupational therapist underpinned by appropriate experience/knowledge.
• Contribute ideas, create and facilitate events and activities safely and support people to structure their time through meaningful activity.
• Have involvement in the delivery of one‑to‑one and group interventions.
• Implement individual care plans during activity sessions and take into account specific interests and opportunities to promote choice and independence.

If you would like to discuss this role further, please contact Katie Dixon via email at [e-mail] or Rachel Rowe at [e-mail].