Occupational Therapy Assistant

First Community Health & Care; Tandridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Staff wellbeing programme

Training & development opportunities

Job summary

First Community Health & Care is seeking a Part-Time Occupational Therapy Assistant to join the Caterham Dene Ward rehabilitation team. You will support the Occupational Therapy service, delivering tailored activities to maximise independence and assist with discharge planning.

Under supervision, you will assess, implement and review therapeutic activities, complete basic OT assessments, and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or CQF diploma level 3 in clinical health care support or equivalent.
• GCSE standard education or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement therapeutic activities under supervision of an Occupational Therapist.
• Manage an allocated caseload and provide interventions to maximise functional abilities.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Teamwork

Independent working

IT skills

Risk awareness

Time organisation

Education

NVQ 3 health care support

GCSE level education

NVQ 4 CQF level 4 health care support

Trusted Assessor training

Job description

We are seeking a motivated Part-TimeOccupational Therapy Assistant to join our rehabilitation team at CaterhamDene Hospital. This is anexciting opportunity to support patientsin maximising their independence and achieving their rehabilitation goals.

Working under the supervision of a qualifiedOccupational Therapist, youwill assist in planning and delivering therapeutic activities tailored to individual needs, interests and rehabilitation goals. Full training and ongoing support will be provided.

Our multidisciplinary team delivers a seven-day rehabilitation service within the hospital and in patients'own homes, supporting safe and effective discharge planning. Applicants must hold a fulldriving licence and have accessto a vehiclefor work-related travel during the working day.

We are committed to providing high-qualitypatient care while creating a supportive and positive working environment forstaff. We offer excellentclinical support, training and development opportunities, and the chanceto further develop your skills within an innovative and forward-thinking service. Staff wellbeing is a priority, with access to a comprehensivehealth and wellbeing programme.

We actively encouragestaff to contribute ideas that support service improvement and innovation, helping us continuallyenhance the rehabilitation experience for our patients.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a motivatedindividual to support the Occupational Therapy team in deliveringrehabilitation focused care that promotesindependence and safe discharge home.

Under the supervision of qualifiedOccupational Therapists, you will manage an allocated caseload and provideinterventions to maximise patients' functional abilities following hospital admission. Responsibilities include reviewing mobility and transfers, completing functional assessments such as wash, dressand kitchen tasks, and providingfeedback and recommendations to the Occupational Therapy team.

You will assist with therapeutic groups,complete outcome measures including the DERBY Outcome Measure and ElderlyMobility Scale, record basic observations and maintain accurate patientrecords. The role also involves assessing, providing and reviewing equipment, supporting patients to use equipment safely, and undertaking access and discharge home visits to identify adaptations that promote safety and independence.

You will contribute to discharge planning,complete referrals to community services with support, communicate effectivelywith patients, families and members of the multidisciplinary team, and participate in team meetings.The successful candidate will also support the development of rehabilitation and healthcare support staff through training, guidance and leadership.

About us

First Community is a staff-owned social enterprise, ratedGood by the CQC, providing NHS community services across east Surrey and partsof West Sussex. We are looking for people who share our values: First-ratecare, First-rate people, First-rate value.

Recognised as one of the country's leading communityhealthcare employers in the 2025 NHS Staff Survey, First Community offers asupportive workplace where everyone has a voice and opportunities to developtheir full potential.

We offer: NHS terms and conditions, excellent training anddevelopment, flexible working, NHS pension, flexible retirement options, and arange of employee benefits.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds,including Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, andcandidates with disabilities. We are committed to fair recruitment, includingthe consideration of reasonable adjustments.

Sustainability is central to our work as we support the NHSNet Zero ambition.

Job responsibilities

The postholder is responsible for the provision of high quality, individualised personal care and Occupational Therapy rehabilitation programmes to our patients on Caterham Dene Ward, reflecting the philosophy of First Community Health and Care.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant will be an integral part of the Caterham Dene Therapy and multi-disciplinary team, supporting the rehabilitation assistants and allocating therapy intervention as well as having their own delegated case load.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant role involves planning and implementing therapeutic activities appropriate to the needs, choices and interests of individuals in our care, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Occupational Therapist. Full training is given to support and enhance existing skills.

Their role includes completion of basic Occupational Therapy assessments, initial interviews, rehabilitation and OT intervention with patients, in order to increase their functional ability and independence and to enable safe discharge planning including home environment assessments and provision of equipment under the guidance of a qualified clinician / Occupational Therapist.

The team provides a seven day a week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene Hospital including visiting patients own homes to enable a safe discharge. The Post Holder must have a full driving licence and a car for personal business use during their working day.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification document attached for full details.

Person Specification

Other Requirements

• Willingness to learn new skills, to adapt positively to changes in working practices and patterns.
• Able to work flexibly in order to provide personal care and support to patients, sometimes at short notice.

Skills

• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills, including an ability to build rapport and establish good one to one relationships
• Ability to organise own time efficiently
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and to maintain a positive team-working relationship by valuing the contributions of other team members, understand others needs, using a flexible approach, handling conflict positively in an open and constructive manner.
• Able to work independently following spoken or written instructions
• I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications
• Able to balance risk to inform decision making
• Able to organise and prioritise own time

Experience

• Previous experience of caring for someone who was elderly, disabled or ill.
• Previous experience of rehabilitation
• Experience of working within a therapy service or other relevant field. This may include voluntary as well as paid experience.
• Experience of working in a community setting
• Previous experience of rehabilitation including Occupational Therapy intervention.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Supervision of staff
• Experience of using virtual communication platforms, i.e.MS Teams, Zoom
• Contributing to improving services
• Previous NHS Experience

Knowledge

• Knowledge outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of interventions
• Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care.

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or studying towards CQF diploma level 3 in clinical health care support or equivalent relevant qualification.
• Good general knowledge and education to GCSE standard or equivalent relevant standard
• NVQ 4 or studying towards CQF diploma level 4 in clinical health care support.
• Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations

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.

£28,392 to £31,157 a year+5% HCAS per annum, pro rata