Working for us
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Band 3
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy assistant
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent: Part time
- Hours
- Part time - 15 hours per week
- Job ref
- 350-LOC3044856
- Site
- Broadoak Unit
- Town
- Liverpool
- Salary
- £19,737 - £21,142 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- Today at 23:59
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist inpatient and community mental health, learning disabilities, addiction and acquired brain injury services for the people of Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby, Merseyside. We also provide community physical health services in Liverpool, Sefton, secure mental health services for the North West of England, the West Midlands and Wales and specialist learning disability services across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.
We work closely with service users, carers and partner organisations; we have been able to make real improvements to our diverse range of services, from health and social care, right through to high secure provision. This passion to improve has been recognised by the CQC who have recently rated us “Good”.
Mersey Care’s vision and values of Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Support (CARES) drive our organisation and the way we work together to deliver services. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate, during recruitment and any subsequent employment with the Trust, that their behaviour supports our values.
The CQC stated “It was clear that most staff across the organisation understood, and were committed to, the vision and values of the organisation. These were well communicated and the work to win both hearts and minds was apparent”.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from BAME, disabled and LGBT people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job overview
The post holder will be responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of treatment and care plans where appropriate under the direction and supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist and in collaboration with the ward manager. The post holder will be required to actively work as part of The Multi-Disciplinary Team. The Post Holder will be expected to work in an innovative way to support the smooth running of the Ward and will be required to offer individual and group activities alongside Occupational Therapy staff . Theses duties will extend to using The Occupational Therapy Process to assist in assessment, planning and the implementation of Therapeutic Activities within an In-Patient Mental Health Setting The Post Holder will be required to work collaboratively and flexibly with Nursing and Support Worker staff to ensure meeting the diverse needs of service users and the function of the ward.
Shortlisting: 13 Apr 2021
Interviews: 19 Apr 2021
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will be working as a key member of the occupational therapy service on the wards. We are looking for self-motivated and caring individuals who can facilitate group activities, 1:1 sessions and assist the qualified occupational therapy staff as required. Hours would be working 2 days a week to provide a 7 day week cover with the fulltime occupational therapy assistant.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist inpatient and community mental health, learning disabilities, addiction and acquired brain injury services for the people of Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby, Merseyside. We also provide community physical health services in Liverpool, Sefton, secure mental health services for the North West of England, the West
Midlands and Wales and specialist learning disability services across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.
Our ambition is to deliver perfect care to become the world’s leading organisation in holistic health and well being.
Mersey Care’s vision and values of Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Support (CARES) drive our organisation and the way we work together to deliver services. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate, during recruitment and any subsequent employment with the Trust, that their behaviour supports our values.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Under the direct or indirect Clinical Supervision of a Qualified Occupational Therapist you will undertake the following duties:
1. To support, with direction, Service Users’ with activities throughout the therapeutic day. This will be under the supervision of senior Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychological Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
2. Undertake specific tasks within Occupational Therapy assessments with Service users using a Person Centred Approach in order to assist the Occupational Therapist to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions.
3. Work innovatively and effectively and take responsibility for carrying out a range of activities under non directive supervision where the overall goal is clear to support and deliver the provision of a programme of meaningful and purposeful activities of daily living that relate to Service Users Formulation and Goal Plans.
4. Assist in planning and facilitate both individual and group work with Service Users and take an active role in implementing agreed plans/tasks in familiar or defined contexts.
5. To support the Service Users’ to engage with their Shared Activity Planner and support the Service Users’ to engage in their choice of activity. There is an expectation to engage with service users on enhanced observations as part of their recovery journey
6. Be fully involved in The Occupational Therapy Process to ensure Service Users increase their independence and well being through skill and knowledge development and apply clinical reasoning to this approach.
7. Participate in the provision of a varied and interesting range of timetabled activities that support Service Users to achieve identified goals.
