Occupational Therapy Assistant

As a result of the post-holder being effective in their role, The Trust would expect to see the following outcomes for the Trust, service users and the wider community:

1. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust as a leading provider of community services, mental health care, physical health, addiction services and learning disability care.
2. Service users receiving a high quality service and one which is free from stigma, discrimination and harm.
3. Staff engaged with the delivery, innovation and continuous improvement of services to benefit service users.
4. Visible and responsive leadership, setting the standard for others and role-modelled throughout the division for all managers.
5. The Trust values of Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm and Support will be embedded across the division for all staff and evident to service users.

Main duties of the job

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 and under the indirect and direct supervision of a Qualified Occupational Therapist.

The Post Holder will be expected to understand the MDT process and assist in the preparation of Occupational Therapy Reports for this purpose using a Person-Centred Approach. The above post will be implemented according to Trust/Service Policy including local area Service Specification and in line with The College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (2015). The Philosophy of Care is based on the principles of Recovery and linked closely to our approach to empowering this in practice whilst reducing restrictive practice. Guidance related to the Professional development of Occupational Therapy Assistants is set out in The Royal College of Occupational Therapy Career Development Framework: Guiding Principles for Occupational Therapy (2019).

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Job responsibilities

1. 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.
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. Communicate and work supportively with Students on Educational Placements.
21. Maintain a safe working environment with particular regard to the environment and Occupational Therapy resources and equipment.
22. The post holder will be fully involved in the development of The Occupational Therapy Service including fully supporting using recognised and evidence based Models of Practice and understanding the importance of evidence and research informing practice.
23. 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

Skills

• 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 records.
• Have a caring, empathic approach.
• Ability to undertake and maintain mandatory training e.g. C&R level 2 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.
• 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.
• 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.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

• 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 non-judgmental way.
• 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 users.
• Familiar with Electronic patient records.
• Experience of the Model Of Human Occupation (Kielhofner).
• Experience of teaching others.

Qualifications

• 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, and other training opportunities relevant to clinical area.

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.