Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to join the West Dorset inpatient Therapies Team at Forston Clinic. Your work will aim to encourage engagement in meaningful and purposeful occupation with people whose lives have been affected by occupational disruption as a result of mental illness.

You will be required to provide a high-quality person-centred approach to care delivery that always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity, and to deliver person-centred interventions that support patients with their inpatient admission and transition back into the community. You will collaborate closely with community resources, offering social prescribing and linking patients into third sector organisations.

Main duties of the job

To plan and facilitate occupational therapy led groups and 1:1 activities, tailored to the patient group within the framework laid down by the Occupational Therapist. To implement and evaluate delegated Occupational Therapy interventions for service users in activities relating to their care and treatment.

To support patients in the community using both 1:1 and group work.

To carry out administrative duties on the ward including taking responsibility for designated tasks.

To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure effective delivery of occupational therapy. To enhance their own clinical and organisational skills to meet the needs of patients and the organisation.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [email protected].

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Person specification

Knowledge Skills and Training

Essential

• Experience of planning and running groups
• Experience of working with people from a range of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds
• Awareness of Mental Health Issues

Desirable

• Experience of working with external Agencies

Job specific experience

Essential

• Experience of supporting people with mental health problems
• Ability to work autonomously and use initiative.
• Ability to create innovative solutions alongside people to help meet identified goals and needs
• Good organisational skills and to manage time effectively.
• Able to sustain demands of working with potentially challenging patient group.
• Ability to work without direct supervision for short periods

Desirable

• Understanding of risk factors associated with working with patients within mental health services and how to manage these risks effectively.
• Ability to prioritise a varied workload

Managerial/supervisory Experience

Essential

• Ability to effectively use support and supervision

Desirable

• Experience of working as part of a team

Educational Requirements/Qualifications

Essential

• A good standard of education, minimum NVQ level 3 in health or social care or the arts

Desirable

• Risk Assessment training
• Health and Safety training
• Mental Health First Aid training
• Mental Health Awareness training

Information Technology

Essential

• Basic IT skills, normally obtained through practice or practical training

Desirable

• Knowledge of Data Protection Act

Personal qualities/attributes

Essential

• Empathetic and compassionate
• Able to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands
• Ability to build collaborative therapeutic relationships
• Demonstrates a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and service users
• Able to motivate and encourage patients to engage in meaningful activity
• Good observational skills

Additional requirements

Essential

• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
• A level of fitness and ability to participate and complete PMVA, Breakaway training and Manual Handling (practice and theory)

Business Travel

Essential

• Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.