Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and motivated Senior Occupational Therapy Support Workers to join our Occupational Therapy team at the Hellingly Centre.

We are looking for someone who's personal values and behaviours are in keeping with our Trusts values:

People first:People are at the heart of everything we do

Future focused:We are optimistic, we learn and we always try to improve

Embracing change:We are bold, innovative and disciplined about making use of our resources to continuously improve

Working together:We provide services in partnership with patients, families and others

Everyone counts:We value, appreciate and respect each other

If you are passionate about working in mental health and supporting individuals to achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives, this could be the perfect role for you.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Occupational Therapy Support Worker role includes supporting facilitation of occupational interventions on a one to one basis and in groups to meet patients' occupational performance / recovery needs as identified through assessment by the Occupational Therapist.

Examples include:

• Helping patients to regain / maintain or develop skills and motivation to engage inActivities of Daily Living (ADL).
• Encouraging patients to explore their values and interests and participation in meaningful activities that support their health and wellbeing and onwards recovery.
• Assisting patients to identify and work towards achieving occupational goals.
• Supporting patients to fulfil purposeful roles and establish meaningful routines.
• Facilitating patients' integration into the community, where appropriate.
• Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the progress of interventions in collaboration with patients.

Covid-19 full vaccination may be a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.

Working for our organisation

The Hellingly Centre is a modern purpose built medium secure unit specialising in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

There are 4 specialist wards (2 male medium secure wards - Oak and Ash, 1 female medium secure ward - Blossom and 1 male low secure ward - Elm), each with a strong multi-disciplinary team.

There area range of therapy facilities within the centre including: a gym, shop, music, woodwork and art rooms and Badger's Café and allotment space on-site.

The centre is situated within the beautiful Hellingly Country Park and the Cuckoo Trail is also very close by. The local town, Hailsham is under 10 minutes away by car. There is a direct bus link to Eastbourne.

There is a small gym on-site which is available for staff to use. Badger's Cafe is on site and sells a good selection of hot drinks, meals and snacks. There is a large car park and parking is free.

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the document attached for full details of the main responsibilities associated with the role and and person specification requirements.

There is scope for further professional development opportunities as part of the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework. This may mean dependant on experience and education level applicants may be eligible for occupational therapy assistant practitioner post (Band 4).

For any questions or to arrange an informal visit to the service, please contact Amy Boot, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist - amy.boot@spft.nhs.uk / 07471 034261.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills
• Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning
• Health care or relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent skills

Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria

• Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
• Experience of being supervised

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.