Occupational Therapy Assistant
At a glance
- Band
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Flexible working
- Posted
- 19/08/2026
- Closes
- 02/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This advert explicitly states that sponsorship is not offered.
The source advert contains explicit wording ruling out sponsorship for this specific role. Consider other live roles at the same band from sponsorship-friendly trusts.
“At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role is for a caring, confident, and competent Occupational Therapy Assistant to provide therapeutic interventions and activities for individuals receiving inpatient mental health care. You will work alongside a dedicated Occupational Therapy team and a wider multidisciplinary team to support service users in their recovery journey. The position involves assisting with assessments, delivering 1:1 and group interventions, and managing your own caseload under supervision. Administrative tasks like record keeping and maintaining therapy areas are also part of the role.
Essential criteria
- In providing personal care and related procedures for those with health/social needs.
- In working in a caring environment at a band 2 or equivalent level of competence.
- In dealing with the public.
- In working as an effective team member.
- Of demonstrating own duties.
- Ability to work effectively, professionally and under own initiative or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- In demonstrating initiative, decision-making and prioritisation skills.
- Evidence of a commitment to user/carer involvement.
- Physical Attributes
- A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
- GCSE grades 1-9 (certificate check) OR functional skills level 1 or equivalent ( measured through BKSB).
- Level 2 regulated health care qualification or equivalent qualification (certificate check) OR equivalent work experience (references/previous experience/application form).
- Ability to demonstrate competencies at level 3 (recruitment assessment centre).
- Care Certificate or required to achieve within 12 weeks of commencement (on-job training).
Desirable criteria
- Apprenticeship level 3 or equivalent eg, RQF(regulated Qualification Framework)NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent.
- Experience of the speciality area.
- Willingness to undertake further study.
- Training
- Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements, and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area.
- Must be willing/able to undergo job development and training.
- Demonstrate excellent knowledge of service user safety, eg, Prevention & management of violence & aggression, moving and handling, etc.
- Personal Attributes
- Responsive attitude and approach.
- Dress appropriately for the environment.
- A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
- Special Knowledge & Skills
- As appropriate to the role:
- Demonstrates excellent customer care skills.
- Enthusiastic, able to work flexibly on a 24hr shift pattern to meet the needs of service users.
- Demonstrates safe decision-making skills commensurate with role.
- Excellent communicator.
- Good IT/keyboard skills.
- Diversity/Cultural understanding.
- Knows responsibilities regarding confidentiality and trust.
- Resilience to pressure and exposure to emotional, distressing or hazardous situations eg, verbal aggression, body fluids, etc.
- Non-judgemental, empathetic manner.
- Demonstrates Trust Values.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Good administration and organisational skills.
- Able to use observation skills to identify potential services user, environmental risks etc. and act appropriately.
- Able to fulfil the requirements of the value-based induction.
- Language skills other than English.
- Experience of supervising/inducting others.
- In providing personal care and related procedures for those with health/social needs.
- In working in a caring environment at a band 2 or equivalent level of competence.
- In dealing with the public.
- In working as an effective team member.
- Of demonstrating own duties.
- Ability to work effectively, professionally and under own initiative or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- In demonstrating initiative, decision-making and prioritisation skills.
- Evidence of a commitment to user/carer involvement.
- Physical Attributes
- A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
- GCSE grades 1-9 (certificate check) OR functional skills level 1 or equivalent ( measured through BKSB).
- Level 2 regulated health care qualification or equivalent qualification (certificate check) OR equivalent work experience (references/previous experience/application form).
- Ability to demonstrate competencies at level 3 (recruitment assessment centre).
- Care Certificate or required to achieve within 12 weeks of commencement (on-job training).
- Apprenticeship level 3 or equivalent eg, RQF(regulated Qualification Framework)NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent.
- Experience of the speciality area.
- Willingness to undertake further study.
- Training
- Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements, and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area.
- Must be willing/able to undergo job development and training.
- Demonstrate excellent knowledge of service user safety, eg, Prevention & management of violence & aggression, moving and handling, etc.
- Personal Attributes
- Responsive attitude and approach.
- Dress appropriately for the environment.
- A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
- Spe
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 3 at £24,625 – £25,674 a year, across England.
This advert: £25,760 – £27,476 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 11d ago · Closes in 4d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
Hi, we are Claire and Jo and we are really pleased you are
looking at this opportunity. We have worked in this Trust for many years, and
what keeps us here is the people - the staff and the individuals we support.
The OT teams are a supportive group who genuinely look out
for one another. If you are passionate about making a real difference, and want
to feel part of something meaningful, this could be the right service for you.
We are looking for caring, confident and competent
Occupational Therapy Assistants who will be responsible for providing
therapeutic interventions and activity for individuals currently in receipt of
inpatient mental health care. In this role, you will
work alongside a dedicated Occupational Therapy team to support service users
in their recovery journey. You will also work alongside a wider
multidisciplinary team, including nursing staff, medics, physiotherapists and
psychologists.
You will be supported to develop your clinical and
professional competencies within a stimulating learning environment. The Trust
is committed to staff health and wellbeing, and you will be encouraged to
learn, develop and grow.
The organisation has a well-established professional
leadership structure, with access to strong professional networks and a wide
range of profession specific training and career progression opportunities.
**All employees of the Trus
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