Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Explain to patients, relatives and those with whom they come into contact the role of the Occupational Therapist and components of the Occupational Therapy treatment programme.

2. Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any treatment.

3. Through conversation with the patient, patients relatives / next of kin obtain information regarding their social circumstances, difficulties encountered with aspects of Activities of Daily Living and their work & leisure & make follow up phone calls, as directed by the Occupational Therapist.

4. Implement individual/group treatment sessions, as instructed by the Occupational Therapist - this will include washing, dressing, kitchen or bathing assessment and remedial therapy work, utilizing interpersonal skills and demonstrating empathy, in order to achieve the goal.

5. Carry out kitchen assessment at the patients home as directed by the Occupational Therapist.

6. Independently manage the Occupational Therapy intervention for specific patients following an agreed protocol.

7. Issue and instruct patients and relatives in the safe use of prescribed Occupational Therapy equipment and issue small aids accordingly.

8. Deliver and fit equipment independently, as prescribed by the Occupational Therapist to the patients home.

9. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g. patient may be depressed, deaf, or who may be unable to accept the diagnosis/prognosis.

10. Utilize interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and involving patients in their treatment, in order to achieve the treatment goal.

11. Observe general behaviour, and general functional ability and response of the patient.

12. Advise the Occupational Therapist on patients performance or response to the treatment and advise other members of multi-disciplinary team, where appropriate.

13. Assist with Home Visits to ensure the health & safety of the patients and other people present, this may include arranging transport, liasing with relatives, and coordinating with all relevant agencies/parties.

14. Assist with the fabrication of thermoplastic splints, as required.

15. Work as a member of the Occupational Therapy and Multi-disciplinary Team, sharing patient information and provide progress reports on individual patient needs, ensuring a better and higher standard of patient care.

16. Attend handovers, multi-disciplinary team meetings as the occupational therapy representative, as delegated by the occupational therapist.

17. Make referrals to other agencies, as directed by Occupational Therapist.

18. Provide accurate reports on individual patients treated in the Medical Notes, OT Notes, Nursing Kardex, where appropriate, in a timely manner.

19. Issue / advise patients on resources for discharge e.g. Call 24 leaflets. Care & Repairs to promote the well-being and safety of the patient at home.

20. Adopt a flexible approach in providing cover for staff of the same or lesser grade who are absent, as delegated by Team Leaders or Head of Clinical Professions.

Administrative:

1. Responsible for collecting new referrals from the wards in a timely manner.

2. Pro-actively identify patients who need to be seen following a protocol.

3. Ensure the loan equipment procedure and documentation are completed as required by the Departmental policy.

4. Responsible to take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service and report the defects to the OT Manager.

5. Provide and maintain accurate Patient Statistics, departmental records / reports as required.

6. To be responsible for following the policies and procedures in particular Fire, Health & Safety Regulations as contained within the District Therapy Policy and Procedure Manual.

7. Responsible for general housekeeping, keeping stores tidy and the appropriate use of resources within the Occupational Therapy Department.

8. Assist in stock control, where appropriate.

9. Trace medical notes, filing OT notes into medical note and retrieve appropriate information utilising the PIMS.

10. Provide clerical and administrative support to the Occupational Therapists and the Department, as required. Tasks may include maintaining patient registers, preparing patient folders, faxing or making telephone referrals; photocopying; assembling assessment packs; assembling Information booklets; answering telephones and reception duty.

11. Responsible for processing petty cash.

Professional:

12. Responsible to organise / manage own day-to-day delegated tasks.

13. Take an active part in the supervision, and appraisal process, ensuring that senior staff are aware of any training requirements

14. Attend meetings, in-service training and courses, as appropriate.

15. Responsible for learning about relevant conditions and their management related to your job.

16. Assist in providing induction for students, lesser experienced staff and new assistants.

17. Assist, when necessary, in planning and organising in-service training for Occupational Therapy staff.

18. Responsible for following the Departmental and College of Occupational Therapy policies, standards and guidelines, and always maintain a high professional standard.

19. Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

20. Contribute to the discussion of and actively participate in the departmental changes, taking account of resources available.

21. Responsible to ensure an effective communication always takes place, taking a team approach to patient care and service needs.

22. Responsibility to keep update on immunisation.

23. Responsible to attend statutory trainings and courses.

24. Maintain patient confidentiality and security of patient and staff records.

25. Always maintain a high professional standard, according to the College of OT and the Departmental Policies.

26. Participate in clinical governance activities, which include clinical audit, survey, research, and the use of Internet and library to keep up to date with evidence-based practice, as required.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Within the organisation:

Face to face or telephone contact with: patients, relatives, Occupational Therapists, Nursing staff, physiotherapists; Speech & Language therapists, social workers based in Mount Gould, medical staff, consultant, ward clerks, medical secretaries, Patient Transport.

Outside the organisation:

Face to face, fax or telephone contacts with: Other Occupational Therapy staff in PCT, Reablement Team, Social Services (Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall), Integrated Equipment Loan Stores, Community care workers and District nurses.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• To have demonstrable experience of working with people with health needs
• To understand the role of Occupational Therapy within the NHS
• IT Literate and demonstrable experience of using office equipment .
• Demonstrable experience of working with patients individually or in groups

Desirable

• To have worked in an OT Department
• To have demonstrable experience of assisting in OT interventions for patients
• Demonstrable experience of working within an acute hospital setting

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• NVQ 3 or equivalent training or demonstrable experience
• GCSE in English and Maths (or equivalent or demonstrable experience)
• Demonstrable experience of working within Health, Social or Community services setting

Desirable

• To have health care related qualification
• To have basic Food & Hygiene certificate

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential

• To be interested in promoting independence for patients
• To be independent and able to accept responsibility
• Good time management skills
• To have good communication skills, and be able to manage patients with challenging behaviour
• To have the ability to recognise own limitations

Desirable

• oAbility to move and handle patients using appropriate recommended techniques/equipment

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION

Essential

• Team player
• Ability to build rapport
• Organizational skills
• Able to identify when to seek support
• An understanding of confidentiality
• An interest in problem solving

OTHER FACTORS

Essential

• Able to travel to various parts of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
• Able to comply with Manual Handling policies and guidelines
• Available to work on bank holiday and weekend rotas

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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

General Rehabilitaion Unit Mount Gould Hospital

Mount Gould Road

Plymouth

PL4 7QD

Employer's website

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