Community occupational therapist jobs

CAPITAL in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Location: West Sussex inpatient settings (Langley Green, Meadowfield, Oaklands - you will be based on one site, with the possibility of travelling to others)
Hours of Work: 22.5 or 37.5 hours
Salary: £12.90 per hour (Equivalent to NHS Band 3 / 4: up to £13.90 depending on experience, hours and role)
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months

About the roles 

These are new roles focused on bringing lived experience into everyday inpatient care.This is a pilot project, hence the one-year contract term. 

You will work alongside ward teams to support recovery focused and therapeutic activity. The role is about being present on the ward, building relationships, and contributing to a positive and engaging environment for patients. 

You will use your lived experience appropriately to support hope, participation and recovery, while working within clear professional boundaries.

Hours and contracts

We are recruiting a small team of Lived Experience Recovery Workers to work across inpatient settings in West Sussex. 

Contracts will be offered flexibly, likely across 4 to 5 roles, with a mix of full time and part time hours. 

All roles will be place based, working within a single inpatient setting. There is no requirement to travel between sites. 

We welcome applications from people looking to work between 3 and 5 days per week. 

Final hours and working patterns will be agreed based on service needs and the strengths of the successful applicants. Our aim is to build a balanced team that provides consistent ward based presence across all sites. 

What you will be doing 

• Supporting structured recovery and wellbeing activities on the ward

• Working alongside Occupational Therapists and ward staff to co deliver sessions

• Building rapport through consistent, everyday interactions

• Contributing to a visible and reliable presence within daily ward life

• Supporting and sharing patient feedback and insight to support service improvement

• Working as part of the multidisciplinary team

About you 

We are looking for people who: 

• Have lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery

• Can use that experience in a purposeful and appropriate way

• Are comfortable working within clear professional boundaries

• Can support group based or structured activity

• Work well as part of a team

• Communicate clearly and build trust with a wide range of people

• Are committed to inclusion, participation and improving services

About CAPITAL 

CAPITAL is a lived experience led organisation. We bring people, services and systems together to improve mental health support through coproduction and lived experience leadership. 

We have over 300 members and deliver work across inpatient settings, community services and system change programmes. 

This pilot is part of a partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to strengthen recovery focused support and lived experience into wards.

What you can expect 

• A role where lived experience is recognised as expertise

• Structured support from both CAPITAL and SPFT 

• Opportunities to contribute to service improvement and coproduction

• A chance to help shape how lived experience is embedded in inpatient care

About the Role

Location: Cornwall (Agile / Field‑based)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £24,544.91
Contract: Permanent
DBS: Enhanced with Adults

Who We Are

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe recovery is possible. We exist to improve the quality of life for people severely affected by mental illness by providing person‑centred, strengths‑based support that helps people live fulfilling, connected lives.

We work closely with individuals, families, and partner organisations to support recovery, independence, and wellbeing within local communities.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Lifestyle Support Worker to join our Cornwall Community team and support people with long‑term mental health challenges to live healthier, happier, and more connected lives.

In this role, you’ll work alongside other Lifestyle Support Workers, therapists, and multi‑disciplinary teams to engage people in meaningful activities that promote wellbeing, confidence, and independence. This could include:

• Supporting individuals one‑to‑one to build confidence accessing community spaces such as gyms, groups, or public venues
• Facilitating group activities such as healthy eating, wellbeing, or lifestyle sessions including activities in the community.
• Encouraging engagement in volunteering, recovery activities, and local community opportunities
• Supporting people to develop routines, life skills, and social connections

This is a field‑based role across Cornwall, with some administrative work based in NHS buildings and opportunities for agile working.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting people with mental health needs in a community or support setting
• Is passionate about recovery, empowerment, and person‑centred support
• Can build positive, respectful, and professional relationships with service users
• Has experience in facilitating group work in the community.
• Is confident working both independently and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
• Has strong communication, organisational, and basic IT skills
• Holds a full driving licence with access to a vehicle (essential for covering Cornwall)
• Believes in equality, inclusion, and strengths‑based approaches

Formal clinical qualifications are not essential — we value empathy, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to supporting others.

What We Offer

At Rethink Mental Illness, we’re proud to support our staff. You’ll receive:

• A comprehensive induction programme
• Regular supervision and reflective practice
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• The opportunity to contribute to service development
• A supportive, values‑driven culture where your voice matters

Ready to Apply?

If you believe in recovery, want to make a real difference, and are passionate about supporting people to live well in their communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Rethink Mental Illness welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

Why Work With Rethink Mental Illness?

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that when you feel supported, you can make the biggest difference. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits:

• Inclusive Culture: Staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion
• Wellbeing Support: Access to our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and Unmind mental health app
• Recognition & Rewards: Discounts, cashback offers, and recognition through our PULSE platform
• Flexible Working & Generous Leave: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and your birthday off, with options to buy or sell leave
• Learning & Development: Structured onboarding and ongoing training
• Financial & Family Support: Pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits
• Referral Bonus: Earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity is important to us, and we value difference, inclusiveness, and belonging. By welcoming a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we strengthen our ability to support the diverse communities we serve.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Race at Work Charter.

