Job summary

The Lookout Adolescent Unit are looking for a motivated and compassionate Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our dedicated CAMHS Inpatient team.

Working alongside Occupational Therapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will support the delivery of therapeutic activities and interventions that help young people develop independence, confidence, and meaningful daily routines during their recovery journey.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone with excellent communication skills, creativity, and an interest in supporting children and young people experiencing mental health and emotional difficulties.

Previous experience working with children, young people, or within healthcare is desirable

Main duties of the job

Please see attached job description and person specification for further details relating to the role

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire,Leicestershire,Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Details

Date posted

22 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

186-829-26-MH

Job locations

Hopewood

Foster Drive

Sherwood, Nottingham

NG5 3FL

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Job description Job responsibilities Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies. A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Person Specification

Contractual

Essential

• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.
• Manual drivers licence or access to own vehicle for business use.

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent level of knowledge and plus knowledge and skills development for young people with mental health difficulties to diploma level equivalence

Training

Essential

• Training relevant to the role and client group such as Oliver McGowan, Sensory Approaches, Trauma, and Occupational Therapy Approaches

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of the barriers to occupational engagement relevant to the client group and setting.
• Knowledge and experience of sensory approaches, trauma informed care, motivating others, occupational therapy models or approaches and making information accessible
• Experience of planning and running groups relevant to the client group with need for minimal supervision. Experience of working in a health or social care setting with adolescents.
• Experience of supporting students, new starters or junior staff.

Skills

Essential

• Willingness to undertake training and appropriate to role and service.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills
• Good interpersonal skills including managing challenging behaviour.
• Group facilitation and planning skills.
• Self motivated and able to motivate others.
• Managing resources and working within a budget
• Lone working and independently managing own time
• Team working with other agencies and professionals
• Teaching/training skills
• Good organisation and time management skills - managing own workload

Knowledge

Essential

• Specific knowledge around mental illness and the needs of the population at The Lookout including the barriers to occupational engagement
• Knowledge of the role of occupational therapy within the population at The Lookout

Values and Behaviours

Essential

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Person Specification Contractual Essential A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010. Manual drivers licence or access to own vehicle for business use. Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent level of knowledge and plus knowledge and skills development for young people with mental health difficulties to diploma level equivalence Training Essential Training relevant to the role and client group such as Oliver McGowan, Sensory Approaches, Trauma, and Occupational Therapy Approaches Experience Essential Knowledge and experience of the barriers to occupational engagement relevant to the client group and setting. Knowledge and experience of sensory approaches, trauma informed care, motivating others, occupational therapy models or approaches and making information accessible Experience of planning and running groups relevant to the client group with need for minimal supervision. Experience of working in a health or social care setting with adolescents. Experience of supporting students, new starters or junior staff. Skills Essential Willingness to undertake training and appropriate to role and service. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. Good written and verbal communication skills. Good IT skills Good interpersonal skills including managing challenging behaviour. Group facilitation and planning skills. Self motivated and able to motivate others. Managing resources and working within a budget Lone working and independently managing own time Team working with other agencies and professionals Teaching/training skills Good organisation and time management skills - managing own workload Knowledge Essential Specific knowledge around mental illness and the needs of the population at The Lookout including the barriers to occupational engagement Knowledge of the role of occupational therapy within the population at The Lookout Values and Behaviours Essential All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hopewood

Foster Drive

Sherwood, Nottingham

NG5 3FL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hopewood

Foster Drive

Sherwood, Nottingham

NG5 3FL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)