Occupational Therapy Recreational Worker

Job overview

We are looking for a person who is passionate about providing excellent care in an acute mental health setting, and who wants to make  real difference by providing person-centered, meaningful leisure activities.

The Recreational Worker organises and provides a predominantly ward-based recreational/leisure service. There are two posts based on the site at Kingsley Green, Radlett - one on a male PICU and one on a female ward.

The activities they facilitate occur alongside therapeutic interventions from the Occupational Therapy service, Psychology, Arts therapies and the ward Nursing Team to enhance a service user’s stay in hospital.

The recreational service is provided during afternoons, evenings and weekends and shifts are 12 - 8pm. This includes working one day of each weekend (or both days of alternate weekends) and covering bank holidays.

Whilst we welcome all applications from all suitable candidates, unfortunately, we will not be offering sponsorship for this role.

Main duties of the job

• You will organise and provide a predominantly ward-basedrecreational/leisure service such as gardening groups, craft sessions, music activities, sports/active sessions, facilitating gym sessions, games, etc.
• You will be based on adult inpatient wards where service users require support for a range of diagnoses such as psychosis, depression, or anxiety.
• The recreational service is provided during afternoons, evenings and weekends and so the role requires working in the early evenings until 8pm and on the weekends 9 -5.
• The team consists of a Lead and Head Occupational Therapist, Band 6 and 5 Occupational Therapists, and Assistant Therapy Practitioners. We work closely with Art and Drama Therapists, and Psychologists.
• The Recreational Worker role offers the opportunity to provide the main link between the wards and the therapy team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• You will work effectively as a member of a team in providing social, recreational and leisure activities using a person centered approach.
• You will provide timely feedback to the MDT information regarding the service users wellbeing and motivation to engage in recreational sessions.
• You will use technical / creative skills to engage service users in meaningful and appropriate activities to promote independence, recovery and well-being.
• Under supervision of an Occupational Therapist, to facilitate and participate in planned group-work and individual activities.
• Under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist, to contribute to the ongoing assessment and adjustment of clinical interventions based on the fluctuating needs of the service users.

For a more detailed description, please see attached Job description and Person specification.