Technical Instructor

North London NHS Foundation Trust; Botany Bay; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

North London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a compassionate Technical Instructor to support inpatient therapy on acute mental health wards, delivering recovery-focused activities to promote engagement, wellbeing and connection.

You will work closely with occupational therapists, art therapists, health and fitness instructors, activity coordinators and the wider MDT to co-create and facilitate group and individual sessions tailored to service user needs, grounded in trauma-informed practice.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4+ or A-C.
• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent relevant experience and/or training.
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems within a health or social care setting.
• Experience planning and running therapeutic groups and sessions.
• Awareness of OT models e.g. MOHO.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate a variety of group activities such as cooking and creative activities.
• Facilitate one-to-one intervention.
• Contribute to client care by liaising with the MDT.
• Facilitate functional assessments as guided by the ward OT.
• Accompany the ward OT on home visits / community access.
• Have regular supervision & annual appraisal.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Creativity

Empathy

Teamwork

Initiative

Activity facilitation

Trauma-informed approach

Education

GCSE English & Maths

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking a compassionate, creative, and proactive Technical Instructor to join our dynamic Inpatient Therapy Team. This role is central to enhancing the therapeutic environment on our acute mental health wards by delivering meaningful, recovery-focused activities that promote engagement, wellbeing, and connection. You'll work closely with occupational therapists, Art therapists, health and fitness instructor, activity coordinators and technical instructors as well as the wider multidisciplinary team to co-create and facilitate group and individual sessions tailored to the needs of our service users. Activities may include art, music, movement, games, sensory sessions, life skills, and community-focused projects -- all grounded in trauma-informed and inclusive practice. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds -- including community work, care, education, creative arts, youth services, and lived experience. You don't need prior mental health experience, but you do need: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and rapport Creativity and initiaitve in planning and delivering inclusive activities Empathy and emotional resilience in working with people in distress Teamwork and flexiblity in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary setting Comminment to recovery-focussed care and co-production with service users Main duties of the job The main duties of the job include (as guided by the ward OT / supervisor / Therapy lead).

• Facilitate a variety of group activities i.e. cooking and creative activities. This can also consist of functional sessions.
• Facilitate one to one intervention.
• Contribute to client care by liaising with the MDT.
• Facilitate functional assessments as guided by the ward OT.
• Accompany the ward OT on home visits / community access.
• Have regular supervision & annual appraisal., Please see personal specification for details of required experience and qualifications. The clinical area provides considerable opportunity for personal and professional development.

Training in specific activities

• Training in the specific activities relevant to client group e.g. Cookery, Art/craft, IT, Health & Fitness, DJing.

Previous Experience

• - experience of working with people with mental health problems within a health or social care setting
• oExperience of planning and running therapeutic groups and sessions.

Previous Experience (Desirable)

• oAwareness of OT models eg MOHO

Skills and Aptitudes

• Essential - oEffective skills in a range of activities Eg. gardening, art, cooking, crafts, reminiscence, exercise, music, relaxation
• Essential - oAbility to plan and lead practical and discussion groups independently.

Knowledge/Awareness/ Understanding

• Essential - oAn experience of working with health care professionals
• Essential - oknowledge of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, psychosis
• Essential - oAn understanding of risk assessment and risk management

Knowledge/Awareness/ Understanding (Desirable)

• Desirable - oAwareness of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and its significance for service users and impact on clinical practice

Education

• Essential - GCSE English and Maths at grade 4+ or A-C
• Essential - NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent relevant experience and/or training

Education (Desirable)

• Desirable - Training in the specific activities relevant to client group e.g. Cookery, Art/craft, IT, Health & Fitness, DJing.

Other Essential Factors

• Essential - oProfessional manner towards clients and colleagues
• Essential - oPhysical ability to participate in breakaway and PMVA training

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.Our Five-Year Strategy: We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home. With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care. We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology. In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.