Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit to a 0.8 WTE (30 hours) Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner at St. Richard's Hospital Chichester, based in the Orthopaedics and Surgery Team.

This successful applicant will undertake the assessment and discharge of routine non-complex patients, following a specified protocol and within own competencies.

Under the general supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, the successful applicant will apply technical and creative skills in the provision of a flexible, patient centred programme of Occupational Therapy assessments and treatments and provide skilled and insightful assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of specific designated clinical caseload, according to treatment protocols to maximise their function and independence.

To undertake the assessment and discharge of routine non-complex patients, following a specified protocol and within own competencies.

To apply, under the general supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, technical and creative skills in the provision of a flexible, patient centred programme of Occupational Therapy assessments and treatments.

To provide skilled and insightful assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of specific designated clinical caseload, according to treatment protocols to maximise their function and independence.

To manage a designated patient caseload and treat according to treatment protocols; being able to make alterations when required by assessment of patient progression.

To work in varied and unsupervised settings, with personal or telephone access to qualified Occupational Therapist.

To undertake home visits and access visits, with or without a therapist (accompanied/unaccompanied), as required.

To provide non-clinical services to the speciality team e.g., administrative duties, maintaining a safe environment and maintaining equipment.

To undertake delegated projects.

To provide educational support to patients / carers in unsupervised settings.

To promote understanding of the aims of therapy.

To interpret the elements of the patient performance in order to form appropriate intervention plans guided by a qualified Occupational Therapist where appropriate.

Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
1. To work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g., Health Care Assistants, Physiotherapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Social Workers) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.
2. To develop professional therapeutic relationships with patients and carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture, and manage potential barriers to communication such as dysphasia, learning difficulty, deafness, another language etc. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
3. Educate patients, carers and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics covering Occupational Therapy practice, e.g., ADL assessment, equipment, adaptive techniques, signposting.
4. Use advanced empathetic, tactful and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients’ functional potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.
5. Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions and specific areas of induction process e.g., new members of staff, students and volunteers.
6. Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Occupational Therapy caseload holders with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.