About this role
Job summary
Please note: There are 3 Senior Therapy Assistant posts available within the PARALEL service.
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated individual looking to make a difference? We have an exciting opportunity to join PARALEL, an innovative rehabilitation, relapse prevention and alternative to admission service supporting adults with eating disorders across community and inpatient settings.
What you'll do:
Work as a Senior Therapy Assistant within a developing community rehabilitation service Deliver and support therapeutic interventions on an individual and group basis, including psychoeducation, cooking, shopping, social eating and relaxation Support service users in their homes, local communities and within the PARALEL service Plan, facilitate and document therapeutic activity, adapting interventions to meet individual needs Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to support recovery, independence and relapse prevention Contribute to the ongoing development of a new service The successful candidate will have an understanding of Occupational Therapy, mental health and eating disorders, be able to manage risk appropriately, and be committed to delivering compassionate, recovery-focused care.
Main duties of the job
You'll work with the entire integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT) which include, Occupational Therapists and Senior therapy assistants, experienced Dietician and Clinical psychiatrist to ensure a seamless and supportive care experience for every individual.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a friendly, supportive, new and emerging service. Receive dedicated guidance and direction from the experienced Occupational Therapist. Benefit from ongoing professional development, including: Clinical supervision Annual appraisals A wide range of training opportunities Who We're Looking For:We're seeking an individual who is:
Passionate about mental health and improving lives. Has excellent self-management and organisational skills. Caring, enthusiastic, adaptable and eager to learn. Highly motivated and ready to thrive in developing a new service. A team player who can take direction but is also able to work autonomously. Experience of this type of work is desirable but experience of working with people with eating disorders, aptitude and motivation are considered to be essential qualities in providing the high standards of service that this post demands.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a health-related subject Evidence of continuing professional development Evidence of relevant training and competency development
Desirable
European computer driving licence (ECDL) or equivalent
Knowledge and Expertise Essential
Knowledge of Occupational Therapy interventions e.g. Psychoeducational, life skills, anxiety management, meal cookery, community or ward based interventions, sensory awareness both group and 1:1 work and de-escalation techniques etc Understanding of recovery focused and person-centred practice. Understanding of the Occupational Therapy process and the role of occupation in health and wellbeing. Knowledge of eating disorders and the impact on daily functioning and quality of life Knowledge of various health conditions Awareness of the process of rehabilitation and the professions involved Awareness of the process of ageing and means of adapting to the limitations imposed by ageing and disease. Adherence to the code of Ethics and Professional standard of college e.g. Occupational Therapy - to follow local standards of conduct Ability to obtain, receive and relay written and verbal information accurately and efficiently IT Skills Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own caseload.
Desirable
Evidence of relevant in-service training courses. Experience of managing own diary and caseload
Experience Essential
Significant experience as a Band 3 Therapy assistant or CSW Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team Experience of supporting individuals with mental health needs. Some experience in a relevant community setting. Current experience of working in a health/social care setting Proven ability to work as a member of the multi disciplinary team
Desirable
Previous experience as a Band 4 therapy assistant Experience working within and Eating Disorder Service
Trust values Essential
Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)
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 Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Pioneer House and Springview hospital
Unit 4, Pioneer Business Park,
North Road Ellesmere Port
CH65 1AD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)