Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

OT Technician

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist Technician to be part of the team to provide a rehabilitation and discharge planning service on the trauma and orthopaedic wards at RCH.

You will be responsible for contributing to the delivery of excellent care and providing support to therapists. Case load will be allocated and indirectly supervised by the relevant qualified therapist.

Patient management will include responsibility for the delivery of care including liaison with patients, family, members of the MDT and external agencies. You will also need to have good time management prioritisation skills, and flexibility.

You will need experience within a care setting, as well as an NVQ Level IIl in Health Care. You will ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. You will have basic IT skills as the service operates with Electronic records, and be able to work without direct supervision within the bounds of the Rehabilitation Technician role.

You will be integral to the team and have a key role in its delivery and assisting Clinical leads in Service delivery. You will have support from the Senior clinicians, the Clinical Lead, with access to supervision and in-service training opportunities.

Main duties of the job

To assist in the development of Occupational Therapy Services by supporting Occupational Therapists in the assessment and treatment of patients and the day-to-day running of the therapy environment.

To accept patients referred by an Occupational Therapist, and carry as own patient caseload. Treat patients according to set treatment protocols, monitoring patient progression, make alterations (within protocols and scope of practice) to patient treatment programmes as required.

Work unsupervised regularly, reporting back patient progress and informing the occupational therapist of any problems.

For a defined and delegated group of patients - to undertake the assessment of patients, using investigative and analytical skills. To use clinical reasoning, and utilise a range of assessment and treatment skills and options to formulate treatment programmes.

About us

Sustainability is integral to the Trust achieving the NHS Net Zero target. All staff are therefore actively encouraged and supported to implement new ways of working within their field of expertise

Date posted

14 December 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

156-5880516

Job locations

Treliske

Truro

TR2 4BN

Job description

Job responsibilities

To liaise with the therapist as necessary regarding patient care. In particular highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programmes you deliver.

To work unsupervised in a pre-operative assessment setting, providing patients and their carers with pre-operative advice/teaching exercise programs. To assess patients environmental circumstances, and consider provision of appropriate equipment and support.

To support patients, carers, staff and relatives by providing education and advice as appropriate under the instruction of therapists.

To participate in & support the provision of assessment and clinical treatment programmes following professional assessment and guidance. These may relate to all areas of mobility, transfers, personal & daily living, upper limb, cognitive, visual, perceptual, and sensory rehabilitation.

To fully participate in the inter-professional evaluation of the assessment and treatment programme to ensure patients meet their ongoing health & wellbeing needs.

To have a full understanding of the treatments and discharge pathways available, such that you are able to explain to the patient, carers etc the care and discharge options available.

Within remit to demonstrate an understanding of the physiological concepts underpinning the prescribed treatment programmes to enable you to instruct, advise and guide patients. To make the appropriate adjustments independently and be able to communicate any changes to patients and prescribing staff. This may include areas of work requiring physical effort or intense concentration, with regard to risk, health & safety.

Within remit to provide assessments, order, issue, fit, demonstrate, and advise on the use of a range of standard equipment, ensuring patients, carers and staff are able to use safely and correctly.

To support the therapists with splinting and bracing activities.

To support qualified Therapist in coordinating team reviews or family meetings, liaising with community rehabilitation services, adult and community services, the voluntary sector and other organisations as necessary.

To work in a variety of settings including wards, patients home and clinics as required.

To maintain timely and accurate signed records and statistical information as required, this includes using paper records and entering information on to electronic databases.

Support Lead Therapist and contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or clinical / Multi-disciplinary team meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision.

Working within department protocols, to allocate work to Team Occupational Therapy assistant as guided by qualified staff.

To be responsible for ordering loan equipment and assist in the ordering of non-standard equipment.

To keep the department tidy, ensure that used / returned equipment is stored and collected in line with equipment loan store procedures.

Be responsible for the administrative arrangements in the area they work eg booking out of equipment in conjunction with other members.

To encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. This requires empathy, sensitivity, and good interpersonal skills and may require motivational skills with some patients

In the absence of qualified staff, to be the first point of contact, to receive referrals and contribute to the prioritisation of the teams workload working with cross-covering qualified staff.

To assist in the training of newly appointed Therapy Assistants and Technical Instructors in basic elements of patient care, safety, and inducting them into the department.

To support the development of Therapy students and people considering Therapy as a career e.g. work experience and access students.

To take part in the Trust appraisal and performance review programme as an appraisee. To use the provided Personal Development Plan to support your own learning and development, including gathering evidence of Continual Professional Development.

To keep up to date on professional issues by participating in In-Service Training and other training activities as agreed through the appraisal process.

To actively participate in the delivery of in-service training.

To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Lead Therapists (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy).