Occupational Therapy Assistant - Grays, United Kingdom - Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Description

Job summary

Within this setting the role of the OTA is to assist patients to complete therapeutic activities which are delivered in a 1:1 or group basis. To encourage patients to independently manage activities of daily living and participate in meaningful occupations to support their recovery.

The OTA will also work autonomously to complete assessments and provide interventions to patients as instructed by the OT. All this information is recorded in the patient's electronic record, with specific observations relation to progress or deterioration noted or escalated to the appropriate member of the MDT.

Main duties of the job

The key responsibilities are:

Supporting the delivery of the Therapy Programme

Carry out 1:1 interventions

Planning and facilitating activities

Developing rapport to gather information and support therapeutic engagement and participation

Communication

Observing behaviour, mood, functional ability etc

Understanding social, environmental and sensory environments

Understanding risk and vulnerability awareness

Reporting concerns

Enabling engagement through patient's personal preferences and choices

Recording interventions and patient contact in a OT format for OT report and summaries

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent Training facilities and opportunities

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work

Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Job description

Job responsibilities

With support and training the OTA is expected to work autonomously in collaboration with the rest of the MDT.

Supporting the delivery of the Therapy Programme

Some of the Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions are delivered in the form of a therapeutic programme. The main structure of the programme is developed by the Occupational Therapist to meet the therapeutic / recovery needs of the patients and indirect benefit is to orient the patient to the day ahead and create a sense of structure and routine both are very beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Examples of types of interventions are provided in the box below:

Physical interventions walking, exercise, ball games and gardening

Sensory interventions pampering, sensory touching, seeing, hearing, tasting, movement and smelling,

Creative interventions art and craft, singing, music, gardening, baking

Coping intervention mindfulness, relaxation, solution focused, anxiety management

Familiar interventions cooking, baking, gardening, dusting, sweeping

ADL - enabling independent completion of personal care and transfers.

The way in which you will deliver them and how the patient may engage in it will depend on your setting and the needs of the patients. Within this setting there is a broad range of needs and abilities.

Carrying out 1:1 interventions

Some of the interventions from the Therapeutic programme can be delivered on a 1:1 basis if this better meets the needs of the patient(s). In addition the OTA may support the patient to re-gain skills/confidence in completing Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as cooking, washing and dressing, eating, kitchen activities, being in the community and/or managing money. These activities may also be carried out as a one off component of the assessment process.

Planning and facilitating activities

Within each of the broad types of interventions the OTA is expected to develop specific sessions to meet the individual needs and interests of the patient. Alternatively, to understand a specific functional aspect of the patient which forms part of the functional assessment process. The main aim of planning and facilitating group activities is to facilitate positive engagement and maximise the therapeutic benefit for the patients on the ward.

Developing rapport to gather information and support participation

One of the crucial roles is to develop rapport, this is essential for a healthy relationship in which the patient feels safe and respected so that therapy can succeed. Within this setting a good therapeutic rapport enables the patient to feel safe and supported to engage and participate in assessments, interventions and sharing specific information necessary for a successful admission.

As an OTA you will need to be aware of your body language; providing feedback at the right moment; collaborating with the persons goals; be flexible and responsive within the moment; understanding the impact of your culture, gender, attachment style and values and be able to be genuine.

Communication

The OTA should be able to adapt their communication style depending on whom they are communicating with. When communicating and interacting with patients they should take in to account such areas as their mental health, physical health, mobility needs, age, gender, cultural, personal values as well as risks, mood and the environment the communication is taking place in.

The OTA should also be aware of what to communicate to whom and when. Effective communication is expected with all members of the MDT, passing on appropriate and relevant information and understanding when to escalate concerns and risks to senior staff. In addition, the role of the OTA is to gather information that focusses on function and the patients abilities, capabilities and skills as well as deficits, barriers and limitations these are profession specific and should be discussed at regular times with the OT.

Observing behaviour, mood, functional ability etc

As part of the role OTAs are expected to be able to understand emotional cues, mental health indicators and symptoms, and have a basic understanding of physical needs including pain. Have a good grasp of motivation and engagement and understand the relevance of personality and environmental barriers.

An integral part of the role the OTA is not only to observe but also to report on these observations and whether there has been a change since the previous session to the OT. This information allows changes to be made to activities in order for them to be therapeutic for the patient. It also provides vital information to the OT to put in place the right support for that patient when they leave hospital. In addition, other members of the MDT may gather information that will support them in decision making and may ask you about the patient so that the best care and aftercare can be provided for that person.

Risk and vulnerability awareness

As a member of the MDT, the OTA needs to understand risk not only by the person, other patients but also those risks that are present in the environment and/or created by the activity. This is not an exhaustive list however with older adults the types of risk are often around trips, slips and falls, choking, ligature risks, self-harm, self-neglect, conflict between patients and various accidental risks caused by the environment.

As well as understanding the vulnerabilities of the individual and the risks in the environment it is important to understand the personal, social, environmental, mental and physical barriers to recovery and engagement and to overcome these to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit.

It is important to be aware that these risks are dynamic (changing) and can be influenced by known or unknown triggers and may alter at different times of the day.

Immediate reporting of concerns

An in-patient ward is a high risk environment with older adults who are mentally ill as such it is important that the OTA, like all other members of the MDT, you are able to articulate the most important factors about a patient to the relevant member of staff in a timely manner and document as indicated. This should be in-line with all EPUT policies and procedures and pertaining to the environment and the job.

The OTA also needs to differentiate between those actions s/he needs to deal with immediately, escalate, report or discuss as part of a clinical meeting or regular supervision slot.

Respecting patients and their choices

In the NHS Constitution for England it states that we value every person whether patient, their families, carers or staff as an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. We take what others have to say seriously. We are honest and open about our point of view and what we can and cannot do.

In addition, it is important that we provide accurate information so that we can support individuals to make choices about interventions, what will help them recover/engage most and their future.

Recording interventions and contact

OTAs will record all interventions and contact using an agreed format. These will contain information as relevant to the setting, session or interaction with the patient. It will be accurate and concise. Moreover, OTAs will complete specific assessments and feedback on the functional ability of patients to qualified staff in an agreed format.

Any other delegated tasks

All OTAs will at times be asked to complete additional roles that are not described above by either the OT or another member from the MDT. This may involve liaising with family, carers or community staff, purchasing resources, accompanying qualified staff on home visits or supporting the nursing team with the immediate welfare of patients.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Occupational Therapy experience

Working in in-patient settings

Desirable

Mental Health experience

Physical Health experience

Personal experience/knowledge

Essential

Recovery, Rehabilitation

Cognitive Impairments

Desirable

Older Adult Experience

Volunteering

Aptitude

Essential

Enabling

Proactive

Projects, leadership

Desirable

Interests

Life plans, experience