Occupational Therapy Assistant

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health trust in the UK seeks an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to support therapy interventions for individuals with mental health needs. Responsibilities include engaging patients in therapeutic activities, monitoring progress, and working collaboratively in community settings. Candidates should have strong understanding of occupational performance and the ability to assist with complex assessments. Flexible working arrangements are supported.

Qualifications

• Understanding the effects of mental and/or physical ill health on occupational performance.
• Ability to assist in providing interventions to minimise risk and enable user independence.
• Capability to conduct screening assessments for Occupational Therapy needs.

Responsibilities

• Engage patients in therapeutic activities promoting independence and wellbeing.
• Carry out therapeutic interventions under supervision.
• Monitor and record patient progress as required.

Skills

Understanding of mental health needs

Ability to work with complex assessments

Team collaboration

Job description

Overview

An amazing opportunity has opened up within the Community Enhanced Rehabilitation Team. The post holder will be responsible for planning and delivery of therapy interventions under the guidance of Specialist Occupational Therapists within the Multidisciplinary team for people experiencing Severe and Enduring Mental Illness and rehabilitation.

The post holder will assist in the delivery of therapy support, under the direction and supervision of a qualified Therapist. The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will work within defined competencies and without direct supervision to provide a flexible range of therapeutic activities for individuals and/or groups of service users within the community and in the therapy areas.

Alongside the Occupational Therapy and Community Learning Disability Nursing team, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will design, co-ordinate and support the facilitation of therapeutic intervention activities under the guidance of the Occupational Therapist.

Responsibilities

• Carry out skilled/technical, creative and specialised support work engaging patients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, wellbeing and social inclusion, adjusting interventions accordingly.
• Carry out therapeutic interventions as required within set procedures and care plans and within defined competencies as delegated by registered occupational therapists, to support the patient in achieving their agreed goals and treatment plan.
• Work effectively as a member of both occupational therapy and Community teams, providing a programme of therapeutic activities within community settings and working with wards.
• Be responsible for a designated caseload under supervision, monitoring and recording patients' progress as required by service needs.
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the occupational therapy service.
• Deliver occupational therapy interventions in a variety of environments, including the patient's home, therapy areas and community resources.
• Ensure all clinical interventions are based on evidence supporting care delivery.
• Provide support, supervision and guidance for occupational therapy volunteers, support staff and nursing support staff involved in the delivery of activities within community settings.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Understanding of the effects of mental and/or physical ill health on occupational performance in adults with mental health needs and learning disabilities.
• Ability to work with complex assessments and assist to provide interventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.
• Ability to complete screening assessments to identify the need for further Occupational Therapy interventions.
• Ability to work as part of the occupational therapy and community teams and adapt to a programme of therapeutic activities across community settings and wards.

About Mersey Care

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. 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. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high security mental health facilities.

What we offer and other information

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to perfect 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 are 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

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Additional information

Carry out skilled/technical, creative and specialised support work engaging patients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, wellbeing and social inclusion, adjusting interventions accordingly. Deliver therapeutic interventions within set procedures and care plans and within defined competencies as delegated by registered occupational therapists. This is to support the patient to achieve their agreed goals and treatment plan, and to work effectively as a member of both occupational therapy and community teams. This role may involve working in community settings and the patient home environment.