Occupational Therapy Technician, Adult Mental Health Services

East London NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks an Occupational Therapy Technician for its Adult Mental Health Services. This role involves supporting service users to enhance their independent living skills and facilitate timely discharge from inpatient care. Ideal candidates will have previous experience in mental health and a passion for aiding recovery through activity. The position offers a part-time contract with competitive pay and professional support in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Contribution to improving patient care

Qualifications

• Experience working with people with range of mental health problems.
• Experience working alongside Occupational Therapists.
• Planning and running therapy/activity groups.

Responsibilities

• Assist in assessment and observation of service users.
• Participate in planning and implementation of treatment plans.
• Develop productive relationships with service users.

Skills

Good interpersonal and motivational skills

Ability to communicate clearly and accurately

Craft/ creative and/or practical skills

Basic IT and digital skills

Ability to work independently and utilize initiative

Education

G.C.S.Es in Maths and English

NVQ level 3 and/or B.Tech in Care Related skills

Qualification/Training in relevant practical skills

Job description

Occupational Therapy Technician, Adult Mental Health Services

We have an exciting opportunity for someone who is already working within mental health services to join our Occupational therapy team as an Occupational therapy technician. The ideal candidate will have experience of working alongside an Occupational Therapist. This is a permanent full-time post at 22.5 hours.

This is an innovative role that is focused on supporting the inpatient flow by supporting patients to improve independent living skills and facilitate timely discharge back to the community.

This role is suited to someone who is passionate about supporting the recovery of service users with mental health needs. They will also need to have a good understanding of recovery through activity in mental health and willing to learn and work at a fast-paced environment. Supervision and support will be provided. Please see attached job description for more details.

