Job overview

Currently the team are looking for people with gardening or wood work skills. The rehabilitation of patients involves learning new skill and engagement in meaningful actives. Staff who work in these area enjoy working with people and are aware that people take time as adults to learn new skills.

You will work with a minimum of three other staff in each session and work with the patients in simple tasks which give a sense of achievement.

In the wood crafts area, this could be a construction of a bird box, jigsaw cutting, wood turning lathe or pyrography engraving.

If in the horticultural area you could be working with patients in the greenhouse or the allotment area on seeding, weeding, grass cutting etc.

You will always work with two other staff who have a good knowledge of the patients who have a primary diagnosis of server mental illness or personality disorder.

The post is a face to face job and is very practical in nature but does involve sessions notes and in patient’s records.

Main duties of the job

The RTS Assistant post is based in the Rehabilitation Therapy Service (RTS) within the high security setting of Broadmoor hospital.

The aim of the service is to engage, support and develop patients as part of their recovery through engagement in meaningful therapeutic activities.

The RTS assistant would work as part of a close team of staff who work together to provide a wide range of activities which help patients develop work skills. These skills could be personal organisation and time management, concentration on a task, following instructions or copying tasks.

These skills are developed through a variety of activities including Gardening, Pottery, wood craft skills, picture framing, professional publishing and printing.

The RTS assistant need to be able engage with patients and staff and support the process of the work ability sessions. It is helpful to have be able to learn practical tasks easily and to be a good communicator.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m. 

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.