Occupational Therapy in Working Age Inpatient Mental Health

We’re the Occupational Therapy team working within the Working Age Adult Inpatient Mental Health Service.

We work with adults aged 18-65 who are experiencing severe and enduring mental health conditions, supporting them during some of the most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives. Our patients are admitted to hospital for specialist care, and we’re here to make sure their journey doesn’t just stop at recovery — it leads to independence, purpose, and hope for the future.

Overview of our service

Our role as Occupational Therapists is all about understanding the whole person — not just their diagnosis. We assess functional strengths and challenges across all areas of daily life: whether that’s self-care, cooking, managing routines, accessing the community, or building meaningful roles and habits for the future.

We then use this understanding to create personalised, holistic treatment plans that build confidence, restore skills, and help people work towards what matters most to them. Everything we do is goal-focused and person-centred — because no two people’s journeys are ever the same.

How do we work?

We offer a mix of 1:1 interventions and dynamic group activities — both on and off the ward. Our work is practical, creative, and always rooted in therapeutic purpose. You’ll find us delivering sessions on:

Daily living skills
Creative arts
VR therapy
Animal-assisted interventions
Sensory regulation
Relapse prevention
Wellness recovery planning
And much more!

We work closely alongside our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) — including Nurses, Doctors, Psychologists, and Peer Support Workers — ensuring care is truly collaborative.

What Our Service Users Say:

‘‘Pet Therapy gave me a connection with something I enjoyed’’

‘‘his session made me feel amazing and I now feel so clam. I have been looking forward to this session for weeks and been counting down the days, it has given something to look forward to.’’

‘‘I got to enhance my baking skills. There isn't any improvement needed. Staff were very helpful’’

‘‘I went on the beach relaxation and then I went on a stroll. It was very relaxing and calming… The VR was relaxing and I would do it again.’’

What our team say:

“I am able to help maximise their potential holistically”

“I’ve worked in a lot of different hospital settings. This OT team shines through and it is amazing to see the great work that is achieved.”

“Working in inpatients has allowed me to develop my skills clinically in a fast and challenging environment. I enjoy the differences every day brings and knowing I am being a part of someone’s recovery.”

What makes us different?

We’re passionate about continuous learning, innovation, and making our service the best it can be — for both service users and staff.

We offer incredible CPD opportunities including:

OT Specialist Learning Forums
External training courses
Sensory Integration
Trauma-Informed Care
Hoarding Interventions
Apprenticeships in partnership with local universities
Regular clinical supervision and peer support
And development pathways for every level of OT practice

We're always growing and evolving — and you can be a part of shaping that future.