Occupational Therapy Assistant | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

An opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) position for applicants with an interest in working on PICU Newton Ward- Clockview Hospital. The successful applicant will be working as a key member of the occupational therapy service. We are looking for self‐motivated and caring individuals who can facilitate group activities, 1:1 sessions and assist the qualified occupational therapy staff as required.

The post holder will be responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of treatment and care plans where appropriate under the direction and supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist and in collaboration with the ward manager. The post holder will be required to actively work as part of The Multi‐Disciplinary Team.

The Post Holder will be expected to work in an innovative way to support the smooth running of the service and will be required to offer individual and group activities alongside Occupational Therapy staff. The Post Holder will be required to work collaboratively and flexibly with Nursing and Support Worker staff to ensure meeting the diverse needs of service users and the function of the team.

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 and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. 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.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to perfect care - 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’re currently 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 requests will be considered for all roles.

Under the direct or indirect Clinical Supervision of a Qualified Occupational Therapist you will undertake the following duties:

• To support, with direction, Service Users' with activities within a community setting. This will be under the supervision of senior Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and consultant psychiatrists.
• Undertake specific tasks within Occupational Therapy assessments with Service users using a Person Centred Approach in order to assist the Occupational Therapist to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions.
• Work innovatively and effectively and take responsibility for carrying out a range of activities under non-directive supervision where the overall goal is clear to support and deliver the provision of a programme of meaningful and purposeful activities.
• Be fully involved in The Occupational Therapy Process to ensure Service Users increase their independence and well-being through skill and knowledge development and apply clinical reasoning to this approach.
• Exercise initiative and independence in carrying out delegated activities at a Professional level.
• Be aware of, and apply, the principle of risk assessment and management to all aspects of clinical work including, where appropriate, the provision of information to The Multi Disciplinary Team.
• Maintain the health, safety and security of others and contribute to and comply with risk assessment.
• To contribute to formal Occupational Therapy record keeping and reports and provide feedback on Service Users occupational functioning.
• Assist in the development of treatment and care plans where appropriate.
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
• Work closely with The Multi Disciplinary Team at all times and involve Nursing Staff and Support workers fully in activity sessions.
• To maintain links with other agencies, both statutory and voluntary in order to support recovery and discharge planning.
• Take some supervisory responsibility for the work of others in the implementation of routine work within identified and agreed scope of practice.
• Participate in the management of incidents in line with The Trusts Policy and Procedure.
• Collate information about resources both within the service environment and in the community.
• Receive clinical supervision from a Qualified Occupational Therapist on a regular basis.
• Maintain a safe working environment with particular regard to the environment and Occupational Therapy resources and equipment.