Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

To instruct and guide individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity

To report effectively to the team on service user performance and progress

To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to service user progress

To establish working relationships with outside agencies in order to facilitate service user engagement in community based vocational and educational services to support discharge and community engagement.

To correspond with external agencies on clinical matters

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards

In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and appraisal

To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting

To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers

To participate in relevant training opportunities

To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials

To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision

To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor.

To keep a record of your training and development activities.

To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the lead occupational therapist and ward teams

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job, possibly including the responsible management of petty cash.

As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your programme.

To participate in audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.

Person Specification

Qualfications

Essential

• Good level of Education
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable

• Health and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
• Creative qualification eg arts, photography,
• Psychology qualification

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working in health/social care setting
• Experience of report/letter writing and form filling
• Experience of working both independently and in a team
• Experience of providing group and 1:1 interventions
• Experience of working with and/or understanding of Occupational Therapy

Desirable

• Experience of facilitating therapeutic groups in a health and social care setting
• Experience of mental health difficulties or of caring for someone with a mental health difficulty

Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work independently in ward and community settings
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
• Excellent IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools competently for example)
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• An understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds

Desirable

• Knowledge of applying Health and Safety and risk awareness procedures and policies

Other

Essential

• Willingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
• Willingness to participate in supervision
• Ability to work independently of direct supervision
• Demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning
• Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Maudsley Hospital

Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, Camberwell

London

SE5 8AZ

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)