Occupational Therapy - Assistant Practitioner

OT Assistant Practitioner (Band 4)

Care Group 2 - Older Adults and Rehab wards

Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

Permanent

We are looking for a highly motivated Band 4 OT Assistant Practitioner, with experience of working in a mental health setting, to join the multi-disciplinary team on the older adults and rehab wards at Highgate East Mental Health Centre.

The post holder will work alongside the Occupational Therapy Team to contribute to the assessment, treatment, and care of service users on the wards. This will include contributing to the therapeutic group programme, carrying out planned individual treatment interventions and administrative duties. We offer great development opportunities and a supportive team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work alongside qualified Occupational Therapists to contribute to the assessment, treatment and care of service users within the in-patient mental health older adults and rehabilitation wards. This will include contributing therapeutic group programme, both on and off site as well as support for physiotherapy input. They will carry out planned treatment interventions with individuals and contribute to unit wide social activities.

In addition to clinical work the post holder will have key administrative responsibilities including maintaining Health and Safety compliance for the team, acting as Infection Control Champion and overseeing the OT equipment store.

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
• We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Details

Date posted

08 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£34,186 to £37,389 a year

Per annum including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

455-NLFT-8243928

Job locations

Highgate Mental Health Centre East

Dartmouth Park Hill

London

N19 5NX

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The post holder, reporting to the OT Team Leader or their nominated senior deputy, is responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of assessment, care or care services to service users as part of a multi-disciplinary Mental Health Team.

They will carry out a range of practical tasks, including direct patient care, identified as part of the service users care plan or care pathways. The focus of the clinical role will be that of supporting social inclusion, recovery and service user engagement.

Using specialised technical /creative or teaching skills e.g. IT/ exercise/ gardening, the post holder will develop and provide therapeutic activities to service users in the acute in-patient services as delegated by the Team Leader or OT staff. This work will form part of a flexible client centred treatment programme with and under the supervision of the OT Team.

The post holder is also responsible for designated administrative tasks to support the work of the team. This includes administration tasks relating to the updating of the electronic roster, management of the Health and Safety requirements of the OT departments ensuring these are met, acting as Infection Control Lead and as First Aider. They are also required to take a lead on monitoring, allocating and completing support worker tasks with the other support workers in the team.

Job responsibilities

The post holder, reporting to the OT Team Leader or their nominated senior deputy, is responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of assessment, care or care services to service users as part of a multi-disciplinary Mental Health Team.

They will carry out a range of practical tasks, including direct patient care, identified as part of the service users care plan or care pathways. The focus of the clinical role will be that of supporting social inclusion, recovery and service user engagement.

Using specialised technical /creative or teaching skills e.g. IT/ exercise/ gardening, the post holder will develop and provide therapeutic activities to service users in the acute in-patient services as delegated by the Team Leader or OT staff. This work will form part of a flexible client centred treatment programme with and under the supervision of the OT Team.

The post holder is also responsible for designated administrative tasks to support the work of the team. This includes administration tasks relating to the updating of the electronic roster, management of the Health and Safety requirements of the OT departments ensuring these are met, acting as Infection Control Lead and as First Aider. They are also required to take a lead on monitoring, allocating and completing support worker tasks with the other support workers in the team.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of mental health legislation
• role of occupational therapy in mental health
• impact of mental health conditions on patients functioning

Desirable

• Knowledge of audits and Quality improvement projects

Skills

Essential

• Risk assessment and management
• Good communication skills
• Group facilitation skills

Desirable

• adaptability

Experience

Essential

• Min 1 year experience of working in mental health inpatient wards
• Experience of helping people access community activities and organisations
• Experience of working with service users with low motivation and dual diagnosis

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of mental health legislation
• role of occupational therapy in mental health
• impact of mental health conditions on patients functioning

Desirable

• Knowledge of audits and Quality improvement projects

Skills

Essential

• Risk assessment and management
• Good communication skills
• Group facilitation skills

Desirable

• adaptability

Experience

Essential

• Min 1 year experience of working in mental health inpatient wards
• Experience of helping people access community activities and organisations
• Experience of working with service users with low motivation and dual diagnosis

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

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highgate Mental Health Centre East

Dartmouth Park Hill

London

N19 5NX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highgate Mental Health Centre East

Dartmouth Park Hill

London

N19 5NX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job responsibilities

The post holder, reporting to the OT Team Leader or their nominated senior deputy, is responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of assessment, care or care services to service users as part of a multi-disciplinary Mental Health Team.

They will carry out a range of practical tasks, including direct patient care, identified as part of the service users care plan or care pathways. The focus of the clinical role will be that of supporting social inclusion, recovery and service user engagement.

Using specialised technical /creative or teaching skills e.g. IT/ exercise/ gardening, the post holder will develop and provide therapeutic activities to service users in the acute in-patient services as delegated by the Team Leader or OT staff. This work will form part of a flexible client centred treatment programme with and under the supervision of the OT Team.

The post holder is also responsible for designated administrative tasks to support the work of the team. This includes administration tasks relating to the updating of the electronic roster, management of the Health and Safety requirements of the OT departments ensuring these are met, acting as Infection Control Lead and as First Aider. They are also required to take a lead on monitoring, allocating and completing support worker tasks with the other support workers in the team.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of mental health legislation
• role of occupational therapy in mental health
• impact of mental health conditions on patients functioning

Desirable

• Knowledge of audits and Quality improvement projects

Skills

Essential

• Risk assessment and management
• Good communication skills
• Group facilitation skills

Desirable

• adaptability

Experience

Essential

• Min 1 year experience of working in mental health inpatient wards
• Experience of helping people access community activities and organisations
• Experience of working with service users with low motivation and dual diagnosis