Band 4: £26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum, pro rata
PERMANENT
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MULTI-DISCIPLINARY NHS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals by promoting their independence and dignity.
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, gaining diverse perspectives and collaborating with various professionals.
Engagement with a wide variety of service users, enhancing personal and professional skills through diverse experiences.
Contribute to innovative initiatives in care delivery, helping to shape the future of community health services.
Development of strong relationships with service users and their families, fostering trust and a sense of community.
Ongoing training and professional development opportunities, with support for personal growth and career advancement.
The Independent Living Officer at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust plays a crucial role within a multi-disciplinary team, providing essential support to adults across Calderdale who require assistance to maintain their independence at home. This position focuses on promoting dignity, choice, and quality of life for individuals who do not need specialist acute hospital care. Key responsibilities include assessing individual needs, implementing care plans, providing personal care, and recommending assistive technologies and adaptations to enhance mobility and independence. The role also involves supporting hospital discharges, preventing unnecessary admissions, and participating in community engagement activities.
Additionally, the Independent Living Officer is expected to document care accurately, manage prescribed medications, and collaborate with various professionals to ensure effective care delivery. The person in this role must demonstrate initiative, creativity, and a proactive attitude while often working independently in diverse home environments. Training and development opportunities will be pursued as part of the role, fostering positive relationships with colleagues and service users alike.
Additionally, the Independent Living Officer is expected to document care accurately, manage prescribed medications, and collaborate with various professionals to ensure effective care delivery. The person in this role must demonstrate initiative, creativity, and a proactive attitude while often working independently in diverse home environments. Training and development opportunities will be pursued as part of the role, fostering positive relationships with colleagues and service users alike.
Be a key member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team providing support to adults of all ages who do not require specialist acute hospital admission but require support to maintain their independence within their home setting. Placing emphasis on promoting and maintaining individuals' independence, dignity, and choice, undertaking medical, nursing or therapy related treatment programs or social care intervention to support and enable people.
Working across the whole of Calderdale, this role involves assessing a wide variety of situations, providing solutions (equipment, adaptations, and assistive technology), alongside caring and supporting individuals. Participate in new initiatives and future changes in care delivery including the Rapid Reablement Service as part of the Urgent Community Response Team. Support hospital discharges and prevent unnecessary admissions to hospitals.
About us
- Establish positive relationships with the people we provide care for within professional boundaries, promoting dignity, choice, and respect
- Working with people to encourage them to be able and independent by providing support and personal care to a range of service users in vastly different circumstances.
- Providing personal care, including washing, dressing, toileting, shaving, mouth care, catheter care, feeding, and meal preparation, with the objective of encouraging people to do these tasks independently. Support and enable service users to improve or maintain their mobility through exercise and the use of mobility appliances or fitting equipment ifappropriate.
- Recording/Documentation accurately. Read, respond, and act upon support plans, risk assessments, manual handling assessments, medication profiles, and other written information within the person's home. IT skills by completing mileage, booking A/L, toil, and applying for internal training on the system.
- Assist people, where appropriate, manage and take their prescribed medication according to their individualised medication profile and medication policy, be competent in dispensing medication from boxes and bottles, applying pain patches, contact chemist re medication, collection, and delivery prescriptions. Be competent in assisting a service user with stoma care and catheter care to recognise risks and report concerns to the appropriate person.
- Assess for equipment, assistive technology, and minor / major adaptations. To consider any preventative measures necessary to maintain independence, provide equipment, demonstrate, and instruct individuals, carers, and other professionals in the safe use of and provide ongoing training when required. Work will be carried out in patients own homes and the activities will include: a) Implementing treatment to protocols and based on competencies. b) Monitoring progress and feeding back to the registered practitioner or assistant practitioner c) Making minor adjustments to treatment programmes within predetermined limits d) Assisting registered practitioners with complex treatment. e) Community participation: support the individual and their families to identify community activities that will support the individual to maintain their connections with themselves, the people, and the environment surrounding them. f) Ability to use technology and interpret data to inform Reablement plans
- Attend training as identified through appraisal, in line with national minimum care standards, Skills Training and Council policy, and be proactive in any development opportunities as they arise. To assist in the induction of new colleagues and to maintain positive relationships within the team and beyond.
- Support and participate in treatment/exercise regimes and rehabilitation plans identified by other team members undertaking basic nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy roles following appropriate training, i.e., putting a splint on foot and following the exercise regime laid out, use of walking aids, deliver, and fit equipment.
- The initiative, to have a responsible attitude and a creative approach, to be open, you try new ways of working with service users and their carers. The ability to work alone and use your own initiative, however, also raise any issues that you feel need supervisory support and may have to deal with any emergency.
- Will be required to work in the homes of our service users. The types homes include houses, flats, sheltered housing, caravans, etc. some of which may be unpleasant or disagreeable, referring the difficult situations to the Locality Manager or Community Service Manager. This is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities of this post. The post holder may be required to carry out any other duties as directed; the responsibility level of any other duties should not exceed those outlined above.
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More about the NHS
The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values. Learn more...
Useful skills for an Independent Living Officer:
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To work as an Independent Living Officer in the UK, you typically need a combination of specific skills, knowledge, and qualities that support individuals in living independently. Here are some key skills and competencies that are beneficial for this role:
1. Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for effectively interacting with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
2. Empathy and Compassion: Understanding and sensitivity towards the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities or those requiring additional support.
3. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to assess situations, identify challenges, and develop practical solutions to support individuals in their independence.
4. Knowledge of Legislation and Services: Familiarity with relevant laws, policies, and services related to disability rights, social care, housing, and health services.
5. Organizational Skills: Strong planning and organizational abilities to manage caseloads, schedule appointments, and coordinate services.
6. Advocacy Skills: Ability to advocate for clients' needs and rights, ensuring they receive the appropriate support and resources.
7. Cultural Competency: Awareness and understanding of diverse backgrounds and experiences, allowing for respectful and inclusive support.
8. Assessment Skills: Ability to assess needs and risks, making informed recommendations for support and service provision.
9. Teamwork and Collaboration: Working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with social workers, healthcare professionals, and other service providers.
10. IT Skills: Proficiency in using computer systems for record-keeping, scheduling, and communication.
11. Crisis Management: Skills for dealing with emergencies or challenging situations in a calm and effective manner.
12. Resilience and Flexibility: Being adaptable to changing circumstances and requirements within the role as well as demonstrating resilience in facing the challenges of the job.
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