Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge with the opportunity to expand and develop your skills? Are you passionate about supporting older people's mental health? If so, we at MHSOP Intensive Community Liaison Service (ICLS) want to hear from you! We are an established service working across the Teesside Locality supporting residents in care homes and within their own homes ell-established and aims to support personalised recovery plans and work with individuals to help re-establish purposeful and meaningful lives. The successful applicant will work under the direction of qualified Occupational Therapists with a strong focus on delivering high quality evidence based services that directly support recovery, occupational formulation and occupational engagement.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

The successful postholder will be responsible for working with delegated service users and contributing to assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

You will engage service users and their carers in therapeutic programmes of care, supporting them in achieving their identified goals and promoting independence and well-being through a client-centred approach.

You willparticipate in clinical supervision andcontribute to multi-disciplinary team working.

In addition to this, the post holder willcontribute to safety and quality improvement activities as part of occupational therapy team.

You willuse the Trust electronic patient record system,abide by all Trust policies and procedures, andbe able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenge.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

The successful post holder will be expected to match the ethos of the ICLS team and commit to ongoing personal and service development. In return we will offer a friendly, secure and professional experience and invest in your development as a healthcare professional.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant NVQ Level 3 in Care (or within agreed timescale)
• Appropriate AVCE in Health & Social Care (or within agreed timescale)
• Numeracy, Literacy and IT Level 2 (or equivalent)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities

Desirable

• Experience working alongside occupational therapists

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• Effective record keeping (within agreed timescale)
• Time management and ability to prioritise effectively
• Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale)

Personal attributes

Essential

• Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours
• Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development.
• Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement
• Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service
• Committed to promoting a positive image of the occupational Therapy Service
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Awareness of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• Understanding of therapeutic terminology (within agreed timescale)
• Understanding of a variety of therapeutic approaches (within agreed timescales)
• Awareness of health & safety issues (within agreed timescale)

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policy and service need
• This post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check