Becoming a Truly Anti‑Racist Organisation

We have an ambition to become a truly anti‑racist employer, campaigning organisation, and service provider. Through our Anti‑Racist Statement and Race Equality Action Plan, we are committed to accountability, learning, and meaningful progress.

At St. John's, we have a proud history of making a positive difference to the lives of young people. We are now looking for amazing Learning Support Workers to support us in continuing that impact. Could that be you?

Why join our inclusive team?

St. John's is one of the largest employers in Brighton and Hove.

What can we offer you?

• £27,976.00 FTE for 52 weeks (Your actual salary will be £25,286.00 as your contract will be term time only). 
• 32-days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) - 32-days are taken outside of term time
• Fulfilling and meaningful work – make a difference!
• Career development plans that are tailored to you
• Discounts across businesses in the local community.

Who are we?

St. John's is a non-maintained specialist provision, working with autistic people, the majority of whom also have learning disabilities. Some of our learners have co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy, hearing or visual impairments, or mental health needs. We also support autistic learners who have an additional profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) syndrome. We have a team built up of support workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, PBS practitioners, assistant psychologists, and more, to support us in our holistic approach to development.

Each learner's curriculum is shaped by their individual strengths, interests, and challenges. St. John's is awarded with Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society (NAS). We support our learners to develop their skills in the NAS's four focus areas of:

• Difference in social communication and interaction
• Self-reliance and problem-solving
• Sensory
• Emotional Well-being

What are we looking for?

We've been doing this long enough to know that, whilst desirable, experience is not everything! Our amazing learning and development team and our passionate managers have coached people new to this field into support working roles. We know that if you have, the passion and desire to learn, and the want to empower others, you already have the foundations of an outstanding support worker. We are looking for drivers to support our young people to access the community, but having a licence isn't essential.

Sound like you? Then keep on reading!

What will you be doing?

• Supporting the young people in a classroom setting and during breaktimes
• Implementing the learner's behaviour support plan and risk assessment
• Working within a team of multidisciplinary professionals across the charity
• Tracking the progress of individuals and reporting to the teacher, care manager, and/or parents at review meetings.

Exciting opportunity? We think so! Click apply to start your journey as part of the St. John's College family as a Learning Support Worker

Please note that interviews will be arranged progressively as suitable applications are received. Early application is therefore advisable.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, renewals or transfers. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Documents

• Learning Support Worker- Recruitment Pack 2026.pdf (1.42 MB)

Support Mentor

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.

Job Title: Support Mentor (FTC)

Location: Luton. Unfortunately, this service does not have step free access.

Salary: £24,500

Shift Pattern: Fixed Term contract until May 2028. 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday on a rota which can range between 08:00 - 20:00  You may be required to work outside these hours dependent on service and resident requirements including weekends and bank holidays.

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated team to deliver person centred and bespoke trauma informed support to vulnerable women in Luton. This new service will provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for women facing sexual exploitation and substance dependency – a place they can truly call home. Through stable, person-centred care, you'll play a vital role in empowering women to rebuild their lives and embrace brighter futures. 

In this role, as a Support Mentor, you will work within a 24 hour service which provided person centred support to our residents, working to ensure the safety and wellbeing. Our residents have experienced multiple forms of exclusion, such as historical/ongoing abuse, involvement in the criminal justice system, mental health challenges, drug and/or alcohol dependency and enduring high levels of violence and coercion. You will build trusting professional relationships with residents, helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations which could be through tailored one to one sessions, group sessions, in and out of service activities, and general wellbeing check ins. Your role will focus on empowering our residents to take control over their lives and meet their personal goals

 Responsibilities include:

• Holding a caseload, conducting key work sessions which are personable to resident needs
• Carry out regular welfare checks, safeguarding checks, and general living checks
• Encourage residents to take part in activities and events both within the service and the community
• Keep support plans up to date on a regular basis
• Work closely with the rest of the team to provide overall excellent service delivery, this may mean also supporting with their caseloads, and other tasks as necessary
• Building trusting professional relationships with residents, helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations which could be through tailored one to one sessions, group sessions, in and out of service activities, and general wellbeing check ins.
• Focusing on empowering our residents to take control over their lives and meet their personal goals

About You

We are passionate about working in a supportive, solution focused and trauma informed way to support our residents and participants to make and sustain positive change. The successful candidate will work as part of a team to deliver exceptional support to women at a particularly challenging time in their lives. We are looking for passionate, motivated and proactive individuals who are dedicated to making a positive difference.

• Due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.
• Experience of working with people of complex backgrounds and/or a good understanding of the sector, particularly around multiple and complex needs
• Ability to show empathy and compassion to our residents, and different challenges they face
• Experience working with, or thorough understanding of, domestic abuse and the systemic barriers faced by women.
• Ability to use, learn and adapt to IT at an intermediate level, including Microsoft and other software programs
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• Ability to promote the service and provide outreach-based provision, with an ability to liaise and work effectively in partnership with stakeholders
• Understanding of the different needs people with multiple and complex needs have and be aware of the social marginalisation that can be attached to people who face personal challenges
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.