Children's Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Ely

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapy Assistant to use their skills and knowledge to make a real difference in children and young people’s lives. You will be joining a dynamic team of Occupational Therapists and Assistants within the Community Occupational Therapy Service to contribute to holistic care and therapy delivery for children and young people.

The postholder will be an integral part of the Children’s Occupational Therapy team supporting assessment and treatment for children and young people. The successful candidate will have a minimum of two years’ experience working as a Children’s Therapy assistant and have knowledge of equipment provision. The post holder will be required to work as part of the Occupational Therapy Service as an autonomous practitioner to undertake specific work independently, as identified by registered Occupational Therapy staff. This will include working with other agencies and Multi-Disciplinary Teams to deliver Children’s OT goals across different settings including clinic, patients’ home, schools and/or pre-school sites.

The post holder will require very good communication, organisation and time management skills to support provision of effective interventions. The post holder will be based in Princess of Wales Hospital, Ely with some travel across the county.

Job Purpose: To work as part of the Occupational Therapy team, as an autonomous practitioner and understanding your role within the service.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To undertake specific work independently, as identified by registered Occupational Therapy staff.
• To accept patients referred by the Occupational Therapist and carry own caseload.
• Work independently within the multidisciplinary team setting, reporting back patient progress and informing Therapists of any problems.
• To appropriately conduct assessments, treatment and discharge planning for patients under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist.
• To assess for standard equipment with guidance from the Occupational Therapist, adhering to relevant competencies.
• To promote independence, health and well-being and safety in clinical or community settings.
• Assist Occupational Therapy staff in activities related to non-direct patient contact: equipment maintenance, delivery and collection, clerical and administrative.
• To plan, organise and prioritise own day-to-day tasks, meeting deadlines and within the time constraints as per service demands.
• With support from the Occupational Therapist: plan, organise and implement tasks, activities and treatment programmes for delegated patients; specific to their needs – collaborating appropriately and effectively alongside other professionals and the child’s relevant family members/guardians.

There will be the frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is predictable with few competing demands for attention.

Communication:

• Communicate in an open, transparent, and effective way to promote the well-being of patients and their families/carers.
• To effectively demonstrate appropriate communication with the patient, their families/carers, school staff and other professionals (and maintaining confidentiality).
• To understand that some information received will be complex and sensitive; demonstrate tact, reassurance, empathy when having these conversations.
• To demonstrate understanding and knowledge that there may be barriers to communication due to understanding as well as language, therefore, to be able to use appropriate resources to ensure effective and appropriate communication is achieved.
• Demonstrates the ability to make accurate verbal and written reports, summarising assessment and intervention outcomes for the child and family.
• To support and motivate patients to improve and develop their functional skills and in-turn improve their health and well-being.
• To liaise effectively with other healthcare professionals and external agencies.
• To appropriately contribute within clinical meetings as well as operational team meetings.

People Management:

• Assists with the induction of new or less experienced staff (or agency staff), by demonstrating own role.
• Provide support to less experienced staff.
• Assist and be available to supervise the clinical activities of less experienced staff.
• Actively participate in EEC appraisal review (PDR) process and In-service training.

Clinical and Practice Governance:

• Make accurate and timely records of delegated work undertaken and maintain monthly statistics required.
• To document all interactions on patient records regarding their care.
• To be competent in IT skills to produce reports and set up appropriate spreadsheets and databases.
• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• Adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
• Adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
• Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust.

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team. Improve the quality of care to our patients by updating your knowledge, skills and experience through personal and professional development.

In line with trust policy, every employee should have an annual PDR (performance & development review; appraisal) and these competencies must be reviewed as part of this. However, the PDR process is continuous, and progress and performance should be reviewed throughout the year.

For a new starter to the Team, a review at 6 months will be in place. Clinical supervision will be every 4-6 weeks and there will be a regular caseload review (quarterly) with a registered Occupational Therapist.

To maintain up to date knowledge and skills relevant to the field of practice, including mandatory training. Meets training needs identified through Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) and Personal Development Plan, and shares information gained with other members of the Occupational Therapy and multi-disciplinary team.

Physical Skills:

• Maintain up to date training and knowledge in basic life support skills.
• Safely demonstrate moving and handling of patients – including working at a low / floor level.
• Ensuring physical skills required to deliver, fit and adjust a variety of equipment (again, working at low / floor level).
• To be able to drive to different locations around the county (patch based).
• To be able to undertake and demonstrate safe manual handling techniques and requirements of the role: facilitating movement of upper limb, functional positioning of child, awareness of hand/eye/sensory co-ordination, and sensory awareness of muscle tone.

Analysis, Problem Solving & Service Planning:

• Effective use of observation, engagement and assessment, to identify significant changes within patient’s condition – ensure appropriate information is feedback to Occupational Therapist / Case holder, in a timely way.
• Recognise emergency situations and respond accordingly (for example – safeguarding children).
• To deliver Occupational Therapy programmes to children with varied needs (some conditions will be: complex / life limiting / degenerative) based on information gathered; interests and goals - clinics and child’s home and school, and ensures the environment is safe for practice.
• Observes child’s performance during intervention and documents activity in clinical records.
• Evaluates progress following intervention and demonstrates analysis of outcome against goals; adapts level of programme; liaising with Occupational Therapist / Case holder in a timely way.