Are you keen to work in a fascinating and ever-changing environment?
Are you curious, creative, and always looking for new learning opportunities and ways to implement this into practice?
We have a Band 4 Allied Health Profession Therapy Assistant vacancy in our central therapies team at the Hellingly Centre, a medium and low secure inpatient service for male and female service users.
Forensic mental healthcare is a unique and fascinating field which provides both challenge and opportunity in abundance.
At the Hellingly Centre, we specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
You will be working with service users who have committed criminal offences but have also often been victims themselves. Service users regularly experience stigma for both mental health and offending history, so our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative, and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills.
Main duties of the job
We are introducing a new Allied Health Profession (AHP) Therapy Assistant role into our central therapies team. As an AHP therapy assistant, you will play a pivotal role in supporting service users to enhance their health and wellbeing.
You will:
* Work together with allied health professions, service users, and their care teams to support effective communication and engagement in a range of meaningful activities.
* Provide feedback and contribute to holistic care plans, aiding service users' recovery and journey through secure services.
* Assist with planning and delivering individual and group sessions across various domains, including: nature-based activities at the on-site allotment, ward gardens, and in the community, the Recovery Through Activity programme, education, vocational roles (e.g., the on-site shop, cooking and baking), music, sensory exploration and modulation, physical activity, art and creativity, and participation opportunities.
About us
The Hellingly Centre is a modern purpose-built medium secure unit specialising in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
There are 4 specialist wards (2 male medium secure wards - Oak and Ash, 1 female medium secure ward - Blossom, and 1 male low secure ward - Elm), each with a strong multi-disciplinary team.
We have a range of therapy facilities within the centre including: a gym, shop, music, woodwork and art rooms, and Badger's Café and allotment space on-site.
The centre is situated within the beautiful Hellingly Country Park, and the Cuckoo Trail is also very close by. The local town, Hailsham, is under 10 minutes away by car. There is a direct bus link to Eastbourne.
There is a small gym on-site which is available for staff to use. Badger's Café is on-site and sells a good selection of hot drinks, meals, and snacks. There is a large car park, and parking is free.
Job responsibilities
Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Any relevant qualifications that may support the delivery of therapeutic interventions are required. There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice, and training and development opportunities, including attendance at communities of practice.
This role is full-time (37.5 hours), typically across Monday - Friday. Flexible working requests will be considered.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and requirements.
Please apply using the link in this advert. For any further information or if you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapists:
Jessika Lack (Jessika.lack@nhs.net) or Amy Boot (Amy.boot@nhs.net)
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 Health Care or equivalent in a subject relevant to the service area (B3)
* NVQ Level 4 Healthcare or equivalent in a subject relevant to the service area (B4)
Knowledge/Experience
* Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
* Experience working as part of a team
* Experience of facilitating individual and group activities
* Experience of being supervised
* Experience of training others in technical, leisure, or creative skills
* Experience of supervising others
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.
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
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