Assistant Therapy Practitioner

We are looking for a band 4 Assistant Therapy Practitioner to work in our Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Service (EMDASS) within Mental Health Services for Older People based at Colne House, Watford, Herts.

The OTs in EMDASS provide occupation based assessments and interventions and are involved both pre and post diagnosis. You would work independently in the community, working closely with a band 7 Occupational Therapist.

You would provide OT assessments and interventions using a variety of techniques such as confidence building, developing coping strategies, the use of life stories, telecare and equipment provision, Just Checking. There would be opportunities to provide group interventions and carer education.

You would:

Be part of an OT team

Be part of MDTs that value and respect OT

Be involved in CPD and reflective practice.

All our therapy staff are supervised by experienced Specialist/Head/Lead Occupational Therapists

Car driver essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)

At HPFT we also offer:
- Paid opportunities for Returning to Practice after a break or for those wanting to expand their experience into a new field of practice.
- Flexible bank work for qualified and unqualified experienced staff.,

• The band 4s would have a community caseload for EMDASS in Mental Health Services for Older People in the area.


• Facilitation of functional assessments for people given a diagnosis of dementia under supervision and instruction from the band 7 OT.


• Provision of OT interventions under supervision and instruction from the band 7 OT.


• Opportunities to be involved in training/CPD sessions.


• Use of MOHO - instruction/training provided., The band 4 ATP will work closely with the band 7 OT to provide assessment and interventions for service users who have been referred to EMDASS (Early Memory Diagnostic and Support Service). The role would include home assessments, equipment assessments and referrals, liaison and sign posting, life story work, telephone follow ups. The role is many and varied.


Main Responsibilities:

• To plan and facilitate occupationally based groups guided by an Occupational Therapist.


• To work individually with service users on specific tasks and therapeutic activity guided by an Occupational Therapist.


• To carry our specific Occupational Therapy assessments as guided by an Occupational Therapist.


• To promote a culture of engagement in meaningful occupation within the service in order to enhance quality of life.


• To provide interventions in the manner that is consistent with Trust standards and values.


• To provide feedback to the team regarding observed occupational performance during a session which will contribute to assessment and therapeutic interventions.


• To maintain clinical records using the electronic patient record system.


• To liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant.


• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.


• To attend mandatory training.


• To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor.


• To keep a record of your training and development activities.
  
  Knowledge of Occupational Therapy role within setting


• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office and associated packages


• A Levels and/or Health and Social Care NVQ level 3 or equivalent


Desirable criteria


• Degree in relevant subject, Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems


• Experience of leading groups and 1:1 interventions


• Ability to work autonomously


Desirable criteria


• Experience of working in a OT related setting


• Experience of service user and carer involvement in the development of services


• Knowledge of Recovery principles


• Functional Assessment Training
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.


Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were "blown away" by our people's achievements and that everything they saw "sings and hums". This year, our staff rated us the 4^th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional