Job summary
We are actively seeking a part time Occupational Therapy Assistant, who enjoys working with people.
This role involves planning and implementing therapeutic activities appropriate to the needs, choices and interests of individuals in our care, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Occupational Therapist. Full training is given.
The team provides a seven day week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene Hospital, including visiting patients own homes to enable a safe discharge.
You must hold a full UK driving licence, have access to a car and insurance for business use.
As a multidisciplinary team we are dedicated to supporting our patients with their transition through illness and injury and their hospital stay to maximising their rehabilitation potential and enabling a safe discharge plan, usually to home.
We strive to ensure that the workplace is a place where staff feel supported and positively challenged.
We offer
- A high level of clinical support
- provision of high-quality training and development opportunities.
- support to allow you work towards your full potential by further developing a range of skills.
- being part of innovative and forward-thinking department.
- access to a comprehensive staff health and wellbeing programme.
We are keen for staff to develop and build on their own ideas to contribute to further service improvement and innovation.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a motivated individual who will
- Manage a case load of patients by providing Occupational Therapy interventions to increase independence and enable patients to return safely to their own home.
- Be compassionate and understanding to patients who have recently had a hospital admission. To always approach people with dignity and in a respectful manner.
- Regularly review patients for mobility and transfers in order to progress functional ability.
- Complete wash and dress and kitchen assessments and feedback to qualified occupational therapists with recommendations for ongoing interventions.
- Record basic observations/vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate in patients notes.
- Assist with the running of therapeutic occupational therapy groups on the ward.
- Complete outcome measures as indicated, including DERBY Outcome measure and Elderly Mobility Scale.
- Assess, provide and fit equipment appropriately, including reviewing and practicing with the equipment under the guidance of qualified staff.
- Carry out Access Visits and Discharge Home Visits to patients homes and recommend any necessary adaptations to increase independence and safety.
- With support, complete referrals to community teams with recommendations for ongoing rehabilitation needs.
- Give feedback on allocated caseload to other members of the multi disciplinary team members and/also the next of kin.
- Be an effective communicator and participate in multidisciplinary team and staff meetings.
About us
Do you want to be part of an organisation that was rated best provider of NHS care to work for nationwide? (2023 staff survey results)
First Community is a staff owned
social enterprise rated Good by CQC, which delivers NHS community services across
east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We
are looking for individuals who share our values First-rate care, First-rate people,
First-rate value.
First Community is a great place
to work, everyone has a voice and is supported to develop their career to its
full potential. We offer all our staff: NHS terms and conditions, high quality
training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work
life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment, an NHS pension,
flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.
Please talk to us before applying
or at interview about the flexibility you need. We may not be able to meet your
needs exactly, but we do promise to fully consider your request and meet your needs
where possible. Please note, flexible working options may vary depending on the
role.
At First Community we welcome
applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+
candidates and candidates with disabilities. We ensure that all applicants are
treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process,
including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.
Sustainability is integral to
First Community achieving the NHS Net Zero target.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder is responsible for the provision of high quality, individualised
personal care and occupational therapy rehabilitation programmes to our patients
on Caterham Dene Ward, reflecting the philosophy of First Community Health and
Care.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant will be an integral part of the Caterham Dene
Therapy and multi-disciplinary team, supporting the rehabilitation assistants and
allocating therapy intervention as well as having their own delegated case load.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant role involves planning and implementing
therapeutic activities appropriate to the needs, choices and interests of individuals
in our care, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Occupational
Therapist.
Full training is given to support and enhance existing skills.
The role includes completion of basic occupational therapy assessments, initial
interviews, rehabilitation and OT intervention with patients, in order to increase
their functional ability and independence and to enable safe discharge planning
including home environment assessments and provision of equipment under the
guidance of a qualified clinician/Occupational Therapist.
The team provides a seven day a week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene
Hospital including visiting patients own homes to enable a safe discharge. The
Post Holder must have a full driving licence and a car for personal business use
during their working day.
