Job summary
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our dedicated neurosurgery team. Working under the supervision of qualified Occupational Therapists, you will support the delivery of high-quality care to patients with complex neurological conditions. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to patients' rehabilitation and recovery journey within a specialist inpatient environment.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
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Assist Occupational Therapists in the assessment, planning, and implementation of individual and group treatment sessions for patients recovering from neurosurgical procedures (e.g., brain tumours, traumatic brain injury, spinal surgery).
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Support patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal care, functional mobility, cognitive tasks, and upper limb rehabilitation.
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Carry out delegated treatment plans and monitor patient progress, reporting changes or concerns to the supervising therapist.
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Help prepare therapy materials and equipment, ensuring safe and appropriate use at all times.
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Maintain accurate and timely patient documentation in line with Trust and professional standards.
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Assist in ordering, issuing, and checking adaptive equipment and ensuring correct fitting and use.
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Liaise with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), including nurses, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists, to support holistic patient care.
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Contribute to discharge planning by providing functional assessments and feedback under supervision.
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Promote patient independence and dignity at all stages of rehabilitation.
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Participate in in-service training and personal development activities as required
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
1 Supporting Qualified Occupational Therapists
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Assist OTs in delivering treatment plans and rehabilitation programmes for neurosurgical patients (e.g. following brain or spinal surgery, trauma, or tumours).
-
Carry out delegated therapy tasks such as mobility practice, basic cognitive exercises, ADL (Activities of Daily Living) training, and functional tasks.
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Help patients practice using adaptive equipment or techniques taught by the OT.
2 Direct Patient Care
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Work with patients on the ward, in side rooms, or therapy areas under supervision.
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Support patients with personal care tasks if needed, linked to therapy goals (e.g. washing, dressing practice).
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Encourage and motivate patients to participate in their rehabilitation.
3 Equipment and Environment
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Prepare, clean, and maintain therapy equipment and resources.
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Help with issuing, fitting, or demonstrating basic adaptive equipment under guidance.
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Report any equipment faults.
4 Record Keeping
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Keep accurate notes of treatment sessions and patient progress, according to departmental policy.
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Provide feedback to the supervising OT about patient performance or any concerns.
5 Communication
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Liaise with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) nurses, physios, doctors to ensure coordinated care.
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Communicate clearly and sensitively with patients and families about therapy activities, within your scope.
6 Administrative & Team Tasks
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Support general departmental admin e.g. stock checks, filing, photocopying.
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Help maintain a safe and tidy therapy environment.
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Take part in team meetings, training, and supervision.
Key Points for Neurosurgery -
Patients may have complex needs: mobility impairments, cognitive changes, fatigue, and sometimes behavioural or communication difficulties.
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Youll work under close supervision of registered OTs, as Band 3 is a support role, not autonomous practice.
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You may be asked to support discharge planning tasks e.g. gathering equipment, making simple recommendations within guidelines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
1 Supporting Qualified Occupational Therapists
-
Assist OTs in delivering treatment plans and rehabilitation programmes for neurosurgical patients (e.g. following brain or spinal surgery, trauma, or tumours).
-
Carry out delegated therapy tasks such as mobility practice, basic cognitive exercises, ADL (Activities of Daily Living) training, and functional tasks.
-
Help patients practice using adaptive equipment or techniques taught by the OT.
2 Direct Patient Care
-
Work with patients on the ward, in side rooms, or therapy areas under supervision.
-
Support patients with personal care tasks if needed, linked to therapy goals (e.g. washing, dressing practice).
-
Encourage and motivate patients to participate in their rehabilitation.
3 Equipment and Environment
-
Prepare, clean, and maintain therapy equipment and resources.
-
Help with issuing, fitting, or demonstrating basic adaptive equipment under guidance.
-
Report any equipment faults.
4 Record Keeping
-
Keep accurate notes of treatment sessions and patient progress, according to departmental policy.
-
Provide feedback to the supervising OT about patient performance or any concerns.
5 Communication
-
Liaise with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) nurses, physios, doctors to ensure coordinated care.
-
Communicate clearly and sensitively with patients and families about therapy activities, within your scope.
6 Administrative & Team Tasks
-
Support general departmental admin e.g. stock checks, filing, photocopying.
-
Help maintain a safe and tidy therapy environment.
-
Take part in team meetings, training, and supervision.
Key Points for Neurosurgery -
Patients may have complex needs: mobility impairments, cognitive changes, fatigue, and sometimes behavioural or communication difficulties.
-
Youll work under close supervision of registered OTs, as Band 3 is a support role, not autonomous practice.
-
You may be asked to support discharge planning tasks e.g. gathering equipment, making simple recommendations within guidelines.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE in English and Maths (or equivalent)
- NVQ 3 or equivalent training
- oDemonstrable Experience of working within Health, Social or Community services setting
Desirable
- To have health care related qualification
- To have basic Food & Hygiene certificate
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Demonstrable Experience working directly with patients or vulnerable adults
- Basic understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy
- Demonstrable Experience of working with patients individually or in groups
- IT Literate and demonstrable experience of using office equipment e.g. Fax, telephone
Desirable
- To have worked in an OT Department
- To have demonstrable experience of assisting in OT interventions for patients
- Demonstrable Experience of working within an acute hospital setting
APTITUDE & ABILITIES
Essential
- oTo be interested in promoting independence for patients
- oTo have the ability to recognise own limitations
- oTo be independent and able to accept responsibility
- oGood time management skills
- oTo have good communication skills, and be able to manage patients with challenging behaviour
Desirable
- oAbility to move and handle patients using appropriate recommended techniques/equipment
DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION
Essential
- Team player
- An interest in problem solving
- Ability to build rapport
- An understanding of confidentiality
- Organisational skills
- Able to identify when to seek support
Other Factors
Essential
- oAble to travel to various parts of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
- oAvailable to work on bank holiday and weekend rotas
- Able to comply with Manual Handling policies and guidelines
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE in English and Maths (or equivalent)
- NVQ 3 or equivalent training
- oDemonstrable Experience of working within Health, Social or Community services setting
Desirable
- To have health care related qualification
- To have basic Food & Hygiene certificate
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Demonstrable Experience working directly with patients or vulnerable adults
- Basic understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy
- Demonstrable Experience of working with patients individually or in groups
- IT Literate and demonstrable experience of using office equipment e.g. Fax, telephone
Desirable
- To have worked in an OT Department
- To have demonstrable experience of assisting in OT interventions for patients
- Demonstrable Experience of working within an acute hospital setting
APTITUDE & ABILITIES
Essential
- oTo be interested in promoting independence for patients
- oTo have the ability to recognise own limitations
- oTo be independent and able to accept responsibility
- oGood time management skills
- oTo have good communication skills, and be able to manage patients with challenging behaviour
Desirable
- oAbility to move and handle patients using appropriate recommended techniques/equipment
DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION
Essential
- Team player
- An interest in problem solving
- Ability to build rapport
- An understanding of confidentiality
- Organisational skills
- Able to identify when to seek support
Other Factors
Essential
- oAble to travel to various parts of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
- oAvailable to work on bank holiday and weekend rotas
- Able to comply with Manual Handling policies and guidelines
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
