Job Description

We have an exciting and rewarding post for an Occupational Therapy assistant (OTA) at our Amberstone Hospital, part of the East Sussex Rehabilitation Pathway. We are re-advertising this post and would welcome any previously applicants to reapply.



We are looking for a friendly, positive, enthusiastic, team player who would like to join the Occupational Therapy team and wider ward MDT to support the wellbeing and recovery of people who come to stay to manage their mental health, predominately Psychosis.



You will be working under the guidance of the Occupational Therapists to offer individual and group interventions that help people engage in activities that support people reach their rehabilitation goals and increase their quality of life. We run a group programme, offer one to one sessions with our aim being to encourage integration into the community and promote independence.



You will be guided by the OT in your work and will be expected to work autonomously.

To use a recovery approach in assisting service users to follow treatment plans and work towards their chosen goals.

Complete basic functional assessments as well as monitor, review and evaluate service users progress including 1:1 interventions sessions, graded exposure or home visits.

Good communication skills are required.

General computer and administration skills are required.

To network with community services in assisting service users' integration into the community, such as accessing vocational resources, supporting with administration, applying for bus passes/benefits.

You will be responsible for running groups. It is important that you work dynamically and be able to think of creative and new ideas. Groups will include coffee mornings, learning groups, cooking, gardening and out and about groups off the unit.

Working with people with mental health issues including psychosis is preferred for this post. However, most importantly the successful candidate to be self motivated, keen to learn and have a clear understanding of how to support people's recovery.

Regular supervision by an OT is offered.

The ability to travel is essential for this role due to the location and the nature of the tasks required for this post.

Part time post, 2 day shifts a week (18 hours a week) will be mainly weekdays 9am and 8pm with one weekend every 4 weeks.



East Sussex Care Delivery Service (CDS) provides specialist community and inpatient mental health services for adults over the age of 18, living within East Sussex. We believe in providing outstanding quality, safe and effective care and treatment that everyone can be proud of.



Amberstone is a 28 bed Recovery and Rehabilitation unit, situated in rural East Sussex (approximately 2 miles from Hailsham and 8 miles north of Eastbourne) and provides rehabilitation for adults who are recovering from serious mental illness, with a focus on patients under the psychosis pathway. The focus is to enable people to reach their full potential and achieve a smooth transition into the community. The ward works closely with Community Rehabilitation colleagues as an integral part of the award-winning East Sussex Rehabilitation Pathway.



Wide range of training opportunities within the Trust- including opportunity to apply for the OT apprenticeship.



Please see attached job description

Key responsibilities:

To work under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist (OT) in the delivery of clinical interventions using a range of technical and creative skills to engage clients in occupational activities

To monitor the client progress and feedback to the OT

Under the supervision of an OT, facilitate and participate in planned group work, individual activities, one to one rehabilitation practise and ongoing continuous assessment with supervision

Contribute to occupational therapy assessments e.g. Activity of Daily Living Assessments (ADL) and treatment plans under the guidance of an OT

Provide a range of activities, including evening and weekends, instructing and guiding clients with more complex needs to support them in achieving identified occupational therapy goals, with some supervision.

To contribute to the generic tasks of the team as directed by a registered OT

To actively promote client centred OT interventions using a recovery focused, enabling approach