Occupational Therapy Assistant
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
To participate as a member of the ward team, working closely with the nursing team but with an occupational lens. Support will be offered from senior OTs within the Southwark OT leadership team. The role will involve the provision of a programme of therapeutic and recreational activities (both group and 1:1) to support the rehabilitation and recovery of service users experiencing mental illness.The programme will be developed and implemented with the supervision of the ward manager and supervision from a senior occupational therapist and should be in liaison with service users and the ward team.
Main duties of the job- To provide a flexible programme of recreational, vocational and educational activities within the service in collaboration with the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT), volunteers and sessional workers.
- To provide support and engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote recovery, independence and well-being
- To support the development of a balanced therapeutic ward based programme for service users at different stages of recovery
- To contribute to the collaborative care planning process, monitoring service users progress, taking account service users goals and aspirations and adjusting interventions accordingly
- To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, planned with a registered OT.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
- To instruct and guide individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity
- To report effectively to the team on service user performance and progress
- To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to service user progress
- To establish working relationships with outside agencies in order to facilitate service user engagement in community based vocational and educational services to support discharge and community engagement.
- To correspond with external agencies on clinical matters
- To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards
- In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and appraisal
- To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting
- To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers
- To participate in relevant training opportunities
- To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials
- To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision
- To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor.
- To keep a record of your training and development activities.
- To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the lead occupational therapist and ward teams
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
- To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job, possibly including the responsible management of petty cash.
- As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your programme.
- To participate in audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.
Person specification
Qualfications
Essential criteria- Good level of Education
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
- Health and social care related qualification above basic level e.g. City & Guilds final certificate, NVQ 3 or 4, Diploma or Degree
- Creative qualification eg arts, photography,
- Psychology qualification
Experience
Essential criteria- Demonstrable experience of working in health/social care setting
- Experience of report/letter writing and form filling
- Experience of working both independently and in a team
- Experience of providing group and 1:1 interventions
- Experience of working with and/or understanding of Occupational Therapy
- Experience of facilitating therapeutic groups in a health and social care setting
- Experience of mental health difficulties or of caring for someone with a mental health difficulty
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Ability to work independently in ward and community settings
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- Excellent IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools competently for example)
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- An understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- Knowledge of applying Health and Safety and risk awareness procedures and policies
Other
Essential criteria- Willingness to be involved in the delivery of practice placements for students
- Willingness to participate in supervision
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision
- Demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning
- Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
- Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
- Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
- We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
- That all applications for this post will need to be made online
- That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
- That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
- That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
- That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
- That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
- That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
- That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe’