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Job summary
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our community team, supporting individuals to maximise their independence and quality of life within their own homes.
Working under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, you will deliver person-centred interventions to individuals with a range of physical, cognitive, and functional needs. Your role will involve implementing treatment plans, supporting rehabilitation programmes, and enabling people to safely carry out activities of daily living such as washing, dressing, meal preparation, and mobility.
You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, nurses, and social care professionals, to support timely discharges, prevent hospital admissions, and promote independence in the community.
The role requires strong communication and organisational skills, as well as the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. You will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on patient progress, identifying changes in need, and ensuring interventions are delivered safely and effectively.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in health or social care who is passionate about rehabilitation, independence, and delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
Please note this post is part time 22.5 hours per week.
Main duties of the job
*Undertake evidence based Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions with patients, as agreed with an Occupational Therapist, to ensure good clinical outcomes. The post holder will be required to work with the patient to gather information, highlighting the need for further assessment, and completing a clinical record of the intervention including the outcome.
*Actively promote recovery-focussed care with patients, in conjunction with other health professionals, including achievement of set goals.
*Support patients with their rehabilitation and recovery, respecting them as individuals, supporting them and understanding their right to express their needs.
*Facilitate and lead patient-focus groups and activities.
*Use appropriate approved conflict resolution and management of aggression techniques (e.g., PMVA), to de-escalate challenging situations as required for the role.
*Undertake clinical and environmental risk assessments and document key risk areas, seeking guidance from more senior staff when dealing with cases indicating a high level of risk.
*Plan safe and effective discharge at an appropriate time
*Contribute to, and attend as sole practitioner, board rounds, MDT meetings and patient planning meetings
*Assess and order equipment to meet the needs of the patient
*To raise incidents appropriately via the reporting system in an accurate, objective, and concise manner.
*Provide information on improving health and wellbeing and signposting to other agencies as appropriate.
About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
Details
- Date posted: 26 June 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 4
- Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year Please note for part time hours the salary will be pro rata
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: 348-PSE-11660
- Job locations: Havant Health Centre, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 2AZ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
- Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information.
- Basic Knowledge of Occupational Therapy.
- Basic knowledge of equipment for independence and management of moving and handling.
Qualifications
Essential
- Healthcare Qualification Level 2, 3 or working towards gaining equivalent level
- GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent.
- At present, the Trust is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the OT Associate in context of the nursing and multi-disciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development.
- Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.
- Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.
- Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
- Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload.
- Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact.
- Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues.
- Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
- Basic Computer Skills
- Able to work as part of a team.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Occupational Therapy Associate Practitioner with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 4 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £28,392 to £31,157 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 10 Jul 2026.
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