Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor

Job summary

Are you creative, practical and passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities to live meaningful, fulfilling lives? We are looking for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor to join our Specialist Community Health Learning Disability service in East Devon.

Working under the supervision of Occupational Therapists, you will help plan and deliver person-centred therapeutic activities and interventions for individuals and groups. This varied role will involve using creative, practical and technical skills to support peoples occupational performance, independence, communication and wellbeing.

You will work closely with service users, families, carers, providers and wider professional networks, adapting your approach to meet individual needs and supporting accessible communication, including easy read materials and guidance. You will also assist with sensory and therapeutic equipment, contribute to training, support service development, and take part in supervision and reflective practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong communication and organisational skills, experience of working in a team, and an interest in creative or therapeutic activities. If you are compassionate, flexible and keen to make a positive difference, we would welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

Under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist in the Team, the post holder will be expected to use technical and creative skills to assist in the delivery of a flexible, person centred programme of therapeutic activities for individuals and group of people who have a learning disability.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details

• Date posted: 20 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year Pro rata. The pay increases as a step up after 3 years of service
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: C9369-26-0565
• Job locations: Additional Support Unit, Hospital Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3RB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Building therapeutic relationships with service users and working alongside care providers and others in individual support networks to exchange, sensitive and complex, information in a tactful way adapting communication to work effectively with people who have communication impairments; this may include having difficult conversations.
• Provide and receive routine information requiring tact or persuasive skills where there are barriers to understanding.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with team members and relevant community members and groups.
• Developing accessible communication e.g. to support capacity assessments, developing easy read materials/reports simplifying complex information.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Analysis of service users responses to activity to assure appropriate complexity of activities for each person.
• Seek guidance and support as necessary to ensure delivery of safe and effective services.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Plan, organise and undertake appropriate activities as agreed with the Occupational Therapist.
• As reviewed in occupational therapy supervision working autonomously with service users, families and service providers to meet identified needs.
• Organising and delivering training e.g. Life Story Work.
• Supporting service users engagement in interview panels.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• To undertake a varied range of therapy interventions as agreed with the Occupational Therapists to promote the occupational performance of people with learning disabilities.
• Developing accessible guidance in regards to use of sensory/therapeutic equipment
• Using own observations to inform assessment and interventions; planning and treatment modification and evaluation of interventions under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist.
• Risk assessment and adapting approach throughout interventions; taking appropriate action under supervision of occupational therapists.
• Delivery of training and Modelling approaches to support service users with care teams/providers and families and adapting approaches to support occupational performance.
• Assist, as appropriate, in any physical care requirements of individuals e.g. attending sessions, supporting service user interview panels etc.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Familiarise self and follow relevant Devon Partnership Trust policies.
• Support and implement service developments and policy review as identified in supervision/team meetings e.g. service user interview panels.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Be responsible for the ordering, cataloguing and maintaining equipment such as assistive technology and sensory/therapeutic and consumables; including ongoing safety evaluation of equipment condition and cleanliness.
• Prescribing (under the supervision of occupational therapy) - developing easy read guides and explaining use of equipment to service users.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

• Participate in regular supervision with the Occupational Therapist to plan, monitor and reflect on practice and performance, completing actions as agreed.
• Take part and contribute in team Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor peer supervision sessions.
• Supporting student occupational therapists on clinical placement. Assisting team with induction of new staff as required.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• Maintain written and electronic records up to date in accordance with Trust policy and administration as necessary.
• Undertake routine recording and administration for delegated tasks.
• Maintain health roster and outlook diary.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• Occasionally undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work. E.g. completes surveys, reviews of service user panels, service user feedback, friends and family test, training feedback.
• Contributes to occupational therapy service audits as identified.

Freedom to Act

• Receives instructions regularly from the occupational therapist; works within established guidelines and Trust Policies and Procedures.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

• Participate in quality improvement interventions as agreed with the Occupational Therapist.
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service adhering to all aspects of the health and safety requirements that affect your areas of work.