If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact Gina [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be a key member of the Adult Mental Health Occupational Therapy (AMH OT) team, providing the mental health occupational therapy (OT) service in Newham alongside registered OTs. This includes the assessment and treatment of service users with mental health challenges within the community teams (primary and secondary care) and/or on the inpatient wards at the Newham Centre for Mental Health (NCfMH) which includes triage wards, treatment wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Intervention includes both structured and unstructured one-to-one and group sessions, focusing on meaningful occupations and person centred goals. The post holder will work under the guidance and support of a registered OT with regular supervision provided.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To assist in the assessment and observation of service users in a variety of settings, recording and feeding back outcomes to members of the MDT as required.
• Gathering of information regarding service users interests, preferences, skills, life stories and/or changing needs including information of sensitive nature. It may also include the ongoing monitoring of health outcomes as treatment progresses.
• With guidance from a registered OT, to participate in planning and implementation of agreed treatment plans in areas of self-care, leisure and productivity. This involve activities with service users in individual and/or group settings.
• To participate in the development of evidence based delivery of therapeutic interventions, as directed by qualified staff members.
• Provision of activities in response to specific individual need and more broadly to help create a therapeutic environment on the ward and/or in the community.
• To develop productive and therapeutic relationships with service users, using a graded approach where clinically indicated.
• To work and liaise with a range of MDT colleagues inc. Psychology, Arts Therapies, Nursing, Medical, People participation, Peer support workers, Sports Therapy, volunteers, local authority, community connectors, voluntary sector teams as relevant to area of work.
• To ensure that all clinical contact carried out incorporates risk assessment and appropriate management of risk.
• To attend service user related meetings and contribute as appropriate.
• To maintain records and report observations of service users participation, engagement and performance in structured and unstructured therapeutic contacts with professionals. This may be delivered both verbally and in writing, in paper and electronic record formats.
• To be aware of and adhere to local, departmental, directorate-specific and Trust-wide policies and procedures, including those pertaining to risk management / health and safety at work.
• To carry out periodic administrative and departmental duties to support the smooth running of the service.
• To attend and contribute to departmental, directorate-specific, unit-wide and Trust-wide meetings as required.
• Work in line with Royal College of Occupational Therapys (RCOT) Code of Ethics, Professional Conduct and professional standards in clinical practices as applicable to the support workforce.
• To maintain accurate service statistics relevant to area of work.
• To ensure all clinical / therapeutic contacts incorporate appropriate management of risk, liaising with registered staff where necessary.
• To participate in the induction of new members of staff under guidance from supervisors and team leader(s).
• To assist team members in educating students on field work placements with the OT team.
• To participate in activities related to quality improvement and clinical effectiveness via audit, research and evidence based practice under guidance from senior colleagues.
• To maintain own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio; updating skills relevant to specialist area of practice in order to develop the service offered.
• To ensure own development through regular participation in supervision, appraisals, joint sessions, self-directed learning and training.
• To participate in both in-service and external training, as agreed with line manager and supervisor; disseminating learning to the rest of the team. This might involve giving presentations, sharing experiences and joint case studies within both the OT team, but also MDT colleagues.
• To assist with the development of culturally sensitive OT services.
• Responsible for accurate completion of petty cash vouchers related to purchases made for service provision.
• To submit claims for reimbursement of own expenses according to Trust and departmental policies.
• Physical skills required to facilitate a wide range of activities both on a one-to-one and group basis, including using equipment as required.
• To contribute to periodic stock taking and replenishing of departmental resources, participating in the sourcing of products and processing of deliveries as required.
• To maintain equipment and materials to a condition compliant with local and global health and safety requirements.
• To implement policies and procedures for the safe use of therapeutic stock, food management and equipment in line with health and safety requirements.
• To prepare resources for therapeutic sessions including purchasing items and preparing written or other materials as required.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Good interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information tactfully.
• Craft/ creative and/or practical skills in at least one area e.g. sport, cookery, gardening, crafts.
• Ability to use own initiative and work alone including in the community.
• Ability to plan, organize and evaluate groups and individual activities.
• Ability to organize own time, plan tasks and have a flexible approach to work.
• Ability to problem solve within a team and take responsibility for implementing decisions.
• Ability to consider service user's needs in practical terms.
• Ability to reflect on own practice and use supervision appropriately.
• Basic IT and digital skills, e.g. word processing, record keeping, email and digital platforms such as MS Teams.
• To work as part of a team and share information appropriately.
• To be sensitive to the needs and concerns of people with mental health problems.
• The understand the varying needs of service users with different ages and from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Awareness of Equal Opportunities legislation and its application to work with service users and other staff members.
• Basic understanding of the role of OT, the willingness to learn more and apply to area of work.
• Willing to take responsibility for administrative and departmental duties as necessary.

Education/ Qualification/ Training

• G.C.S.Es in Maths and English
• NVQ level 3 and / or B.Tech in Care Related skills or equivalent
• Qualification / Training in relevant practical skills to diploma level or similar
• Basic quality improvement training

Experience

• Experience in working with people with range of mental health problems
• Experience of working with/alongside OT
• Experience in using a range of practical and creative skills
• Planning and running therapy/ activity groups
• Experience of using electronic health record systems e.g. RiO
• Working with service users in a multi-cultural, diverse and dynamic context
• Experience of delivering presentations / teaching in small groups

Other

• Good attendance record: Punctual, good time keeper.
• An interest in and respect for people with mental health problems.
• Ability to manage frequent distressing clinical interactions with service users who have serious mental health problems.
• Ability to assess and manage exposure to potential hazards inc. the risk of verbal and physical aggression whilst ensuring safety of self, service user and others.
• Physical skills required to facilitate a wide range of activities both on a one-to-one and group basis, including using equipment as required.
• Mental and emotional effort required to undertake and facilitate both one to one and group interventions in a variety of settings.

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.

Newham inpatient and community MH services

Directorate Lead for Occupational Therapy

£32,199 to £34,876 a yearper annum Inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

363-NEW7683684

Job locations

Newham inpatient and community MH services