Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapy Assistant to join our dynamic, friendly and supportive team of occupational therapists.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated person with occupational therapy assistant experience, good communication skills and the ability to work with people as part of a multidisciplinary team.
You will work with in-patients to assist the therapists to maximise patients' independence and ensure their safe discharge from hospital. The work is mostly ward based, but you may be required to accompany and assist Occupational Therapists on home/ access visits where necessary and appropriate. The post involves some manual handling of patients and equipment.
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.
Main duties of the job
You will require:
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to complete manual handling tasks
- Ability to assist with self-care and activities of daily living
- Basic computer skills.
If you have excellent communication skills and want to assist in maximising patients' independence then this could be the post that you are looking for.
You will be supported by experienced senior staff and will have the opportunity to develop both clinically and professionally, working with junior staff and students.
About us
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/ Occupational Therapy, NVQ 4 in health and social care or minimum of three years experience as an occupational therapy assistant or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience as an AHP Support Worker Band 3 or equivalent
- Evidence of achieving the KSF dimensions of AHP Support Worker Band 3, or equivalent
Skills
Essential
- Ability to motivate, facilitate and lead patients in a group environment as group leader
- Able to travel around local area, and between Trust hospital sites
- Good time management and organisational skills.
- Good communicator - verbally and written - with patients and others
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Experience at educating and training assistants and newly qualified therapists within clinical area of expertise
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/ Occupational Therapy, NVQ 4 in health and social care or minimum of three years experience as an occupational therapy assistant or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience as an AHP Support Worker Band 3 or equivalent
- Evidence of achieving the KSF dimensions of AHP Support Worker Band 3, or equivalent
Skills
Essential
- Ability to motivate, facilitate and lead patients in a group environment as group leader
- Able to travel around local area, and between Trust hospital sites
- Good time management and organisational skills.
- Good communicator - verbally and written - with patients and others
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Experience at educating and training assistants and newly qualified therapists within clinical area of expertise
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.
