Occupational Therapy Assistant

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

2mo ago

Job
Full-time
Entry, Junior & Mid Level
Healthcare
Education & Teaching
Manchester

AI generated summary

You should manage a patient caseload, conduct assessments, support administrative tasks, collaborate in therapy groups, communicate effectively, and prioritize your workload while adhering to policies.
You will assess patients, develop treatment plans, support therapy sessions, manage administrative tasks, communicate effectively, and ensure compliance with policies and safety standards.

Requirements

To carry a caseload of patients under the supervision direct and indirect of a registered therapist.
To complete Occupational Therapy assessments to identify deficits, agree treatment goals and formulate individualised treatment plans under the guidance of registered therapists as required.
To support with departmental administrative tasks as required e.g. answering telephone, completing community referrals; and ordering adaptive equipment, as prescribed by the Occupational Therapy team.
To contribute to the planning, running and evaluating of meaningful therapeutic groups.
To assess and develop treatment plans for patients rehabilitation and be independent in progressing the patients rehabilitation programme.
To proactively feedback to the Occupational Therapist and other MDT members as appropriate regarding the patients progress in treatment sessions, and document in the patients electronic notes.
To be accountable for your actions and omissions in practice and be able to justify decisions using clinical reasoning.
To assist with moving and handling assessments.
To undertake mobility practice, personal care/ADL practice, stair practice or other occupational tasks to progress patients towards discharge.
To assess and to prescribe adaptive equipment.
To demonstrate effective communication skills with patients their family/carer and wider community services and to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the patient and their carers, offering reassurance and empathy. This may be in regard to the nature / prognosis of their condition.
To undertake assessments and interventions in the following areas: mobility personal care/ADL, stair or other areas of the persons activities of daily living, that enables the individuals to progress towards discharge.
To plan and prioritise own workload seeking guidance as appropriate.
Contribute to multi-disciplinary team discussions regarding patients treatment and discharge planning.
To contribute to service development projects.
Liaise with other members of the team and external agencies.
To adopt a flexible working approach to ensure that the needs of the service are met, including possible weekend working and shift work as required.
To demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals.
To be accountable for own practice.
Stock control duties of small aids and other occupational therapy products.
Attend and effectively contribute to regular meetings, which include occupational therapy team meetings, departmental meetings, ward handovers.
To maintain and develop skills and knowledge to deliver a range of interventions under the guidance the qualified Occupational Therapist.
To take the opportunity to extend own knowledge and practical skills by attending training sessions & courses as appropriate and in line with performance objectives.
To actively participate in regular supervision.
To maintain a continuing professional development folder.
To comply with Trust and local policies, procedure and guidelines, especially those relating to risk assessment, health and safety, data protection, confidentiality and security.
In line with Trust and professional guidelines participate in regular formal supervision.
To participate in the Performance Review process by identifying objectives in line with own post profile requirements.
To treat all staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public with dignity and respect at all times.
To demonstrate high standards of clinical practice at all times.
Promote a positive and efficient image of the service within own and wider team.
Undertake reflective day-to-day practice, directed reading and training.
Identify own learning needs.
To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent, reliable attendance.
To prioritise workload, balancing patient related and team demands to ensure that these remain in accordance with the department as a whole.
To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties.
To comply with departmental/organisational procedure, guidelines, and policies.
To participate in the Trusts mandatory training programme.
To be familiar with the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure personal safety and safety of others within the working environment.
To comply with the Trusts Information Governance Policy.

