Job summary
The Occupational Therapy Assistant is a highly valued role and key to the implementation of Occupational Therapy at Sussex Rehab Centre.
You will
Implement treatment plans with patients
Support OTs in running groups
Attend home visits with OTs which will require driving the trusts pool car
Complete administrative tasks including keeping accurate documentation
Be responsible for the availability of wheelchairs , the therapy kitchen and other equipment used within Occupational Therapy
We will provide regular supervision and training opportunities for you to develop into this role
Main duties of the job
To assist and support the occupational therapy team at Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, Princess Royal hospital, in the delivery of care and individual's and group therapeutic rehabilitation of adults with acquired neurological injury
To assist the occupational therapists in the discharge planning process and to work within the wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT), to provide holistic client centred care
To comply with standards and priorities laid down by the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre Lead , Occupational Therapy Lead and Professional Occupational Therapy Lead.
About us
Sussex Rehab Centre is a regional neuro rehabilitation unit that provides specialist care for patients with newly acquired brain or spinal injury.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to work as part of a team to enable people to participate in activities that are important and meaningful to them . The activities will also be relevant for them to safely return home.
We are a highly motivated, friendly, specialist multidisciplinary team of therapists, nurses, psychologists , social workers and doctors that work closely together to enable our patients to achieve their goals.
You will support the Occupational Therapists by implementing treatment plans. These will include enabling independence with personal care, managing meal s inc.preparation, shopping, road safety in addition to activities requiring them to manage their fatigue, cognitive difficulties and upper limb recovery.
You will run regular groups with the OTs including gardening, board games, baking and art .
You will have the opportunity assess people at home with their OT prior to discharge. This will also include arranging for the delivery of equipment .
All these activities will have associated administrative tasks including documentation and ensuring our wheelchairs and therapy kitchen are prepared for patient use.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Sussex Rehab Centre is a regional neuro rehabilitation unit that provides specialist care for patients with newly acquired brain or spinal injury.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to work as part of a team to enable people to participate in activities that are important and meaningful to them . The activities will also be relevant for them to safely return home.
We are a highly motivated, friendly, specialist multidisciplinary team of therapists, nurses, psychologists , social workers and doctors that work closely together to enable our patients to achieve their goals.
You will support the Occupational Therapists by implementing treatment plans. These will include enabling independence with personal care, managing meal s inc.preparation, shopping, road safety in addition to activities requiring them to manage their fatigue, cognitive difficulties and upper limb recovery.
You will run regular groups with the OTs including gardening, board games, baking and art .
You will have the opportunity assess people at home with their OT prior to discharge. This will also include arranging for the delivery of equipment .
All these activities will have associated administrative tasks including documentation and ensuring our wheelchairs and therapy kitchen are prepared for patient use.
- To follow treatment plans set by the qualified occupational therapists to deliver client centred care. Ascertain patients understanding of the treatment proposal and gain valid informed consent, seeking assistance from a qualified therapist for those who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Prior to intervention read the medical documentation to ascertain medical diagnosis and review specific instructions and observations that might impact on their safety/ ability to participate
- Communicate sessions aims and specific therapeutic goals to patients and to use motivational skills to encourage patients to participate in activities as independently as possible.
- To contribute to the development of individual care plans in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrate the correct technique and use of disability related equipment.
- Monitor progress during sessions and feedback to the qualified therapists overseeing the care
- Deal with unforeseen clinical and practical difficulties and use problem solving skills to resolve issues promptly.
- Seek advice from a qualified therapist if there are any concerns about an individual patient
- Support with the delivery of appropriate group treatment with direction from a qualified therapist
- Communicate effectively with all patients taking into consideration communication differences, cognitive abilities, mood and motivation in addition to issues related to diagnosis and prognosis.
- Able to deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and or aggression caused by neurological changes, pain or dementia.
- Undertake personal care for patients who require assistance ensuring their care is optimised
- To be able to evaluate patient response to treatments, set by the Occupational Therapists, and to understand and comply with the duty to report
- To assist the occupational therapists in the assessment and treatment of all activities of daily living, e.g. washing, dressing and feeding, meal preparation and home visits
- To participate in home visits under the guidance of occupational therapists, complying with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Home Visit guidelines
- Manage clinical risk encountered in the work place appropriately
- Organise time and delegated work load taking into consideration the needs of the patient, therapy team to ensure patients are seen in a timely manner.
- Prepare the environment for patients treatment and restore afterwards including the cleaning of equipment
- Participate in clinical supervision and attend in-service training and implement new knowledge and skills into practice
- To comply with manual handling legislation when working with patients
- To escort patients between wards and departments and on outings as requested
- Providing, in conjunction with other team members, flexible working hours which will lead to a future seven day a week service, conforming to agenda for change terms and conditions
- To be actively involved in patient therapy groups, such as the cooking, upper limb and gardening group
- To assist in basic stock checks for wheelchairs and splinting equipment
- To assist in the provision of wheelchairs, cleaning and maintaining of wheelchairs. Identifying when specialist support is required and reporting it in a timely manner to the OT lead.
