social research jobs

Occupational Therapy Assistant, Band 3
Fixed Term 23months - Part time - 22.5 hours per week

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the OT Department and part of a multi-disciplinary ward team. The post holder will work on Oaktree Lodge which is an Older Adult Ward. The OT team is a friendly and supportive team and we welcome new staff and the ideas and skills they bring.

The post holder will work with and under supervision of the OT and contribute to the development and delivery of occupational therapy interventions and team interventions.

The post involves a mix of opportunities including:
Group interventions such as: creative activities, fitness activities, healthy and wellbeing, music, gardening, relaxation.

1:1 interventions to build functional and social skills; structure a routine and making links into the community.

Promoting social inclusion and community connections.

There is an active CPD programme which includes regular professional supervision and appraisals and opportunities to be involved in quality improvement projects. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust operates over 3 London Boroughs and Kent, including child and adolescent, adult and older adult mental health, forensics and community health. Therefore, there are opportunities for a broad range of career development.

Important Sponsorship Information for this post: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post.

Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) the post holder will:

Work as part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

Use technical, creative and psychosocial skills to deliver occupational therapy intervention to assist in the provision of a flexible, service user centred programme of therapeutic activities for individuals/groups of service users who experience mental health difficulties.

Have an awareness of social inclusion and skills development and ensure activities used focus on these objectives.

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools and people’s homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

We’re Kind

We’re Fair

We Listen

We Care

Management responsibilities

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

To be responsible for maintaining stock & advising on resources required to carry out the job.

Leadership

In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practise and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and personal development reviews.

Clinical

To work effectively as a member of a team in providing a programme of ward, department or community based therapeutic activities.

To use technical, creative, psychosocial and daily living skills to engage clients in therapeutic activities to promote independence, well-being and social inclusion.

Under supervision of a registered OT, facilitate/co-facilitate planned group work and individual activities.

Engage in ongoing continuous assessment and treatment and adjust own clinical interventions based on the fluctuating needs of the service users.

Contribute to formal OT assessments, under guidance of a registered OT and provide feedback on client’s occupational functioning.

Assist in the implementation, evaluation and modification of OT and team interventions.

Under supervision of a registered OT, instruct and support service users to achieve their goals.

Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.

Research

As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practise into your programme.

Under the supervision of a qualified OT utilise evidence based practice in your everyday work.

To participate in OT/team audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.

Communication

To form professional relationships with service users, who often exhibit challenging behaviour, and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

To report effectively to the team on service users performance/progress in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

To communicate appropriately with carers.