When completing your application please refer to both the
Application Guide and full Job Description - these can be found under
supporting documents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder is responsible for the provision of high quality, individualised
personal care and occupational therapy rehabilitation programmes to our patients
on Caterham Dene Ward, reflecting the philosophy of First Community Health and
Care.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant will be an integral part of the Caterham Dene
Therapy and multi-disciplinary team, supporting the rehabilitation assistants and
allocating therapy intervention as well as having their own delegated case load.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant role involves planning and implementing
therapeutic activities appropriate to the needs, choices and interests of individuals
in our care, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Occupational
Therapist.
Full training is given to support and enhance existing skills.
The role includes completion of basic occupational therapy assessments, initial
interviews, rehabilitation and OT intervention with patients, in order to increase
their functional ability and independence and to enable safe discharge planning
including home environment assessments and provision of equipment under the
guidance of a qualified clinician/Occupational Therapist.
The team provides a seven day a week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene
Hospital including visiting patients own homes to enable a safe discharge. The
Post Holder must have a full driving licence and a car for personal business use
during their working day.
When completing your application please refer to both the
Application Guide and full Job Description - these can be found under
supporting documents.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 3 or studying towards CQF diploma level 3 in clinical health care support or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Good general knowledge and education to GCSE standard or equivalent relevant standard.
Desirable
- NVQ 4 or studying towards CQF diploma level 4 in clinical health care support.
- Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations.
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills and interpersonal skills, including an ability to build rapport and establish good one to one relationships
- Ability to organise own time efficiently.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and to maintain a positive team-working relationship by valuing the contributions of other team members, understand others needs, using a flexible approach, handling conflict positively in an open and constructive manner.
- Able to work independently following spoken or written instructions
- I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications.
- Able to balance risk to inform decision making.
Desirable
- Able to organise and prioritise own time.
Other
Essential
- Car owner/driver essential.
- Willingness to learn new skills, to adapt positively to changes in working practices and patterns.
- Able to work flexibly in order to provide personal care and support to patients, sometimes at short notice.
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of caring for someone who was elderly, disabled or ill
- Previous experience of rehabilitation
- Experience of working within a therapy service or other relevant field. This may include voluntary as well as paid experience.
- Experience of working in a community setting.
Desirable
- Previous experience of rehabilitation
- including Occupational Therapy intervention
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Supervision of staff
- Experience of using virtual communication platforms, i.e., MS Teams, Zoom
- Contributing to improving services
- Previous NHS Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of interventions.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 3 or studying towards CQF diploma level 3 in clinical health care support or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Good general knowledge and education to GCSE standard or equivalent relevant standard.
Desirable
- NVQ 4 or studying towards CQF diploma level 4 in clinical health care support.
- Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations.
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills and interpersonal skills, including an ability to build rapport and establish good one to one relationships
- Ability to organise own time efficiently.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and to maintain a positive team-working relationship by valuing the contributions of other team members, understand others needs, using a flexible approach, handling conflict positively in an open and constructive manner.
- Able to work independently following spoken or written instructions
- I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications.
- Able to balance risk to inform decision making.
Desirable
- Able to organise and prioritise own time.
Other
Essential
- Car owner/driver essential.
- Willingness to learn new skills, to adapt positively to changes in working practices and patterns.
- Able to work flexibly in order to provide personal care and support to patients, sometimes at short notice.
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of caring for someone who was elderly, disabled or ill
- Previous experience of rehabilitation
- Experience of working within a therapy service or other relevant field. This may include voluntary as well as paid experience.
- Experience of working in a community setting.
Desirable
- Previous experience of rehabilitation
- including Occupational Therapy intervention
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Supervision of staff
- Experience of using virtual communication platforms, i.e., MS Teams, Zoom
- Contributing to improving services
- Previous NHS Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of interventions.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