- Ensure departmental stock levels are maintained and ensure materials and resources are used appropriately meeting infection prevention standards
- To participate in data collection as required
- To document therapy interventions, contemporaneously, in the care plan, using an agreed format and following documentation standards
- To contribute to relevant audits, evaluation and/or service level projects as instructed by a senior occupational therapist
- To report and record any accident , suspect / faulty equipment or untoward incident to the specialist occupational therapists and / or other appropriate staff using trust Datix reporting mechanisms
- To be responsible for the care and cleaning of any equipment including wheelchairs and specific therapy equipment
- To ensure the department is kept tidy
- Prepare and file documents including photocopying to ensure efficient departmental processes such as timetabling are achieved
- To assist with the provision and ordering of assistive / mobility and activities of daily living equipment, including delivery
- To ensure the equipment e.g. wheelchairs, therapy kitchen, and facilities used for treatment comply with departmental and trust infection prevention standards
- The post holder is responsible for ensuring all handling of petty cash they are involved with conforms to the correct procedure
- To understand how the work undertaken by the post holder relates to and affects the work of others, in order to achieve the best outcomes in terms of effective processes
Patient Care Delivery
- To provide basic spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals regarding safety issues associated with mobility aids and daily living equipment according to departmental policy.
- To promote the understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
Communication
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, social work and therapy colleagues to ensure relevant information regarding patients status is reported back to the team
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date patient-related documentation in line with Trust and departmental policy and procedures (SOAP notes)
- To gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work with the guidance of an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
Competence
- The jobholder is required to participate in the Trust appraisal process and work towards meeting identified development needs.
- The jobholder is required to demonstrate on-going continuous professional development.
- At no time should the jobholder work outside their defined level of competence. If the post holder has concerns regarding this they should immediately discuss this with their Manager/Supervisor/Consultant.
- The jobholder has the responsibility to inform those supervising their duties if they are not competent to perform a duty.
Learning and Development
- Attend mandatory training updates as required.
- Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
- To be responsible for maintaining own personal development by actively participating in formal and informal departmental training programmes by attending in-service training sessions, delivering presentations, attending relevant courses and undertaking reflective practice
- Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
- Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager
- Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
Please see attached job description and person specs for full details
This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Sussex Rehab Centre is a regional neuro rehabilitation unit that provides specialist care for patients with newly acquired brain or spinal injury.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to work as part of a team to enable people to participate in activities that are important and meaningful to them . The activities will also be relevant for them to safely return home.
We are a highly motivated, friendly, specialist multidisciplinary team of therapists, nurses, psychologists , social workers and doctors that work closely together to enable our patients to achieve their goals.
You will support the Occupational Therapists by implementing treatment plans. These will include enabling independence with personal care, managing meal s inc.preparation, shopping, road safety in addition to activities requiring them to manage their fatigue, cognitive difficulties and upper limb recovery.
You will run regular groups with the OTs including gardening, board games, baking and art .
You will have the opportunity assess people at home with their OT prior to discharge. This will also include arranging for the delivery of equipment .
All these activities will have associated administrative tasks including documentation and ensuring our wheelchairs and therapy kitchen are prepared for patient use.
- To follow treatment plans set by the qualified occupational therapists to deliver client centred care. Ascertain patients understanding of the treatment proposal and gain valid informed consent, seeking assistance from a qualified therapist for those who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Prior to intervention read the medical documentation to ascertain medical diagnosis and review specific instructions and observations that might impact on their safety/ ability to participate
- Communicate sessions aims and specific therapeutic goals to patients and to use motivational skills to encourage patients to participate in activities as independently as possible.
- To contribute to the development of individual care plans in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrate the correct technique and use of disability related equipment.
- Monitor progress during sessions and feedback to the qualified therapists overseeing the care
- Deal with unforeseen clinical and practical difficulties and use problem solving skills to resolve issues promptly.
- Seek advice from a qualified therapist if there are any concerns about an individual patient
- Support with the delivery of appropriate group treatment with direction from a qualified therapist
- Communicate effectively with all patients taking into consideration communication differences, cognitive abilities, mood and motivation in addition to issues related to diagnosis and prognosis.
- Able to deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and or aggression caused by neurological changes, pain or dementia.
- Undertake personal care for patients who require assistance ensuring their care is optimised
- To be able to evaluate patient response to treatments, set by the Occupational Therapists, and to understand and comply with the duty to report
- To assist the occupational therapists in the assessment and treatment of all activities of daily living, e.g. washing, dressing and feeding, meal preparation and home visits
- To participate in home visits under the guidance of occupational therapists, complying with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Home Visit guidelines
- Manage clinical risk encountered in the work place appropriately
- Organise time and delegated work load taking into consideration the needs of the patient, therapy team to ensure patients are seen in a timely manner.
