Occupational Therapy Technician, Adult Mental Health Services

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Care and clinical

To assist in the assessment and observation of service users in a variety of settings, recording and feeding back outcomes to members of the MDT as required.

Gathering of information regarding service users interests, preferences, skills, life stories and/or changing needs including information of sensitive nature. It may also include the ongoing monitoring of health outcomes as treatment progresses.

With guidance from a registered OT, to participate in planning and implementation of agreed treatment plans in areas of self-care, leisure and productivity. This involve activities with service users in individual and/or group settings.

To participate in the development of evidence based delivery of therapeutic interventions, as directed by qualified staff members.

Provision of activities in response to specific individual need and more broadly to help create a therapeutic environment on the ward and/or in the community.

To develop productive and therapeutic relationships with service users, using a graded approach where clinically indicated.

To work and liaise with a range of MDT colleagues inc. Psychology, Arts Therapies, Nursing, Medical, People participation, Peer support workers, Sports Therapy, volunteers, local authority, community connectors, voluntary sector teams as relevant to area of work.

To ensure that all clinical contact carried out incorporates risk assessment and appropriate management of risk.

To attend service user related meetings and contribute as appropriate.

Administration

To maintain records and report observations of service users participation, engagement and performance in structured and unstructured therapeutic contacts with professionals. This may be delivered both verbally and in writing, in paper and electronic record formats.

To be aware of and adhere to local, departmental, directorate-specific and Trust-wide policies and procedures, including those pertaining to risk management / health and safety at work.

To carry out periodic administrative and departmental duties to support the smooth running of the service.

To attend and contribute to departmental, directorate-specific, unit-wide and Trust-wide meetings as required.

Work in line with Royal College of Occupational Therapys (RCOT) Code of Ethics, Professional Conduct and professional standards in clinical practices as applicable to the support workforce.

To maintain accurate service statistics relevant to area of work.

Management

To ensure all clinical / therapeutic contacts incorporate appropriate management of risk, liaising with registered staff where necessary.

Human Resources

To participate in the induction of new members of staff under guidance from supervisors and team leader(s).

To assist team members in educating students on field work placements with the OT team.

Performance and Quality

To participate in activities related to quality improvement and clinical effectiveness via audit, research and evidence based practice under guidance from senior colleagues.

To maintain own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio; updating skills relevant to specialist area of practice in order to develop the service offered.

To ensure own development through regular participation in supervision, appraisals, joint sessions, self-directed learning and training.

To participate in both in-service and external training, as agreed with line manager and supervisor; disseminating learning to the rest of the team. This might involve giving presentations, sharing experiences and joint case studies within both the OT team, but also MDT colleagues.

To assist with the development of culturally sensitive OT services.

Financial and Physical Resources

Responsible for accurate completion of petty cash vouchers related to purchases made for service provision.

To submit claims for reimbursement of own expenses according to Trust and departmental policies.

Physical skills required to facilitate a wide range of activities both on a one-to-one and group basis, including using equipment as required.

To contribute to periodic stock taking and replenishing of departmental resources, participating in the sourcing of products and processing of deliveries as required.

To maintain equipment and materials to a condition compliant with local and global health and safety requirements.

To implement policies and procedures for the safe use of therapeutic stock, food management and equipment in line with health and safety requirements.

To prepare resources for therapeutic sessions including purchasing items and preparing written or other materials as required.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Good interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information tactfully.
• Craft/ creative and/or practical skills in at least one area e.g. sport, cookery, gardening, crafts.
• Ability to use own initiative and work alone including in the community.
• Ability to plan, organize and evaluate groups and individual activities.
• Ability to organize own time, plan tasks and have a flexible approach to work.
• Ability to problem solve within a team and take responsibility for implementing decisions.
• Ability to consider service user's needs in practical terms.
• Ability to reflect on own practice and use supervision appropriately.
• Basic IT and digital skills, e.g. word processing, record keeping, email and digital platforms such as MS Teams.
• To work as part of a team and share information appropriately.
• To be sensitive to the needs and concerns of people with mental health problems.
• The understand the varying needs of service users with different ages and from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Awareness of Equal Opportunities legislation and its application to work with service users and other staff members.
• Basic understanding of the role of OT, the willingness to learn more and apply to area of work.
• Willing to take responsibility for administrative and departmental duties as necessary.

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• G.C.S.Es in Maths and English

Desirable

• NVQ level 3 and / or B.Tech in Care Related skills or equivalent
• Qualification / Training in relevant practical skills to diploma level or similar
• Basic quality improvement training

Experience

Essential

• oExperience in working with people with range of mental health problems
• oExperience of working with/alongside OT
• oExperience in using a range of practical and creative skills
• oPlanning and running therapy/ activity groups
• oExperience of using electronic health record systems e.g. RiO
• oWorking with service users in a multi-cultural, diverse and dynamic context

Desirable

• oExperience of delivering presentations / teaching in small groups

Other

Essential

• oGood attendance record: Punctual, good time keeper.
• oAn interest in and respect for people with mental health problems.
• oAbility to manage frequent distressing clinical interactions with service users who have serious mental health problems.
• oAbility to assess and manage exposure to potential hazards inc. the risk of verbal and physical aggression whilst ensuring safety of self, service user and others.
• oPhysical skills required to facilitate a wide range of activities both on a one-to-one and group basis, including using equipment as required.
• oMental and emotional effort required to undertake and facilitate both one to one and group interventions in a variety of settings.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).