Band 3 Occupational Therapy Assistant

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 02 May 2025

Job summary

We are excited to announce that we have one post available for an Occupational Therapy Assistant to support the Occupational Therapy team in the Neurosciences department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. It is a permanent post working 37.5 hours per week.

We are seeking highly motivated individuals to join our compassionate team. We would expect you to have had relevant care experience and demonstrate an understanding of the Occupational Therapy role.

The successful applicant will support the qualified Occupational Therapy staff working with patients to deliver an efficient and professionally competent OT service to patients of the Trust. The post will include working across the Neurosurgery wards, with the expectation to complete occasional community visits as directed by the qualified OT.

You will be working with and be supported by a dynamic and enthusiastic team of skilled multi-professionals. The focus of the role is to support the qualified staff by observing patient transfers, function and cognition and reporting on their safety and ability to perform activities of daily living.

You will have access to regular clinical supervision and a range of training opportunities. You will be supported in completing annual appraisal.

For further information please see the personal specification and the job description.

For any queries please contact joanne.leek@uhb.nhs.uk, or Megan.jones2@uhb.nhs.uk

Main duties of the job

We would expect applicants to have excellent communication skills and a flexible approach. Excellent organisational and time management skills are essential.

The successful applicant will support the Occupational Therapy team working across a variety of clinical specialities within the Hospital. You will be working with patients daily, observing them within functional tasks including personal care, transfers, drink and meal preparation. You will demonstrate an understanding of when it is not appropriate to pursue a given activity with a patient, and feedback to the OT following input, ensuring accurate and timely documentation is completed. The ability to complete manual handling tasks is required.

Alongside your clinical duties you will be responsible for the equipment management, including liaison with local equipment stores. You will be trained to be competent in the safe fitting of equipment, learning how these are fitted in patient's homes.

You will be expected to carry out other departmental duties as directed by the Therapy team.

There will be an expectation for community visits to be undertaken, and a departmental vehicle is available to support staff to complete these. Current driving license is desirable.

You will be required to keep accurate documentation in line with Trust and Therapy policies and procedures, and there is an expectation to use computer-based systems throughout your role.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Date posted

29 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,169 to £25,674 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

304-1092860

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Good level of written and spoken English and Maths (at least GCSE or equivalent)
*Evidence of personal development related to healthcare.

Experience

Essential

*Relevant experience within the NHS health care setting to include direct contact with patients.
*Able to work independently with guidance.
*A knowledge of the aims and principles of occupational therapy.
*An understanding of the implications of illness and disability.
*An understanding of the working environment -- healthcare / NHS.
*An understanding of safe provision and use of patient equipment in this area.

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Good communication skills, able to communicate via various forms (face: face/ telephone/ written etc.) with patients who have communication difficulties or problems in understanding.
*Able to communicate complex and sensitive issues (including clinical information) and manage potential barriers to communication.
*Able to motivate and negotiate to achieve patient co-operation.
*Able to work as part of a team and accept delegated tasks from a range of qualified therapists.
*Able to teach /instruct patients, and staff in specific tasks, either singly or in groups.
*Able to empathise and reassure.
*Good organisation and prioritisation skills
*Good observational skills
*Able to empathise with and relate to a wide range of patients, carers and staff.
*Able to work with own initiative and manage own work.
*Aware of own limitations.
*Basic IT skills.
*Evidence of good attendance and timekeeping.
*Evidence of commitment to CPD.
*Enthusiasm enjoys working with a wide range of people.
*Ability to work weekends as part of a 7-day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).
*Commitment to patient centred care.
*Reliable and trustworthy.
*Demonstrates a willingness to work flexibly in order to meet the changing demands of the service.
*Demonstrates an ability to meet the physical demands of the job role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Good level of written and spoken English and Maths (at least GCSE or equivalent)
*Evidence of personal development related to healthcare.

Experience

Essential

*Relevant experience within the NHS health care setting to include direct contact with patients.
*Able to work independently with guidance.
*A knowledge of the aims and principles of occupational therapy.
*An understanding of the implications of illness and disability.
*An understanding of the working environment -- healthcare / NHS.
*An understanding of safe provision and use of patient equipment in this area.

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Good communication skills, able to communicate via various forms (face: face/ telephone/ written etc.) with patients who have communication difficulties or problems in understanding.
*Able to communicate complex and sensitive issues (including clinical information) and manage potential barriers to communication.
*Able to motivate and negotiate to achieve patient co-operation.
*Able to work as part of a team and accept delegated tasks from a range of qualified therapists.
*Able to teach /instruct patients, and staff in specific tasks, either singly or in groups.
*Able to empathise and reassure.
*Good organisation and prioritisation skills
*Good observational skills
*Able to empathise with and relate to a wide range of patients, carers and staff.
*Able to work with own initiative and manage own work.
*Aware of own limitations.
*Basic IT skills.
*Evidence of good attendance and timekeeping.
*Evidence of commitment to CPD.
*Enthusiasm enjoys working with a wide range of people.
*Ability to work weekends as part of a 7-day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).
*Commitment to patient centred care.
*Reliable and trustworthy.
*Demonstrates a willingness to work flexibly in order to meet the changing demands of the service.
*Demonstrates an ability to meet the physical demands of the job role.

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.