Occupational Therapy Assistant inDartford inDartford PUBLISHED MON 25 NOV 2024

We are seeking to recruit a part time (27.5hrs a week) Occupational Therapy Assistant with a passion & enthusiasm for working in Perinatal Mental Health to join our multi professional team working within the specialist Perinatal Rosewood Mother and Baby unit (MBU) located in Dartford.

Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist and in consultation with professionally registered members of the Multidisciplinary Team the post holder will be expected to assist in the delivery of therapeutic interventions within the Rosewood Mother & Baby Unit by

• Using skills and experience to plan and provide flexible, patient centred, 1:1 or group activity-based interventions that contribute to meeting the assessed needs of mothers and treatment service as outlined within their care plan.
• Working alongside the multidisciplinary team to facilitate therapeutic interventions for mothers & their baby
• Undertaking clinically related administration, and to assist with non-clinical tasks to ensure the smooth running of a service, to mothers and their baby, guided by an appropriate senior colleague.

Working Hrs

Monday - 10-6pm (7.5hrs)

Wednesday - 10-6pm (7.5hrs)

Thursday 10-4.30 (6hrs) alternate Saturday/Sunday

Friday 11 - 6pm (6.5hrs)

The successful candidates will (under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist) and in consultation with professionally registered members of the Multidisciplinary Team assist in the delivery of specialist Occupational Therapy services to mothers, & infants during their in-patient stay on the MBU:

• Using skills and experience to plan and provide flexible, patient centred, 1:1 or group activity-based interventions that contribute to meeting the assessed needs of mothers and treatment services as outlined within their care plan;
• Working alongside the multidisciplinary team to facilitate therapeutic interventions for the mother & infant;
• Undertaking clinically related administration, and assisting with non-clinical tasks to ensure the smooth running of the service, to mothers, guided by an appropriate senior colleague.

The post-holder will be based at the Rosewood MBU

The candidates must be educated to NVQ Level 3 or similar in a relevant subject; have prior work experience in a similar work/care setting, have experiences of engaging with people with differing needs and abilities, of working with service users and families and of multi-professional team working.

About us

To work effectively as a member of the MDT assisting in delivering individual or group interventions to promote the strengths, well-being and recovery of mothers.

• To monitor the mothers progress, reporting on their psychological, physical, behavioural, occupational and social response to interventions.
• To adapt interventions ensuring that they support the mother to meet their needs, including regard for cultural and linguistic differences, adjusting own approach accordingly.
• To assist with or contribute to the assessment of activities of daily living, maintaining the mothers dignity and privacy, observing changes both positive and negative and reporting appropriately.
• To effectively establish a therapeutic relationship with mothers
• To contribute to and comply with individual, environmental and activity-related risk assessments and to communicate issues around risk to others involved in the mothers care.
• To support and undertake community access /engagement for mothers & their infant
• To assist with non-clinical tasks to ensure the smooth running of a service guided by an appropriate senior colleague.
• To attend and actively participate in relevant clinical meetings/forums.

RESPONSIBILITY :

• Working with mothers & their baby during their in-patient stay
• To undertake and assist in the delivery of therapeutic interventions for mothers
• To ensure that the Trusts values are upheld in Occupational Therapy practice
• To support the implementation of the current and future Allied Health Professions (AHP) strategy
• To travel between locations in a timely manner
• To be aware of own and others' health, safety and security at all times.
• To contribute to the induction, training and education of students and staff.
• In line with Trust policy and guidelines, review and reflect on own practice and performance through regular participation in clinical supervision and appraisal.

ENVIRONMENT:

• Supporting mothers to function to their optimal ability in their environment. This can involve working in a diverse range of settings with a range of associated demands. For example challenging behaviours and/or exposure to poor hygiene (personal/environmental).
• Maintaining and promoting a safe environment taking account of infection control and identifying and reporting hazards and risks in a timely manner.
• Accompanying, escorting and transporting mothers as required.
• Driving unit vehicles as per needs of the service and as individual capabilities allow.
• Working contracted hours as per the requirements of the service. May also be required, at times, to work at other Trust units and/or sites.
• Physically able to carry out all duties required of the clinical setting, including successful completion of physical interventions, training as required.

Please see job description for full details.