Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

This role forms part of the Rehabilitationand Recovery service in North Devon which meets the needsof a cohort of people with complex psychosis.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our team.

Main duties of the job

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitionerwill work to design and provide a flexible range of therapeutic activities forindividuals and/or groups of service users within the rehabilitation ward andhospital setting.

The Post holder will work closely with theOccupational Therapist on complex assessments and assist to provideinterventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.

The successful post holder must have a passion for working with adults with mental health conditions, whilst being flexible, motivated and a team player.

The post holder will be required to have a high level of adaptable communication skills, be compassionate, respectful and value individual patient needs. They will have the ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner, be resilient and emotionally intelligent and engage positively with service users and their families and carers.

The post holder will be working in a friendly and supportive environment, with a focus on providing the very best patient care in a locality combining sea, moor, history and opportunity.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

Our values

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.

Job responsibilities

Please note that the full Job Description has been uploaded as a separate document. Therefore please see attached Job Description for full details. Below is a brief overview:

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be based on the Rehabilitation and Recovery Ward, working with patients with complex psychosis.

The post holder will work as part of the multi - disciplinary and occupational therapy team, to carry out therapeutic interventions in order to support the patient to achieve their agreed goals and recovery plan.

The post holder will work closely with the Occupational Therapist on complex assessments and assist to provide interventions to minimise risk and enable service user independence.

The post holder will deliver occupational therapy interventions in a variety of environments, including unpredictable ward environments, community resources and in patients homes.

The post holder will carry out skilled / technical creative and specialised support work engaging inpatients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, wellbeing and social inclusion, adjusting interventions accordingly.

Person Specification

Experience

• Extensive and varied experience working with groups and individuals in a facilitating role and at Band 3 or equivalent level.
• Experience of working with adults and/or older adults experiencing mental health problems.
• Proven ability to support patients to engage in a range of therapeutic activities.
• Experience of working within a rehabilitation environment particularly within mental health.
• Previous care experience with people who have mental health difficulties.

Qualifications

• Good general education (GCSE level or equivalent)
• Relevant level 4 qualification e.g. Foundation Degree, City and Guilds, HNC, NVQ 4 or equivalent (and experience)
• Ability and desire to gain more understanding about mental health recovery and Occupational Therapy.
• Other relevant training or development relevant to working within Mental Health Settings.

Knowledge and Skills

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• IT Skills suitable for inputting accurately into an electronic patient record, word processing
• Knowledge of mental health and basic understanding of physical health presentations.
• Ability to plan and facilitate group activities and individual work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
• Understanding of how occupational therapy works for patients in a mental health setting.
• Understanding of the issues around risk management, confidentiality and safeguarding principles.
• Understanding and commitment to working within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work flexibly in an unpredictable environment.
• Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisee.
• Knowledge and experience of the supervision process as a supervisor.

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.

£26,530 to £29,114 a yearShift work enhancements applicable