Apprentice Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Apprentice Occupational Therapist (development post)

Hours: 37.5 per week, (minimum 30 hours) all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Our Therapy Department is currently looking for individuals who want to complete a BSc Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship as a programme that provides a pathway to a career into Occupational Therapy.

Following completion of the course you can apply for a role as a registered Occupational Therapist.

You will be working across both internal and external clinical placements to gain an appreciation of the different areas of the local healthcare service and in order to meet the Occupational Therapy practice learning requirements.

Interview: w/c 3.2.25

Main duties of the job

As an Apprentice you will combine academic and work-based learning to become a registered Occupational Therapist. During the programme you will be an employee of Milton Keynes University Hospital and a student at a Higher Education Institution (HEI).

At the end of the three-year programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Conduct and will be a fully registered Occupational Therapist.

These roles are part of our growing Inpatient Therapy Team and are a new role within the service. If you want to be part of a team shaping a different approach to therapy provision at MKUH and get job satisfaction from caring for others in a holistic, person-centred approach then we want to hear from you.

You may also be involved in assisting with home visits or patients on other wards as required.

Previous experience in a healthcare setting is essential and experience of working with patients in a rehabilitation context will be an advantage. An ability to demonstrate a proactive flexible approach and to be able to work well on own initiative is essential.

Working for our organisation

MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• On site nursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

If you have the appropriate experience to work with these patients, an understanding of the importance of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation, can demonstrate a commitment to compassionate care and feel you have the commitment for this intense learning experience we would love to hear from you.

If successful, your application is then submitted to the relevant University who are the final decision makers about your acceptance onto the course, following the University admission process.

The entries requirements for the available University courses will be attached. (University of Northampton in the link below)

Please review the entries requirements carefully prior to application.

Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship | University of Northampton

Part of this process requires physical copies of your previous academic qualifications being presented. Please add detail of these to your application and bring physical copies to interview, should you be invited.

In line with Apprenticeship Funding rules, please only apply for this role if all of the below factors apply to you. If you are unsure of any of these, please email us on [email protected], highlighting the role you are applying for and what your query is.

• You are 16 years old or over,
• You have resided in the UK or EEA for at least the past 3 years,
• You can produce evidence of your Maths & English GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications,
• You will not be in full time education at the point of starting this role,
• You have not previously undertaken a similar or higher qualification (E.g a degree or Masters in Occupational or Physiotherapy)

If you are unsure if your circumstances meet the above criteria, please email [email protected] and we can advise.

Your contract will reflect the development post. For the first 12 months of the apprenticeship, you will be paid the national apprentice wage. From months 13 to the end of the course, you will receive the national pay vs your age. If successful vs all criteria, you will be offered a permanent band 4 post with us once the course is completed.

For existing members of staff, Annex 30 may apply, of which pay rates may differ. To find out more, email us on [email protected].

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Laura Sturgeon, Inpatient Therapy Service Lead, directly on 01908 995447 or alternatively email [email protected]

Or [email protected]

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Evidence of a good standard of education 5 GCSE’s grade C and above or equivalent, including English and Math’s
• Level 3 qualification or higher in relevant subject area, for example in Allied Health Apprenticeship or equivalent level of knowledge and experience e.g. Sport Science degree or 3 A-levels (excluding general studies)
• Suitable level of experience as demonstrated by a CPD portfolio to match the job description

• Assistant Membership of professional body e.g. COT
• Willingness to undertake training to meet competency framework
• Have an understanding of electronic notes systems, and have good IT skills
• Understanding of the scope of the role of an Apprentice Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development

Experience

• Previous experience of working in health care
• Experience of working with the general public

• Previous experience of working as an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assistant
• Experience of exercise prescription
• Substantial previous experience in heath or social care setting/ NHS including rehabilitation/ reablement and multidisciplinary and/ or multi-agency working
• Understand patients that are frail, elderly and have multi pathologies including mental health problems
• Previous experience of independent caseload management

Skills

• Good time management and able to multi task
• Ability to accurately record clinical record in a timely and concise way within required documentation standards
• Ability to be aware of clinical & non-clinical complications & risks
• Understanding of audit and patient outcomes
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

• Ability to prioritise own workload appropriately and have excellent time management skills
• Values the importance of multi-disciplinary and multi-professional working for improved patient experience and outcomes

Personal and people development

• Be able to reflect and critically appraise own performance and acknowledge own needs and limitations

• Have an excellent attitude towards continuing personal and professional development
• Ability to supervise and delegate duties to junior member of the team
• Ability to participate in the teaching and induction of newly appointed staff and students

Communication

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal, non-verbal and written

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
• To be able to have access to transport to complete the required clinical placements at alternative sites
• Be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the Therapy department