Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Emergency Care
Job overview
To perform specific therapeutic (clinical and non-clinical) assessment, treatment and discharge of an identified caseload of patients within Emergency Care, Medical Assessment, Short Stay Ward and Frailty Units as part of the wider Rapid Response Team.
The clinical caseload will be allocated and indirectly supervised by the relevant qualified and Health and Care Professions Council registered Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists within each area.
To conduct outreach visits with patients within their own home, conducting functional assessments, installing equipment and assessing for and providing guidance around minor adaptions.
To undertake all aspects of clinical duties within an agreed protocol within the individuals scope of practice. To ensure competence is gained and retained in all areas in which you practice.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification***
Main duties of the job
Work under the direction of an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist, performing specific tasks for individuals or groups as part of treatment programs. Follow protocols and competencies for this role and act as the first contact in specific situations.
- Manage patients by assessing needs, developing treatment plans, and reviewing progress.
- Plan and prioritize therapy assessments and case monitoring within competencies, following guidelines.
- Conduct initial discussions, gather information from patients, carers, and IT systems; perform functional, cognitive, mobility, and stair assessments.
- Plan outreach visits, assess patients at home, and provide guidance on equipment, adaptations, and support services while ensuring personal safety.
- Provide equipment, training, and education to patients and families, liaising with carers and agencies for safe discharge or transfer of care.
- Manage own caseload in Emergency Care, assessing and mitigating risks within competencies.
- Screen Emergency Care patients to identify those suitable for further assessment by the Rapid Response Team.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.
Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Emergency Care had roles and responsibilities in areas including, but not limited to, Clinical, Skills and Knowledge, Organisational, Physical Effort, Mental Effort and working conditions. Please see full job description for full list of main responsibilities.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria- Broad range acute hospital / healthcare setting experience.
- Previous employment / experience working within an OT service at band 3 or above.
- Completed Band 3 Therapy competencies with reflective practice and a portfolio to support this.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional
- Development with reflective practice and a portfolio to support this.
- Experience of lone working.
- Experience of progressing patients function and discharging patients under guidance of a qualified AHP. Reflective practice to support this.
- Experience of working with patients with a variety of conditions and complex social situations / needs with reflective practice to support this.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
- An awareness of current NHS and Health issues.
- Knowledge and experience of OT treatment / rehabilitation for patients with trauma or acute illness.
- Knowledge and experience of working with physiotherapists with evidence to support this.
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of working with patients within the emergency care setting.
- Evidence of the ability to identify risks when working in the emergency care environment or in the community setting.
- Experience and understanding of goal setting principles.
- Experience of Audit.
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Foundation Degree or equivalent or Minimum NVQ / diploma in healthcare or equivalent level 3.
- Attendance of professional courses applicable to the emergency care setting.
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria- Legible and concise handwriting.
- Effective Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Professional and patient focussed approach acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time, prioritise and plan timed activities.
- Computer Literate.
- Evidence of personal leadership.
- Healthcare values based education and training.
- Evidence of providing training to other colleagues / members of the MDTs.
Disposition/ Attitude/ Motivation
Essential criteria- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Empathetic, calm and reassuring manner
- Team member
- Problem solver
- Ability to recognise own limitations.
- Evidence of working practice in line with current University Hospitals Plymouth NHS trust values.
- Flexible
- Assertive
- Self-motivated
- Enthusiastic towards the post.
- Evidence of flexible approach.
- Committed to further study and learning.
Other Factors
Essential criteria- Ability to work flexibly over 7 days (Some shift work is included in the service rota. Candidate must be available to work these rotas and shifts).
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.