Responsibilities

To carry a caseload of patients under the supervision direct and indirect of a registered therapist.
To complete Occupational Therapy assessments to identify deficits, agree treatment goals and formulate individualised treatment plans under the guidance of registered therapists as required.
To support with departmental administrative tasks as required e.g. answering telephone, completing community referrals; and ordering adaptive equipment, as prescribed by the Occupational Therapy team.
To contribute to the planning, running and evaluating of meaningful therapeutic groups.
To assess and develop treatment plans for patients rehabilitation and be independent in progressing the patients rehabilitation programme.
To proactively feedback to the Occupational Therapist and other MDT members as appropriate regarding the patients progress in treatment sessions, and document in the patients electronic notes.
To be accountable for your actions and omissions in practice and be able to justify decisions using clinical reasoning.
To assist with moving and handling assessments.
To undertake mobility practice, personal care/ADL practice, stair practice or other occupational tasks to progress patients towards discharge.
To assess and to prescribe adaptive equipment.
To demonstrate effective communication skills with patients their family/carer and wider community services and to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the patient and their carers, offering reassurance and empathy. This may be in regard to the nature / prognosis of their condition.
To undertake assessments and interventions in the following areas: mobility personal care/ADL, stair or other areas of the persons activities of daily living, that enables the individuals to progress towards discharge.
To plan and prioritise own workload seeking guidance as appropriate.
Contribute to multi-disciplinary team discussions regarding patients treatment and discharge planning.
To contribute to service development projects.
Liaise with other members of the team and external agencies.
To adopt a flexible working approach to ensure that the needs of the service are met, including possible weekend working and shift work as required.
To demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals.
To be accountable for own practice.
Stock control duties of small aids and other occupational therapy products.
Attend and effectively contribute to regular meetings, which include occupational therapy team meetings, departmental meetings, ward handovers.
To maintain and develop skills and knowledge to deliver a range of interventions under the guidance the qualified Occupational Therapist.
To take the opportunity to extend own knowledge and practical skills by attending training sessions & courses as appropriate and in line with performance objectives.
To actively participate in regular supervision.
To maintain a continuing professional development folder.
To comply with Trust and local policies, procedure and guidelines, especially those relating to risk assessment, health and safety, data protection, confidentiality and security.
In line with Trust and professional guidelines participate in regular formal supervision.
To participate in the Performance Review process by identifying objectives in line with own post profile requirements.
To treat all staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public with dignity and respect at all times.
To demonstrate high standards of clinical practice at all times.
Promote a positive and efficient image of the service within own and wider team.
Undertake reflective day-to-day practice, directed reading and training.
Identify own learning needs.
To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent, reliable attendance.
To prioritise workload, balancing patient related and team demands to ensure that these remain in accordance with the department as a whole.
To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties.
To comply with departmental/organisational procedure, guidelines, and policies.
To participate in the Trusts mandatory training programme.
To be familiar with the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure personal safety and safety of others within the working environment.
To comply with the Trusts Information Governance Policy.

FAQs

What are the primary responsibilities of an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

The primary responsibilities include carrying a caseload of patients under the supervision of a registered therapist, completing assessments to identify deficits, formulating individualized treatment plans, supporting administrative tasks, contributing to therapeutic groups, and assessing mobility and activities of daily living.

Do Occupational Therapy Assistants work with patients independently?

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the direct and indirect supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, allowing them to contribute to patient care while following established treatment plans.

What qualifications are necessary for this role?

A qualification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or equivalent experience is typically required, along with a commitment to maintaining and developing professional skills and knowledge.

Will I need to participate in meetings?

Yes, Occupational Therapy Assistants are expected to attend and effectively contribute to regular meetings, including team meetings, departmental meetings, and ward handovers.

Is patient confidentiality maintained in this role?

Yes, maintaining confidentiality and sensitivity to the emotional needs of patients and their families is a critical aspect of the role.

What types of tasks will I be responsible for regarding patient mobility?

Responsibilities may include undertaking mobility practice, personal care/ADL practice, stair practice, and assessing and prescribing adaptive equipment to help progress patients toward discharge.

Are there opportunities for professional development?

Yes, Occupational Therapy Assistants are encouraged to attend training sessions and courses, participate in regular supervision, and maintain a continuing professional development folder.

Do I need to manage my own workload?

Yes, you will need to plan and prioritize your own workload while seeking guidance as appropriate.

Will the role include shifts or weekend work?

Yes, a flexible working approach is required to meet the needs of the service, including the possibility of weekend work and shift changes.

What should I do if I identify my own learning needs?

It's important to identify your own learning needs and take the opportunity to extend your knowledge and practical skills through training and development aligned with your performance objectives.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Science & Healthcare

Industry

10,001+

Employees

Mission & Purpose

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the UK, employing over 20,000 staff. We are responsible for running a family of nine hospitals across six separate sites, providing a wide range of services from comprehensive local general hospital care through to highly specialised regional and national services. We are the main provider of hospital care to approximately 750,000 people in Manchester and Trafford and the single biggest provider of specialised services in the North West of England. We are also the lead provider for a significant number of specialised services including Breast Care, Vascular, Cardiac, Respiratory, Urology Cancer, Paediatrics, Women’s Services, Ophthalmology and Genomic Medicine.