Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in London is seeking Occupational Therapy Assistants to deliver therapeutic activities for young people in a supportive environment. Candidates should have experience in acute mental health settings and a passion for aiding recovery and skill development. This role involves shift work, including weekends. The position offers opportunities for growth and development within a dynamic team.

Benefits

Opportunities for growth and development

Qualifications

• Experience delivering activities for young people in groups or individually.
• Ability to use technical or creative skills to facilitate programs.
• Willingness to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Devise, plan, and facilitate patient-centred therapeutic groups.
• Engage young people with meaningful activities during their illness.
• Support recovery and independent living skill development.

Skills

Experience in acute mental health setting

Communication skills with young people

Ability to facilitate therapeutic activities

Job description

We are looking to recruit Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) for both the General Adolescent Unit and the CAMHS PICU.

To deliver the high quality of care that our young people deserve, we have a Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) comprising nursing staff, doctors, clinical psychologists, systemic family therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and education staff. This team engages with young people and their families and provides the range of interventions they need in a full, diverse daily programme that caters to their individual needs. OTAs will be able to communicate and engage with young people in a variety of ways, actively occupying them with meaningful activity throughout their illness.

You will work closely with the OT team to devise, plan and facilitate patient‑centred therapeutic groups and 1:1 sessions. The focus is on recovery and risk reduction, to enable the young person to develop independent living skills in order to return to the community.

We expect OTAs to have experience working in an acute mental health setting or in a youth setting with young people where they have delivered a range of activities individually or as a group. You should be able to use highly specialised technical and/or creative skills to coordinate, develop and facilitate a flexible, client‑centred programme of therapeutic activities for individuals and groups of young people who experience mental health difficulties.

The post involves shift work, including weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and bank holidays; please confirm that you are able to work these hours when applying. You will be supported by an experienced nursing team and senior occupational therapists, and there may also be support for further development and training.

South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust offers a range of opportunities for growth. Our general adolescent inpatient services—including the Bethlem Adolescent Unit and Tyson East 2—are based in the beautiful grounds of the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham. We also have a CAMHS PICU with capacity for seven beds that treats the most vulnerable young people, supporting them in their recovery. Join our dynamic, supportive and highly skilled team and help us bring innovation and change to our growing services.