Location
Preston, England
Salary
£28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata (subject to confirmation)
Profession
Occupational therapy assistant
Grade
Band 4
Deadline
22 Oct 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
08 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

12 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Knowledge

    Ability to demonstrate understanding of Occupational Therapy

  • Knowledge

    Ability to demonstrate understanding of the client group with which the post holder will work e.g. Mental health difficulties

  • Knowledge

    Ability to demonstrate understanding of the importance of being able to do the things, they want or need to do to people’s mental well being

  • Knowledge

    Ability to demonstrate the understanding of the concepts of recovery

  • Experience

    Previous experience of working in a support worker role with people who experience mental health difficulties with an understanding of the roles of other professions within the multi-disciplinary team

  • Experience

    Experience of working with people with a broad range of Mental Health conditions and people who have cognitive, physical, learning disability or challenging behaviour.

  • Experience

    Previous experience working in therapy/care settings e.g. inpatient settings or social services agency/department

  • Experience

    Experience of working without direct supervision, including monitoring and reviewing the person’s progress

  • Qualifications

    GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.

  • Qualifications

    Qualification in health or care

  • Qualifications

    Evidence of continued professional development

  • Qualifications

    Ability to undertake PAS training

Desirable

Not listed in the available specification.

Job overview

Imagine working in a multi-disciplinary team whose shared vision is optimising independence.

Are you a person who enjoys working with people and is an excellent communicator? Are you looking for an opportunity to be involved with a forward thinking team comprising of people who care passionately about a good patient experience and enabling recovery? Do you have a good knowledge of benefits, local resources or accommodation services? Are you the kind of person who enjoys challenges, learning and developing you skills?

If so we have a rare opportunity to recruit an occupational therapy assistant to join our team in the Mental Health Unit with Chorley Hospital. The successful candidate will work within the occupational therapy service alongside a strong multidisciplinary team helping people with acute mental health issues to achieve a successful and timely discharge from hospital. We are looking for someone with a compassionate nature who can communicate successfully with people who have different abilities and presentations. They will be a team-player who can undertake some duties independently and at times act upon their own initiative. Knowledge of social inclusion would be an advantage alongside being able to work to effectively and have excellent workload management skills. Experience of leading groups and working individually with people and using activity to help promote independence would also be a desirable ability.

Main duties of the job

The occupational therapy team consists of qualified occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and health and wellbeing workers all of who focus on enabling patients to achieve optimum independence as part of recovering their ordinary lives. The senior staff offer regular clinical, professional and line management supervision as well as opportunities to attend internal and external training. The successful candidate will be working with a friendly team in a brand new clinical environment and have access to good facilities and support from managers.

If you feel you have a genuine caring nature, enjoy challenges and are enthusiastic about providing the best possible service for people to live satisfying, independent lives we would be very keen to meet you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Occupational Therapy Assistant with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust in Preston, England. It is listed as a Band 4 Occupational therapy assistant role. The advertised salary is £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata (subject to confirmation). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 22 Oct 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (08 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.