Occupational Therapy Assistant role

Job description

Job responsibilities

COMMUNICATION

1. To take and relay messages accurately on the telephone and face to face with patients, relatives, health care professionals and others e.g. company representatives.

1. To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patients condition and treatment progress.

1. To develop skills in participating in meetings and handovers, taking and receiving occupational therapy information about known patient group.
2. To be able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication will be tailored to the patients/carers level of comprehension or cognition e.g. using interpreters.
3. To liaise with health care professionals and occupational therapists on a day-to-day basis in clinical area of work, with regard to patient care.
4. To book transport for access visits and home visits.
5. To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department, both clinically and administratively.
6. To maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times in line with trust and departmental policies.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

1. To maintain accurate and timely patient notes and activity records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records.
2. To use departmental/ trust software e.g. EPR, PIMS or occupational therapy tools.
3. To undertake non-clinical induction of assistants and students as required.
4. To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.
5. To be responsible for competent use, maintenance and cleaning of all equipment used, to report defects in equipment in a timely manner to the clinical lead in the area and locate missing items.
6. To understand the function and use of departmental equipment and be able to use safely jointly with occupational therapy staff or independently with own patients.
7. To undertake routine light cleaning/tidying tasks of clinical equipment e.g. wheelchairs, electrical equipment.
8. To administer any equipment loan monitoring system and liaise with maintenance engineers where appropriate.
9. To undertake administrative tasks particularly related to photocopying, record keeping, filing, errands and making appointments.
10. To be responsible for stock control within clinical areas ensuring consistent supply and request new orders from the departmental secretary, including using catalogues for new equipment.
11. Collect, unpack and store new supplies.
12. To administer appropriate systems for the managing the petty cash and stock control in relevant place of work.
13. To monitor levels, condition and date of contents in resuscitation trolley or first aid box, in relevant areas, on a regular basis and ensure new supplies are requested as required.
14. To comment on changes to departmental policies, procedures and service development as required.

1. To demonstrate capability in occupational therapy assistant skills, by completing the tasks listed in the assistant induction and competency checklist, within the first 3 months of employment.
2. To participate in the supervision and appraisal process and be proactive in own learning and objective setting.
3. To undertake in-service training to improve patient care and for personal development and organise programme on a rotational basis.
4. To participate in the departments ongoing audit programme as required.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
• reportingany safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Person Specification

Skills and experience

Essential

• Experience of working with adults in a care setting
• Basic knowledge of occupational therapy
• Good standard of written and verbal English communication
• Basic IT and record keeping skills

Desirable

• Awareness of confidentiality in a health care setting

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

King's College Hospital

Denmark Hill

SE59RS

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)