- Prepare the environment for patients treatment and restore afterwards including the cleaning of equipment
- Participate in clinical supervision and attend in-service training and implement new knowledge and skills into practice
- To comply with manual handling legislation when working with patients
- To escort patients between wards and departments and on outings as requested
- Providing, in conjunction with other team members, flexible working hours which will lead to a future seven day a week service, conforming to agenda for change terms and conditions
- To be actively involved in patient therapy groups, such as the cooking, upper limb and gardening group
- To assist in basic stock checks for wheelchairs and splinting equipment
- To assist in the provision of wheelchairs, cleaning and maintaining of wheelchairs. Identifying when specialist support is required and reporting it in a timely manner to the OT lead.
- Ensure departmental stock levels are maintained and ensure materials and resources are used appropriately meeting infection prevention standards
- To participate in data collection as required
- To document therapy interventions, contemporaneously, in the care plan, using an agreed format and following documentation standards
- To contribute to relevant audits, evaluation and/or service level projects as instructed by a senior occupational therapist
- To report and record any accident , suspect / faulty equipment or untoward incident to the specialist occupational therapists and / or other appropriate staff using trust Datix reporting mechanisms
- To be responsible for the care and cleaning of any equipment including wheelchairs and specific therapy equipment
- To ensure the department is kept tidy
- Prepare and file documents including photocopying to ensure efficient departmental processes such as timetabling are achieved
- To assist with the provision and ordering of assistive / mobility and activities of daily living equipment, including delivery
- To ensure the equipment e.g. wheelchairs, therapy kitchen, and facilities used for treatment comply with departmental and trust infection prevention standards
- The post holder is responsible for ensuring all handling of petty cash they are involved with conforms to the correct procedure
- To understand how the work undertaken by the post holder relates to and affects the work of others, in order to achieve the best outcomes in terms of effective processes
Patient Care Delivery
- To provide basic spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals regarding safety issues associated with mobility aids and daily living equipment according to departmental policy.
- To promote the understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
Communication
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, social work and therapy colleagues to ensure relevant information regarding patients status is reported back to the team
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date patient-related documentation in line with Trust and departmental policy and procedures (SOAP notes)
- To gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work with the guidance of an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
Competence
- The jobholder is required to participate in the Trust appraisal process and work towards meeting identified development needs.
- The jobholder is required to demonstrate on-going continuous professional development.
- At no time should the jobholder work outside their defined level of competence. If the post holder has concerns regarding this they should immediately discuss this with their Manager/Supervisor/Consultant.
- The jobholder has the responsibility to inform those supervising their duties if they are not competent to perform a duty.
Learning and Development
- Attend mandatory training updates as required.
- Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
- To be responsible for maintaining own personal development by actively participating in formal and informal departmental training programmes by attending in-service training sessions, delivering presentations, attending relevant courses and undertaking reflective practice
- Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
- Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager
- Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
Please see attached job description and person specs for full details
This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard English and Maths to GCSE level or equivalent
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in neuro rehab
Desirable
- NVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent
Experience and Skill
Essential
- Experience of working in a team and the value of supporting others
- Experience of moving and handling patients with complex physical disability
- Demonstrates initiative and has been involved in implementing activities
- Demonstrates an understanding of own learning needs
- Ability to manage time inc prioritise tasks
- Car driver - manual car
Desirable
- Experience of working in a therapy support role
- Knowledge of wheelchairs
- Completion of acquired brain or spinal injury training that inc. knowledge of cognition or upper limb recovery
- Knowledge of goal setting
Specific skills
Essential
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in neuro rehab
- Understanding of acquired brain and spinal injury
Desirable
- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and its implementation for care
- Knowledge of upper limb treatment techniques for the recovery of the hemiplegic upper limb
- Expereience working with people with neurological disability inc. language disorders, dysphagia, cognitive difficulties and physical impairment inc. spasticity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard English and Maths to GCSE level or equivalent
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in neuro rehab
Desirable
- NVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent
Experience and Skill
Essential
- Experience of working in a team and the value of supporting others
- Experience of moving and handling patients with complex physical disability
- Demonstrates initiative and has been involved in implementing activities
- Demonstrates an understanding of own learning needs
- Ability to manage time inc prioritise tasks
- Car driver - manual car
Desirable
- Experience of working in a therapy support role
- Knowledge of wheelchairs
- Completion of acquired brain or spinal injury training that inc. knowledge of cognition or upper limb recovery
- Knowledge of goal setting
Specific skills
Essential
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in neuro rehab
- Understanding of acquired brain and spinal injury
Desirable
- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and its implementation for care
- Knowledge of upper limb treatment techniques for the recovery of the hemiplegic upper limb
- Expereience working with people with neurological disability inc. language disorders, dysphagia, cognitive difficulties and physical impairment inc. spasticity
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.
