Occupational Therapy Assistant

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 01 December 2024

Job summary

We are very excited to have a NEW OPPORTUNITY for a Occupational Therapy assistant to join our Southampton & SW Hants Children's Therapy team!!! We are looking for someone who is passionate about making a real difference, to enable children and young people to reach their potential. If you are dynamic and flexible and have enjoyed working with children's therapists in health, education or care settings, then a career with us may be just what you're looking for...

You will support children aged 0-19 years with therapy interventions in their homes, pre-schools, schools, children's centres or local community clinics under the supervision and guidance of our amazing occupational therapy team.

You will have lots of opportunities for learning and development and regular robust supervision from therapists, as well as peer supervision from other assistants within Southampton and across HIOWH Children's Therapies.

You will need to have an NVQ Level 3 in health and social care or childcare or equivalent as well as a driving licence. Excellent communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across a range of agencies is essential.

Main duties of the job

To organise and deliver therapy activities as part of the agreed intervention plan for children under the supervision of named therapists.

To assist the therapists in carrying out interventions and to ensure the smooth running of the service.

HIOWH Integrated Children's Therapy service is for children aged 0-19 who experience challenges with physical delay or disability, daily functional activities, eating and drinking skills, speech, language and communication.

This is a community service delivered in children's homes, pre-school settings, Children's Centres, mainstream schools, special schools, and community clinics.

Physiotherapists, podiatry, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists work together with children and their families as part of multi-agency teams with Health Care professionals across acute and community services, education, social care colleagues and equipment providers, to enable children achieve their therapy goals.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.

Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.

Date posted

19 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year based on full time hours

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

449-Team3-1773

Job locations

Adelaide Health Centre, Western Community Centre

William Macleod Way

Southampton

Hampshire

SO16 4XE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*NVQ 3 or Health or child-care Related Qualification

Experience

Essential

*Experience with working with young people and/or their supporting adults.

Desirable

*To have a working knowledge of Risk Assessment and management tools.
*Experience of working within a multi professional team.
*Experience of working in a Rehabilitation or education setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Communication skills particularly with children/young people
*Ability to work with and communicate with parents/carers who may at times be distressed or angry
*Ability to modify own speech, language and communication dependent upon a child's needs
*Computer Literate
*Literacy skills
*Be skilled in logical reasoning, with good judgement.
*Good time keeping, planning and being organised.
*Ability to determine and reduce level of risk to self, and others
*Ability to problem solve and adapt to an unpredictable workload.
*Occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. during home visits and or during assessment
*Ability to deal with verbal aggression.
*Basic knowledge of child development and underpinning philosophy of social model of disability
*Knowledge of confidentiality issues.
*Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities
*Knowledge of Microsoft Office package
*Evidence of successful completion of additional training
*Understanding of infection control procedures

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*NVQ 3 or Health or child-care Related Qualification

Experience

Essential

*Experience with working with young people and/or their supporting adults.

Desirable

*To have a working knowledge of Risk Assessment and management tools.
*Experience of working within a multi professional team.
*Experience of working in a Rehabilitation or education setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Communication skills particularly with children/young people
*Ability to work with and communicate with parents/carers who may at times be distressed or angry
*Ability to modify own speech, language and communication dependent upon a child's needs
*Computer Literate
*Literacy skills
*Be skilled in logical reasoning, with good judgement.
*Good time keeping, planning and being organised.
*Ability to determine and reduce level of risk to self, and others
*Ability to problem solve and adapt to an unpredictable workload.
*Occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. during home visits and or during assessment
*Ability to deal with verbal aggression.
*Basic knowledge of child development and underpinning philosophy of social model of disability
*Knowledge of confidentiality issues.
*Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities
*Knowledge of Microsoft Office package
*Evidence of successful completion of additional training
*Understanding of infection control procedures

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.