Occuational Therapy Technican

E P U T; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading health service provider as a Therapy Assistant Practitioner in South Essex. You'll support qualified therapists and work with adults with learning disabilities to enhance their independence and wellbeing. This community-based role requires flexibility and a driving license. EPUT offers a supportive environment and various employee benefits, including training opportunities and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent Training facilities

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Understanding of the Therapy Assistant Practitioner role.
• Substantial previous rehabilitation experience as an AHP therapy assistant.

Responsibilities

• Support Occupational Therapists and deliver therapeutic input.
• Assist in promoting independent living skills.
• Maintain patient records and feedback on progress.

Skills

Communication

Judgment Skills

Education

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

NVQ3

Job description

Employer heading

Band 4

About Us

EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:

We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.

We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.

EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.

Our vision and values

Our Vision

“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.

Our Purpose

“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.

Our Values

We Care

We Learn

We Empower

Our strategic objectives

We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.

We will enable each other to be the best that we can.

We will work together with our partners to make our services better.

We will help our communities to thrive.

Our services

Mental Health Services

Community Health Services

Learning Disabilities Services

Social Care

Find out more about the services we offer in ourservice directory.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the Enhanced Support Team within the Adult Learning Disability Service.

The multidisciplinary team work with adults with a learning disability to offer enhanced support to patients who are experience a mental health crisis or are presenting with behaviours that are placing themselves or others at risk of harm; leading to exclusion and placement breakdown and requiring an intensity for case working with the aim of the patient being able to remain to remain in their homes with the support of families and paid care and avoiding an inpatient admission.

The post holder will be supported by the three qualified occupational therapists in the team and clinically led by the band 7 occupational therapist working across the learning disability service. The team lead is responsible for the day to day running of the team.

The post holder will be supporting the qualified therapists to complete assessments and carry out planned care under supervision.

The post is community based, covering South Essex (Southend, Castlepoint and Rochford, Basildon, Brentwood, Wickford and Thurrock). Therefore a car driver with access to a vehicle is essential to the role.

The post holder will be required to work their 37.5 hour shifts on either an early/ late and weekends and bank holidays. (8-4/12-8 and 9-5 weekends and BH). This can be discussed further at interview.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Therapy Assistant Practitioner is to support the Occupational Therapists, undertake delegated aspects of their role for which they will have been trained and deemed competent. The Assistant Practitioner on completion of training always continues to act under the guidance of a registered practitioner.

The Assistant Practitioner does not require daily supervision and should be able to take responsibility for their work within pathways of care and that of others within a broad framework laid down by and as directed by the supervisor of practice.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent Training facilities and opportunities

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work

Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

· To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to prevent admission and support early discharge from acute and community hospitals.

· To deliver specific therapeutic input as part of goal directed treatment and rehabilitation programme

· To assist and promote independent living skills based on a person centred approach ,focusing on rehabilitation and maintenance of function

· To assist in the delivery of therapy interventions as appropriate.

· To feedback any outcomes/concerns/progression/deterioration with regard to the achievement of the set goals.

· To maintain patient records using appropriate documentation for intervention carried out.

· To enable and empower patients to develop self and environmental management skills.

· To promote and facilitate access to community resources.

· Enable individuals to sustain and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

· Identify, act and minimise risk to patients and clients.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

To have achieved a good general education including English Language and Mathematics

Foundation Degree in Health and Social care or an equivalent qualification

Or NVQ3 with additional accredited training in the specialist field or equivalent evidence of underpinning knowledge

Desirable criteria

Additional training such as short courses relevant to the position

Experience

Essential criteria

Can demonstrate understanding and awareness of the Therapy Assistant Practitioner role

Substantial previous rehabilitation experience as an AHP therapy assistant at Band 3 in Health or the equivalent in Social Care

Good communication both verbally and written/electronic with a range of people

Ability to demonstrate good judgement skills in determining the best course of action when problem solving

Ability to make decisions about patient care to agreed professional standards using protocols where appropriate

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

Shares the Trust’s Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour

Flexible working in a range of clinical settings and environments

Current driving licence And access to car for work purposes

Please note -

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post, the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Applications for Job Share are positively welcomed.

Equal Opportunities Employer

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [email protected] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Covid Vaccination

Although Covid vaccinations are no longer a mandatory requirement within the NHS we continue to encourage and support the vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against Covid19. The safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for us at EPUT.

If you would like to book a Covid vaccination or would like more information please contact us by emailing [email protected] .

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.