Occupational Therapy Assistant

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated occupational therapy support worker to assist in delivering the OT pathway across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The role requires independence in travel and the use of a vehicle to meet strict deadlines, with involvement in assessment, care planning and group sessions within a multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will work as part of a team to promote independence, life skills and community integration,

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Care or AVCE in Health & Social Care, or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale.
• Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Ability to communicate information effectively in verbal and written form.
• Ability to travel independently around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with full driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of the Occupational Therapy pathway including assessment, analysis of results, care planning, and goal setting.
• Manage a designated caseload with some autonomy within your scope of practice.
• Facilitate group sessions within the Occupational Therapy framework.
• Provide goal-directed treatment promoting independence and life skills within a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Communication skills

Autonomy

Record keeping

Time management

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Care / AVCE in Health & Social Care

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• To support with the delivery of the Occupational Therapy pathway. This may include, but is not restricted to: assessment, analysis of results, care planning including prioritising and grading targets and goals; interventions on a group or individual basis, grading and adaptation of activities to suit individual strengths and needs and aspects of report-writing.
• Work with a degree of autonomy and as part of a team to manage a designated caseload within your scope of practice.
• To facilitate group sessions within the framework established by the Occupational Therapist.
• To provide goal directed treatment on an individual basis promoting independence, focusing on life skills, training, rehabilitation, community integration and the physical and psychosocial environment.
• To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure effective communication and delivery of care.

*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Relevant NVQ Level 3 in Care or appropriate AVCE in Health & Social Care, or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale and Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Experience of working within a team.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working alongside occupational therapists/in an Occupational Therapy department

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Record Keeping (within agreed timescale).
• Time management and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale).

Desirable criteria

• Confidence with group facilitation.
• Awareness of relevant legislation

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential criteria

• Awareness of needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Knowledge of trauma informed practice and how it might impact on the delivery of occupational therapy interventions.
• Awareness of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Understanding of therapeutic terminology (within agreed timescale)
• Understanding of a variety of therapeutic approaches (within agreed timescale)
• Awareness of health & safety issues (within agreed timescale)

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of common occupational therapy interventions.

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

• Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Committed to promoting a positive image of the Occupational Therapy Service.

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to travel independently around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A Full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children and young people's mental health services;
• Children's community services in Peterborough;
• Social care;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visi