Your role as an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner includes:
- To perform specific therapeutic (clinical and non-clinical) assessment, treatment and discharge of an identified caseload of patients within Emergency Care, Medical Assessment, Short Stay Ward and Frailty Units as part of the wider Rapid Response Team.
- The clinical caseload will be allocated and indirectly supervised by the relevant qualified and Health and Care Professions Council registered Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists within each area.
- To conduct outreach visits with patients within their own home, conducting functional assessments, installing equipment and assessing for and providing guidance around minor adaptions.
- To undertake all aspects of clinical duties within an agreed protocol within the individual’s scope of practice. To ensure competence is gained and retained in all areas in which you practice.
Main duties of the job
Work under the direction of an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist, performing specific tasks for individuals or groups as part of treatment programs. Follow protocols and competencies for this role and act as the first contact in specific situations.
- Manage patients by assessing needs, developing treatment plans, and reviewing progress.
- Plan and prioritise therapy assessments and case monitoring within competencies, following guidelines.
- Conduct initial discussions, gather information from patients, carers, and IT systems; perform functional, cognitive, mobility, and stair assessments.
- Plan outreach visits, assess patients at home, and provide guidance on equipment, adaptations, and support services while ensuring personal safety.
- Provide equipment, training, and education to patients and families, liaising with carers and agencies for safe discharge or transfer of care.
- Manage own caseload in Emergency Care, assessing and mitigating risks within competencies.
- Screen Emergency Care patients to identify those suitable for further assessment by the Rapid Response Team.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Broad range of acute hospital/healthcare setting experience.
- Previous employment/experience working within an OT service at band 3 or above.
- Completed Band 3 Therapy competencies with reflective practice and a portfolio to support this.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional
- Development with reflective practice and a portfolio to support this.
- Experience of lone working.
- Experience in progressing patients’ function and discharging patients under the guidance of a qualified AHP. Reflective practice to support this.
- Experience of working with patients with a variety of conditions and complex social situations/needs, with reflective practice to support this.
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary team.
- An awareness of current NHS and Health issues.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of OT treatment/rehabilitation for patients with trauma or acute illness.
- Knowledge and experience of working with physiotherapists, with evidence to support this.
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of working with patients within the emergency care setting.
- Evidence of the ability to identify risks when working in the emergency care environment or in the community setting.
- Experience and understanding of goal-setting principles.
- Experience of Audit.
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree or equivalent, or a Minimum NVQ / diploma in healthcare or level 3 equivalent.
Desirable
- Attendance of professional courses applicable to the emergency care setting.
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Legible and concise handwriting.
- Effective Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Professional and patient-focused approach acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time, prioritise and plan timed activities.
- Computer Literate.
Desirable
- Evidence of personal leadership.
- Healthcare values based education and training.
- Evidence of providing training to other colleagues/members of the MDTs.
Disposition/ Attitude/ Motivation
Essential
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Empathetic, calm and reassuring manner
- Team member
- Problem solver
- Ability to recognise own limitations.
- Evidence of working practice in line with the current University Hospitals Plymouth NHS trust values.
Desirable
- Flexible.
- Assertive.
- Self-motivated.
- Enthusiastic towards the post.
- Evidence of a flexible approach.
- Committed to further study and learning.
Other Factors
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly over 7 days (Some shift work is included in the service rota. Candidate must be available to work these rotas and shifts).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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