Activity Support Worker

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the therapies team at the Shaftesbury clinic, forensic inpatient services.  We have a large and supportive therapies team consisting of Occupational therapists, clinical exercise therapists, activity support workers, technical instructors and an education tutor.

The Forensic Inpatient Service is comprised of both medium and low secure wards. The service provides treatment under the Mental Health Act for men and women with mental health problems and who are considered to pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.  The primary aim of the Forensic Inpatient Service is to provide a safe and secure environment in which to support forensic patients to increase occupational participation and develop the skill necessary for a smooth transition into the community. The therapies team work across the four wards within the service.  We also have close links with our occupational therapy colleagues in the forensic outreach service.

Occupational therapy interventions encourage the development of skills related to education, creativity, vocation, exercise, and life skills.  We support service users to develop their occupational identity through exploring interests and developing a daily routine.   We support a graded integration into the community.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work with the Occupational Therapy team to develop a programme of therapeutic activity for service users with mental health needs, learning disability and autism who have engaged in offending behaviour.   They will deliver both individual and group interventions to enable patients to maintain daily activity within the limitations of the secure environment.  Under the guidance of an occupational therapist, they will support service users to maintain and develop their skills that allow them to work towards reintegration back into the community.

The post holder will collaborate closely with other activity support workers to ensure that service users have access to a centralised programme of activity in the unit, as well as providing activity on individual wards.

The post holder will have experience of creating and delivering groups within a mental health or social care setting.  They will have a positive attitude towards teamwork and be self-motivated and innovative.  The service runs primarily over Monday to Friday in order to meet the needs of our patients, however, all activity workers are expected to contribute to weekend activities, therefore the post holder will need to be able to work flexibly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• -   To participate as a member of the occupational therapy department in the provision of a range of therapeutic and recreational to support the rehabilitation of service users experiencing mental illness and who have a history of offending. This programme will be developed and implemented with the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist. -   To provide a programme of recreational, vocational and educational activities within the service and the community. -   To support the development of a balanced therapeutic ward-based programme. -   To support access to and engagement in the forensic recovery college. -   To facilitate recovery courses at the forensic recovery college. -   To instruct and guide individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity. -   To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, planned with a registered Occupational Therapist.