Inpatient Activity Co-Ordinator

Job overview

The Inpatient Activity Coordinator assesses, plans, implements and evaluates programmes for patient activities which are multi-faceted, meet the patient’s functional needs, and reflect Interests of each patient.   The Inpatient Activity Coordinator works closely with occupational therapy team to deliver meaningful activity and identify occupational deprivation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities  • To assist with planning, organising and co-ordinating the ward activity programme, including the time-tabling and delivery of group and individual activities.  • Under the guidance of the ward manager and occupational therapist, to be autonomous in the planning and carrying out of specified group activities.  • To plan and deliver an activity programme for the patients on the ward  • To work closely with ward staff and therapy staff to develop partnerships to deliver appropriate activities  • To coordinate the delivery of activities to support the nursing and multi-disciplinary teams  • To lead on activities that will promote physical health and emotional well-being

Main duties of the job

To adopt a non-judgmental approach with the patients’ based upon respect and dignity  • To undertake therapeutic activity that is age appropriate, promotes inclusion, is valued and focuses on meaningful activity  • To be innovative in creating activities that are person centred and promote recovery.  To build therapeutic relationships with patients, relatives and carers to encourage their interest and participation in activities suited to their particular needs and interests  • To provide support to the ward manager and therapy staff, sharing knowledge and skills and engaging staff in supporting the ward activities programme  • To promote calendar related activities and events i.e. national holidays, patron saint days and other cultural dates  • To observe, monitor and record patient activity and health status as appropriate, communicating appropriately any change in condition to nursing staff

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To communicate with patients’ in a way that respects their personhood, views, autonomy, culture and religious diversity  • To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicate sensitively with patients who have cognitive and mental health needs  • To work in collaboration with the nursing and therapy team to develop bespoke activities for individuals who demonstrate behaviours that challenge and require 1:1 or other close supervision  • To manage behaviours that challenge through the use of de-escalation and strategies whilst recognising own limitations and requesting support from other members of the team  • To support the delivery of life story work on the ward including ensuring this information informs activity planning  • To support patient discharge from the ward by providing verbal and written information on patient’s activities and engagement on the ward  • To be able to work autonomously to undertake specific individual and group sessions as agreed with the Senior OT/Ward Manager.  • To maintain up-to-date and accurate records of all interventions  • To participate in management and clinical supervision  • To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and make comments regarding changes  • To ensure the safety, well-being and interests of patients, staff and visitors to the ward  • To complete activity recording  • To maintain the confidentiality of patients  • There will be occasions for the role to undertake aspects of the nursing assistant role should ward activity increase or to cover last minute staff sickness. This will be at the discretion of the senior OT/Nurse in Charge or the management team.  This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the  role.  Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time.