Occupational Therapy AssistantNHS
Job summary
Hi, we are Claire and Jo and we are really pleased you are looking at this opportunity. We have worked in this Trust for many years, and what keeps us here is the people - the staff and the individuals we support.
The OT teams are a supportive group who genuinely look out for one another. If you are passionate about making a real difference, and want to feel part of something meaningful, this could be the right service for you.
We are looking for caring, confident and competent Occupational Therapy Assistants who will be responsible for providing therapeutic interventions and activity for individuals currently in receipt of inpatient mental health care. In this role, you will work alongside a dedicated Occupational Therapy team to support service users in their recovery journey. You will also work alongside a wider multidisciplinary team, including nursing staff, medics, physiotherapists and psychologists.
You will be supported to develop your clinical and professional competencies within a stimulating learning environment. The Trust is committed to staff health and wellbeing, and you will be encouraged to learn, develop and grow.
The organisation has a well-established professional leadership structure, with access to strong professional networks and a wide range of profession specific training and career progression opportunities.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a highly motivated, innovative and compassionate Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) who demonstrates excellent communication and interaction skills. The successful applicants will work alongside our Occupational Therapists (OTs) and other OTAs to assist in the Occupational Therapy assessment process and to deliver effective 1:1 and group interventions.
Our teams (comprised of a Band 7 team manager, Band 6 OTs, Band 5 OTs and OTAs), play an important role in facilitating the safe and effective discharge of service users and is a valued part of our inpatient adult and older peoples service provision.
In this incredibly rewarding role, you will be responsible for your own caseload, working both individually and alongside other members of the multidisciplinary team. You will be fully supported by a registered OT via supervision. It is important that you can adapt to changing priorities and use your own initiative.
There are administrative tasks involved in the role such as record keeping, stock control and replenishment, and maintaining therapy areas and equipment.
Please ensure that you meet and can evidence that you meet the person specification for the role before applying. If youre curious or have any questions, please contact Claire Brooke (Kirklees and Calderdale positions) 07721730830, or Jo Harrison (Barnsley positions) 07717700042 or 01226 644443.
Job description
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will:
Under the supervision/direction of registered health care professionals/associate practitioner, perform delegated interventions and care tasks, for which they have received training, seeking support as and when necessary.
As part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential.
Demonstrating sensitivity, empathy and active listening skills, maintain positive and appropriate relationships with people at all times.
Demonstrate an understanding of the care and treatment programmes required for a designated group of service users.
To follow a care plan, advise and guide service users, family and carers in following prescribed interventions and make the appropriate adjustments within own competence and skill set and be able to communicate any changes to service users and registered health care professionals.
Be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan This may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, following the risk assessment and health & safety.
Exercise a degree of independence, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks. Assess situations, eg following falls prevention guidance identify and resolve potential problems, within own competence.
Ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained. Treat everyone eg, service users, their relatives, visitors, colleagues etc, with respect, dignity, courtesy and in accordance with the Trusts Values.
Feedback their observations to the registered professional/ clinical team to contribute to the care/treatment planning process. Understand the principles underlying care planning eg, enabling the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/ independence/recovery.
Implement treatment/care within well-established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans within own competence and skill set.
Assisting in the organising and participating in a range of therapeutic groups and activities as delegated by the registered practitioner working within own competence and skill set.
Apply basic knowledge of longer-term health conditions, within the remit of care planning, providing advice, support and feedback to a registered professional.
Undertake the physical aspects of care eg, moving and handling of service users. Use items of equipment in delivering care eg, hoists, wheelchairs etc. (as appropriate to the role), ensuring appropriate instruction on their use has been received.
Assist in dealing with verbal/physical aggression using de-escalation techniques, this may include the need for RRPI techniques (as appropriate to the ward or community based role and in line with Trust policy and training)
Attend to the service users personal care needs as and when required.
Participate in a flexible rostering arrangement providing /7 day care (as appropriate to the role/service).
For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.
We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.