Recreation Worker

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Training and development

Job summary

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Recreation Team member for the Carsington Unit in Derby. This part-time role (22.5 hours per week) includes regular weekend shifts with hours from 9–5 or 12–8, supporting the Recreation and Occupational Therapy teams to deliver meaningful activities and promote recovery for adults in acute mental health care.

The post covers two sites, Radbourne Unit and Carsington Unit, with supervision, induction and opportunities for training in a

Responsibilities

• Support the team in providing a quality recreational/leisure service to enhance a service user’s stay in hospital.
• Carry out delegated duties, introduce service users to the recreational service, organise, plan and facilitate recreational activities.
• Be supervised to promote social inclusion and enhance the autonomy of the service user.
• Contribute to environmental risk assessments and ensure records are kept in line with Trust guidelines.

Job description

View our current vacancies by professional area below, or view all our vacancies athealthjobsuk.com

Main area Acute Inpatient Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (unsocial hours - evenings and weekends included) Job ref 383-ACA-7721-26

Site Carsington Unit Town Derby Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/09/2026 23:59

Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”

We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.

Job overview

We are seeking creative, motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our Recreation Team. Our supportive service offers excellent opportunities for growth through training and coaching. Joining our team means turning your interests and hobbies into a powerful way to promote wellness and recovery for adults in acute mental health care.

As the post holder, you will play a key role in supporting the Recreation and Occupational Therapy teams to deliver meaningful therapeutic activities and foster recovery across our two sites: the Radbourne Unit and the newly built Carsington Unit (Kingsway Site).

Your responsibilities will include carrying out delegated duties, welcoming service users to the recreational service and planning, organising and facilitating engaging group activities.

We currently have one part‑time position available at 22.5 hours per week, including regular weekend shifts. Our team operates seven days a week, including evenings, with working hours between 9–5 or 12–8 pm.

Main duties of the job

You will support the team in providing a quality recreational/leisure service to enhance a service user’s stay in hospital.

The role involves carrying out delegated duties, introducing service users to the recreational service, organising, planning and facilitating recreational activities.

You will be supervised in order to promote social inclusion and enhancing the autonomy of the service user.

This will involve initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent and reliable approach with the service users, that enhances their ability to build social networks and work in partnership with other agencies.

The purpose of a Recovery and Resilience service is to provide a high standard of person-centred care.

The service will be recovery focused. It will promote compassionate treatment and care in a safe and therapeutic setting for people in an acute stage of their illness. It will enable supported and sustainable transition from inpatient to community services.

Working for our organisation

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service
• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
• Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Structured learning and development opportunities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will contribute towards the delivery of a quality recreational service, working as a member of the recreational team with the support and supervision of the Recreation Co‑ordinator.

• Build awareness of the recovery philosophy and the social inclusion agenda, promoting autonomy and enabling choice.
• Support service users by prompting them to attend recreational activities, where necessary and maintaining specified levels of engagement.
• Carry out a wide range of individual and group activities, as directed by the Recreation Co‑ordinator.
• Undertake a range of activities, working flexibly in accordance with the needs of service users and the service as a whole.
• Assist with the administrative duties including statistics and production of publicity information.
• Demonstrate effective time management when preparing and running activities.
• Assist in facilitating service user responsibility, choices and participation, within the recreational activities.
• Contribute to environmental risk assessments, reporting findings to the Recreation Co‑ordinator..
• Report any changes in occupational functioning that may indicate either positive or negative effects of treatment.
• Assist in the co‑ordination of care by communicating effectively and ensuring that Trust professional guidelines for record‑keeping are followed -writing notes as required.
• Ensure that assessment and treatment is delivered in a person centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to.
• Participate in a multi‑professional/agency approach to care, valuing the interface of professional roles and responsibilities.
• Use effective interpersonal skills that relate to service users, carers and team members on an equal and respectful basis.
• Participate in the development of the recreational service, attending appropriate staff meetings.
• Demonstrate awareness of the Trust Policy for Clinical Supervision; receiving regular clinical supervision.
• With the support of the Recreation Co‑ordinator, ensure good practice is maintained by identifying practice that requires change or development, or that does not meet required standards.
• Be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to occupational therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc), and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed.
• Maintain safety standards and procedures.
• Attend, co‑produce and co‑deliver elements of Recovery Education and Psycho‑Social Education.
• Assist service users/carers to participate in developing and shaping the service where possible.
• Develop an awareness of how clinical and resource management information is used to inform decisions that meet service user, team and organisational objectives.
• Participate in clinical audit and research activity as necessary.
• Build awareness of