Occupational Therapy Assistant

Burton Park is a 50 bedded inpatient specialist neuro-rehabilitation service for treating and discharging people with complex neuropsychiatric needs. The site is split across 3 units:

- Warwick Lodge specialise in providing support and care for people living with permanent cognitive impairment and progressive neurological conditions.
- Cleves Lodge specialise in ABI (including slow stream rehabilitation) and neurobehavioural disability
- Dalby Unit - Currently closed

Burton Park employs the full multidisciplinary range of services to provide rehabilitation and/or stabilisation of mood and behaviour. We provide individual treatment programmes with time-lined goals and objectives to support the resident to achieve optimum rehabilitation or behaviour stabilisation, to achieve their potential and to work towards successful, sustainable discharge.

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant your role will require you to work with patients using evidence-based and patient-centred principles to provide patients with the confidence, skills and coping strategies required to maximise their independence in activities of daily living.

Under the supervision and guidance of a registered Occupational Therapist, the post holder will be expected to assist in the delivery of therapeutic interventions within the service.

Main Duties:

- Supports senior staff as part of the occupational therapy process, assisting with assessments as directed, through admission to discharge.
- Implement and evaluate basic therapy interventions for patients in activities relating to their care plans
- Monitoring equipment supplied by a qualified occupational therapist Ensuring that staff and patients are using the equipment safely and effectively - reporting any concerns to qualified staff
- Ensures the effective, timely and accurate updating of clinical records and documentation.

Specific responsibilities

Communication
- To communicate effectively with OT at all times, participate in regular meetings and handovers with other members of the OT service, wider therapy team and with other disciplines where needed.
- To provide and receive routine information to and from staff, patients and carers and to share this when appropriate
- To communicate factual information to patients - with direction from qualified staff
- To encourage patients to engage in their rehabilitation programme using encouragement, reassurance and sensitivity; overcome barriers to understanding with patients whose understanding is impaired.
- To be able to maintain records and documentation required by work settings in accordance with Priory policies and Therapy specifications

Clinical responsibilities
- To implement care plans as directed by occupational therapist
- To plan and implement one to one and group sessions - these may include community visits, therapeutic activity and supporting and monitoring of activities of daily living skills - to be fully discussed with OT
- To contribute to treatment planning with occupational therapist
- To assist therapist to carry out identified home and community assessments where necessary
- To provide advice to patients/carers on safe use and care of prescribed equipment.
- To assess patient’s engagement motivation/mental state/cognition and physical aspects during treatment sessions and report back to OT
- To actively engage with risk assessment and follow any directives as needed - ensuring the safety of patients and staff

Planning and organisation skills
- To manage time effectively, prioritising tasks
- Being adaptable to change and service need
- To follow timetable as allocated by occupational therapist
- To complete daily Timesheets to record sessions and other duties

Personal development
- To complete relevant training as directed
- To support with any students as needed
- To follow all policy and procedures as directed
- To complete OTA competencies with OT

In return for your expertise and hard work, we offer a wide range of benefits:

- Comprehensive induction and commitment to ongoing training
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
- Online benefits and cashback rewards
- Cycle to work scheme
- A Group Personal Pension Plan (GPPP)
- Private Medical Insurance Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Services