Occupational Therapy Assistant Crowthorne, England
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a well-established, staffed and resourced and respected Occupational Therapy service (OT) with patients with a primary diagnosis of server mental illness or personality disorder.
The post will be based within the high security, forensic hospital environment and offers a great development opportunity for the Occupational Therapy service (OT) to work with patients in assessments and treatment sessions throughout their stay in the hospital.
The hospital has moved to a new bespoke hospital is the most modern high security forensic hospital in the country. The hospital focuses on innovative care to a challenging and interesting patient group. We have a strong commitment to multi-professional working within the clinical team, focussing on reducing risk and offending behaviours.
We are looking to offer a secondment to a resourceful, motivated person who can demonstrate skill in engaging patients and team work. There are opportunities to progress in the service via the professional route and an Occupational Therapy apprenticeship or through the Vocational Services and skill based learning task for patients.
The post holder will work with the qualified Occupational Therapists in the services delivering assessment and treatment sessions. The Occupational Therapy Assistant see patients on and off the ward. The sessions will generally be group sessions but could at times be one to one sessions.
The hospital offers a variety of services which meet the changing needs of patients at every stage of their recovery and the work undertaken by the post holder will support this process.
The hospital is situated in a beautiful area of Berkshire with easy access to the M3 and M4 motorways. There is a full induction to the hospital and ongoing supervision and support each month.
The service attracts staff who stay in their post for long periods of time, due to job satisfaction and understanding the value of their role to the patients’ rehabilitation.
The essential need for team work also generates a good working atmosphere and our teams well together.
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.
We’re rated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Together, we’re committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.
We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.
Department: Allied Health Professional & Rehabilitation Therapy Services (RTS)
Responsible to: Band 5/6/7 Allied Health Professional
Accountable to: Occupational Therapy Lead
Key Relationships:
- Service Users/ Patients
- Ward Clinical Nurse Manager / staff nurse
- Occupational Therapists / Physiotherapist
- Supervisor and Support staff
- Multidisciplinary Clinical Teams
- Speech and Language Therapist (SLT)
- Dietitian
Job Summary:
- The patients in with whom the post holder will work all have complex mental health needs and may have been directed by the criminal justice system to receive care within a secure setting. They also have physical health challenges which need support.
- To work under the guidance of qualified Occupational Therapy Staff. However, they would be expected to support other AHP’s if needed.
- The OT assistant will work under the instruction of which OT professionals implementing intervention that are care planed and will document in patients notes and feedback to the OT.
- Under the supervision of the responsible AHP, deliver individual or group interventions in line with AHP care plans
- To develop and maintain effective, therapeutic and professional relationships with patients, including patients who may be considered difficult to engage or may a present a risk to self / other
- To undertake tasks in support of AHP staff as requested
- To provide practical support to patients engaging in therapeutic activities
- To identify patients’ strengths and interests and consider ways of enhancing patients’ skills within the limitations of high security services.
