• Job Description

  Req#: C9363-25-0745?language=en&page=900&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapist Assistant to join our team, to cover a fixed-term period of maternity leave for 9 months, at our Older Adults Inpatient Mental Health ward in Bedford (Fountains Court). Fountains Court is a 26-bed acute assessment unit for older adults with a functional mental health illness and/or cognitive impairment/dementia.

  Main duties of the job

  The post holder will be responsible for providing occupational therapy interventions under the guidance of the ward occupational therapists, within Fountains Court. The post holder will work within the already well-established MDT to promote and facilitate the OT programme both on the ward and in the community through 1:1 intervention, group work and enabling clients in accessing local community resources to support their discharge. We are looking for someone with a good understanding of mental health, dementia and the role of Occupational Therapy.

  About us

  Within this role you will have opportunity for personal development, through training opportunities, supervision, and attending the OT department's Band 3/4 development peer group. You will have regular supervision and support day-to-day from the qualified OT's based at Fountains Court and regular contact with the Older Persons Head OT.

  Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

  Details

  Date posted

  18 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 3

  Salary

  £24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  9 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  363-BED7308373

  Job locations

  Fountains Court

  Merton Road

  Bedford

  MK40 3AF

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  To support the Occupational Therapy service in its provision of assessment, treatment and resettlement of service users within the Older Adults Mental Health service on the wards, in the OT department and in the community.

  Contribute to the planning, provision and evaluation of the OT therapeutic programme, including group work and 1-1 interventions.

  To develop specialist knowledge and skills in Older Adults acute mental health and dementia.

  To maintain positive key relationships with the following:

  Occupational Therapy colleagues

  Modern Matron, Clinical Practice Lead and nursing staff aligned to ward

  Multi-Disciplinary Teams working to aligned ward

  Service users and their families/ carers.

  Links with external agencies and other appropriate community services

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  To support the Occupational Therapy service in its provision of assessment, treatment and resettlement of service users within the Older Adults Mental Health service on the wards, in the OT department and in the community.

  Contribute to the planning, provision and evaluation of the OT therapeutic programme, including group work and 1-1 interventions.

  To develop specialist knowledge and skills in Older Adults acute mental health and dementia.

  To maintain positive key relationships with the following:

  Occupational Therapy colleagues

  Modern Matron, Clinical Practice Lead and nursing staff aligned to ward

  Multi-Disciplinary Teams working to aligned ward

  Service users and their families/ carers.

  Links with external agencies and other appropriate community services

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Ability to plan and organise group and 1:1 activities
  • Ability to organise own time and plan tasks
  • Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times

  Desirable

  • Experience of working with older people with mental health and/or Dementia
  • Experience of working within an occupational therapy team or MDT

  Knowledge/Skills

  Essential

  • Understanding of the role occupational therapy
  • Basic understanding of planning for 1:1 and group activities
  • Awareness of risk assessments
  • Experience of developing and facilitating groups

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Ability to plan and organise group and 1:1 activities
  • Ability to organise own time and plan tasks
  • Ability to use own initiative and work alone at times

  Desirable

  • Experience of working with older people with mental health and/or Dementia
  • Experience of working within an occupational therapy team or MDT

  Knowledge/Skills

  Essential

  • Understanding of the role occupational therapy
  • Basic understanding of planning for 1:1 and group activities
  • Awareness of risk assessments
  • Experience of developing and facilitating groups

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  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).

  Additional information

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  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).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East London NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Fountains Court

  Merton Road

  Bedford

  MK40 3AF

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East London NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Fountains Court

  Merton Road

  Bedford

  MK40 3AF

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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