We have an exciting opportunity for someone who is already working within mental health services to join our Occupational therapy team as an Occupational therapy technician. The ideal candidate will have experience of working alongside an Occupational Therapist. This is a permanent full-time post at 22.5 hours.
This is an innovative role that is focused on supporting the inpatient flow by supporting patients to improve independent living skills and facilitate timely discharge back to the community.
This role is suited to someone who is passionate about supporting the recovery of service users with mental health needs. They will also need to have a good understanding of recovery through activity in mental health and willing to learn and work at a fast-paced environment. Supervision and support will be provided.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a key member of the Adult Mental Health Occupational Therapy (AMH OT) team, providing the mental health occupational therapy (OT) service in Newham alongside registered OTs. This includes the assessment and treatment of service users with mental health challenges within the community teams (primary and secondary care) and/or on the inpatient wards at the Newham Centre for Mental Health (NCfMH) which includes triage wards, treatment wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Intervention includes both structured and unstructured one-to-one and group sessions, focusing on meaningful occupations and person centred goals. The post holder will work under the guidance and support of a registered OT with regular supervision provided.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Good interpersonal and motivational skills.
- Ability to communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information tactfully.
- Craft/ creative and/or practical skills in at least one area e.g. sport, cookery, gardening, crafts.
- Ability to use own initiative and work alone including in the community.
- Ability to plan, organize and evaluate groups and individual activities.
- Ability to organize own time, plan tasks and have a flexible approach to work.
- Ability to problem solve within a team and take responsibility for implementing decisions.
- Ability to consider service user’s needs in practical terms.
- Ability to reflect on own practice and use supervision appropriately.
- Basic IT and digital skills, e.g. word processing, record keeping, email and digital platforms such as MS Teams.
- To work as part of a team and share information appropriately.
- To be sensitive to the needs and concerns of people with mental health problems.
- The understand the varying needs of service users with different ages and from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
- Awareness of Equal Opportunities legislation and its application to work with service users and other staff members.
- Basic understanding of the role of OT, the willingness to learn more and apply to area of work.
- Willing to take responsibility for administrative and departmental duties as necessary.
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- G.C.S.Es in Maths and English
Desirable
- NVQ level 3 and / or B.Tech in Care Related skills or equivalent
- Qualification / Training in relevant practical skills to diploma level or similar
- Basic quality improvement training
Experience
Essential
- Experience in working with people with range of mental health problems
- Experience of working with/alongside OT
- Experience in using a range of practical and creative skills
- Planning and running therapy/ activity groups
- Experience of using electronic health record systems e.g. RiO
- Working with service users in a multi-cultural, diverse and dynamic context
Desirable
- Experience of delivering presentations / teaching in small groups
Other
Essential
- Good attendance record: Punctual, good time keeper.
- An interest in and respect for people with mental health problems.
- Ability to manage frequent distressing clinical interactions with service users who have serious mental health problems.
- Ability to assess and manage exposure to potential hazards inc. the risk of verbal and physical aggression whilst ensuring safety of self, service user and others.
- Physical skills required to facilitate a wide range of activities both on a one-to-one and group basis, including using equipment as required.
- Mental and emotional effort required to undertake and facilitate both one to one and group interventions in a variety of settings.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 09 January 2026
