Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider is seeking an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Coventry. The role involves supporting people with learning disabilities and requires a foundation degree in Health and Social Care. Applicants should possess a UK driving licence and have experience in relevant care settings. The position offers opportunities for professional development and collaboration within a dynamic team. Salary ranges from £27,485 to £30,162 pro rata.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Salary sacrifice schemes for lease car and gym membership

Wellbeing support including counseling services

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake the Assistant Practitioner qualification.
• Experience in a learning disability, Autism, or mental health practice setting.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside Occupational Therapists to support clients.
• Participate in peer supervision and CPD workshops.

Skills

Knowledge of person-centred approaches to care

Good written and oral communication skills

Ability to deal effectively with unpredictable situations

Knowledge of learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties

Education

Foundation degree in Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner)

4 GCSE Grade C or above including English

Job description

Go back Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 01 December 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen to apply for this well-established role as an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our friendly and supportive team. We're looking to recruit an enthusiastic, dynamic, self‑motivated individual, willing and able to work towards the Assistant Practitioner qualification and who would like to develop their skills in learning disabilities working with Occupational Therapists (OTs). The postholder will work alongside and under the supervision of experienced OTs who are able to provide support and clinical direction to them.

The successful applicant will be willing to develop their skills and knowledge around working with people with a Learning Disability who may also be Autistic. They will be passionate to take on new challenges and innovative in helping to support the service to help prevent inappropriate admissions to specialist hospitals due to mental ill‑health and or behaviours that may challenge. Experience of working in either a health or social care community or an in‑patient setting is essential.

Personal qualities will need to include resilience and flexibility and willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues within the patient's care pathway considering the complex, varied and often challenging client group.

Main duties of the job

We have a well-established AHP service across our directorates and services. Regular clinical supervision from the Occupational Therapist will be provided to the successful post holder. Peer supervision and CPD workshops also support this role both within the IST and within the wider community learning disability OT team. Other in‑house learning opportunities and training and development are available to further enhance knowledge, skills and confidence in working with our client group and will provide the opportunity for you to develop lots of transferable skills.

The team base is currently in Coventry and the IST covers both Coventry and Warwickshire and works in an innovative and flexible way. The role requires travel across the entire geographical area of the Trust. Applicants must have access to reliable transport and hold a valid UK driving licence.

About us

At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), we deliver a wide range of physical, mental health, learning disability and autism services, and are proud to serve communities across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.

We put 'people at our heart'; this ethos is at the centre of everything we do and how we do it. We care for our staff and colleagues as much as they care for others and offer a wide range of benefits and development opportunities.

• generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us
• excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more
• salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/ vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more
• discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes
• wellbeing support, including an in‑house counselling service, external helpline and more
• staff networks and support group

We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities are outlined in the 'Main duties of the job' section.

Person Specification

• UK driving licence

Qualifications

• Foundation degree in Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner) qualification or willingness to undertake the course
• 4 GCSE Grade C or above including English

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge and experience of person‑centred approaches to care.
• Knowledge of a range of practical/leisure/creative activities to support therapeutic interventions.
• Able to recognise barriers to participation in activities of daily living
• Ability to teach and support Occupational Therapists to learn new skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Awareness of current good practice in the care of people with learning disabilities/Autism/mental health/challenging behaviour.
• To have an understanding of the range of emotional and physical health needs of people with a learning disability.
• Ability to listen effectively and communicate sensitively with clients.
• Ability to deal effectively with unpredictable situations, including responding appropriately to clients who may be very distressed or highly anxious as a result of their condition.
• Knowledge of confidentiality issues.
• Basic knowledge of research.
• Knowledge of learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a learning disability, Autism or mental health practice setting and relevant experience.
• Experience of working effectively to support people with a learning disability and/or Autism in distressed states, including either significant mental health needs, challenging behaviour or offending behaviour.
• Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Experience of working clinically with Occupational Therapists.
• Experience of working with culturally diverse populations

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.

Employer name

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

£27,485 to £30,162 a yearper annum pro rata