8. Exercise initiative and independence in carrying out delegated activities at a Professional level.
9. Be aware of, and apply, the principle of risk assessment and management to all aspects of clinical work including, where appropriate, the provision of information to The Multi Disciplinary Team.
10. Maintain the health, safety and security of others and contribute to and comply with risk assessment.
11. To contribute to formal Occupational Therapy record keeping and reports and provide feedback on Service Users occupational functioning. Assist in the development of treatment and care plans where appropriate
12. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
13. Work closely with The Multi Disciplinary Team at all times and involve Nursing Staff and Support workers fully in activity sessions.
14. To maintain links with other agencies, both statutory and voluntary in order to support recovery and discharge planning
15. Take some supervisory responsibility for the work of others in the implementation of routine work within identified and agreed scope of practice.
16. Participate in the management of incidents in line with The Trusts Policy and Procedure.
17. Where appropriate be involved in clinical audit activity.
27th May 2020
18. Collate information about resources – both within the service environment and in the community – for Service Users access/utilisation.
19. Receive clinical supervision from a Qualified Occupational Therapist on a regular basis.
20. Maintain a safe working environment with particular regard to the environment and Occupational Therapy resources and equipment.
21. Facilitate/Co-facilitate and support service users to attend service user forums, core integrated therapy groups, care pathway groups and risk related treatment programmes and undertake any training required as part of these integrated groups.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualification Credit Framework Diploma level 2 in Health & Social Care or a commitment to achieve this
- Qualifications in: (or a commitment to undertake and complete training within first year of appointment) to include: First Aid Aggression Management training Other training opportunities relevant to clinical area Following agreed action plan set at appraisal
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to plan and deliver activities.
- Clear effective written and verbal communication and excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent observation skill and able to relay key information to others
- Basic IT skills
- Able to recognise level of own competence, boundaries of role, scope for personal and service development and improvement
- Able to work on own initiative as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team under directive supervision
- Ability to think creatively and assist in the planning of individual and group activity sessions for service users
- Ability to effectively organise own time, be reliable and punctual and prioritise work load
- Able to observe health and safety protocol
- Ability to problem solve within defined context
- Able to observe conflict situations in a positive and calm manner and follow policy and procedure related to the management of aggression
- Motivated to build on existing skills and knowledge as part of the CPD process
- Be a positive ambassador for the service
- An ability to work with warmth and empathy in an empowering and nonjudgmental way
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the Occupational Therapy Process
- Knowledge of The Model Of Human Occupation (Kielhofner)
- Experience of working with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Health
- Experience working within inpatient services
- Experience of supporting Therapeutic activities for individual groups of service user
- Familiar with Electronic patient records
- Experience of the Model Of Human Occupation (Kielhofner)
- Experience of teaching others
VALUES:
Essential criteria
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
SKILLS
Essential criteria
- Ability to independently perform delegated tasks within competence to the required standard
- Ability to be an effective role model
- Numeracy and Literacy skills; ability to keep accurate service user and department records to the required standard
- Able to carry out physical intervention and breakaway effectively following training
- Commitment to work with service users with Mental Health and Learning Disabilities
- Use Display Screen Equipment in work environment
- Able to work within inpatient environments
- Actively participate in own supervision
- Sound values and positive attitude towards people with mental health, learning and associated disabilities and complex needs
- Interested in working creatively to assist in the planning and delivery of a person centred Occupational Therapy service
- Required to complete skills and interests questionnaire at the time of recruitment
Desirable criteria
- Ability to reflect objectively and critically appraise own performance
- Skills and knowledge in a particular interest that could benefit Service Users
- Involvement in person centred planning and working
- An understanding of the role of advocacy
- Willing to be an authorised Trust lease vehicle driver
Applicant requirements
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship hereWork in the UK. It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found hereCriminal records checks for overseas applicants. Not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Beth Cross
- Job title
- acting ward manager
- Email address
- beth.cross@merseycare.nhs.uk
- Telephone number
- 0151 250 5071
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