Assistant Therapy Practitioner

Job overview

Band 4 OT Assistant Therapy Practitioner – fixed-term 9 months

Are you interested in being part of a Crisis Home Treatment Team? Do you have a passion for providing client-centred intervention whilst supporting service users in their recovery journey?

The post is for an Assistant Therapy Practitioner who enjoys the challenge of a fast-paced setting where positive Occupational Therapy outcomes are quickly seen. Occupational Therapy is an essential part of the treatment options in the Crisis Service, which supports individuals during the acute phase of mental ill health

The role involves individual sessions, and there is scope for group work. Settings include the Crisis Team base in St Pauls, the local crisis therapy unit, service users' homes and then local community. Therefore, access to a vehicle is essential

You will receive regular support and individual supervision. There are formal and informal opportunities for peer support within the organisation, including Special Interest Groups where attendance of staff from all bands is encouraged

We welcome applications from existing or aspiring Band 4 Assistant Therapy Practitioners and those looking for progression, or the next challenge. We welcome applications from those who are due to start, or are in the process of completing the Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship Program, however this is not a prerequisite for this role. We welcome those who wish to work flexibly.

Main duties of the job

• To work with service users who are experiencing the acute phase of mental illness and need intensive support
• To work effectively as a member of a team in providing therapeutic activities using a person centered and occupationally based approach
• To provide core Occupational Therapy advice, intervention and support given to service users and their carers under guidance of the Occupational Therapist
• To provide timely feedback to the MDT information regarding the service users occupational performance
• To use technical / creative skills to engage service users in meaningful and appropriate activities to promote independence, recovery and well-being
• Potential for facilitating and delivering planned group-work and individual activities, under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist
• Under the guidance of the Occupational Therapist provide ongoing assessment and adjustment of clinical interventions based on the fluctuating needs of the service users
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service
• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards
• To contribute to risk assessments with regards to service users and clinical environment
• To report incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and compliment
• To actively participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal.
• To actively participate in safety huddles and de-brief sessions as appropriate

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To plan and facilitate occupational groups guided by an Occupational Therapist
• To work individually with service users on specific tasks and therapeutic activity guided by an Occupational Therapist
• To carry our specific Occupational Therapy assessments as guided by an Occupational Therapist
• To promote a culture of engagement in meaningful occupation within the service in order to enhance quality of life
• To provide interventions in the manner that is consistent with Trust standards and values
• To adhere to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the Trust’s Code of Conduct for Non-qualified Staff and all other relevant policies and procedure

For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.