Occupational Therapy Assistant

King's College Hospital has a large Therapy department with 250+ therapists from Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. Each service is organised under a Head of Profession with a Chief of Therapies heading up the service and representing Therapies across the Trust. The department has a well established supervision and appraisal system in place which ensures all staff is given opportunities to develop skills and knowledge and to reach their full potential.
Successful candidates will assist the Occupational Therapists to maintain a high standard of patient care by undertaking delegated interventions with patients and administrative duties to support the functioning of the department. The specific clinical and administrative duties vary from area to area.
We are looking for someone with good communication skills and the ability to work flexibly. Good written, computer, organisational and time management skills are essential. The work requires fitness to assist in manual handling of patients. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate knowledge of occupational therapy and evidence of providing support to people with healthcare difficulties.
The post holder requires a flexible approach to working and be able to undertake weekend working commitments as part of a 7 day working rota.
This job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested., The post holder will assist the occupational therapists to maintain a high standard of patient care in Older adults frailty services, by undertaking delegated clinical programmes of management. The role also includes general administration to support the running of the department, utilisation and stock checking of resources and equipment and other non-clinical tasks as required. The specific clinical and administrative duties vary from area to area.
Occupational therapy assistants do not hold a professional qualification, and work only under the direction of qualified occupational therapist and require a period of induction and training, approximately three months, to achieve required competency to perform all tasks.
The post requires a flexible approach to working across services and the commitment to undertake weekend as required., 1. To identify risks, complete basic risk assessments prior to sessions and raise concerns to other members of staff.
2. Once inducted, to work with patients with minimal or no direct supervision of an occupational therapist and deliver the recommended occupational therapy rehabilitation programme.
3. To carry own caseload of patients, with straightforward occupational therapy problems, as delegated by the occupational therapist.
4. To assist with the care and wellbeing of patients including receiving them, transporting to treatment area, preparing drinks, supervising or assisting with drinking, toileting, dressing and undressing as part of their treatment programme.
5. To provide treatment to patients following a pre-prescribed treatment plan utilising a variety of basic occupational therapy techniques such as assisting a patient to carryout activities of daily living.
6. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
7. To monitor patients' physical and cognitive function whilst undertaking a range of activities and report changes to the occupational therapist.
8. To assist with removal and application of functional/supportive aids e.g. prostheses, splints and assist in the manufacture of splints and ensuring comfort of new splints by accurate final finishing.
9. To assist the occupational therapist with individual/ group treatments progressing to independent routine treatment sessions and supervision of groups where maintenance of function is the objective.
10. To measure, adjust and supply equipment to patients in their homes before discharge. To teach the patient and carers safe usage of equipment. Develop clinical judgement skills regarding routine supply of equipment for independence using a protocol or instruction from the occupational therapist.
11. To assess the safety of patients whilst carrying out activities of daily living in line with agreed protocol, documenting safety in patients' clinical notes.
12. To collect data from patients for recognised outcome measures and document for the occupational therapist to interpret.
13. To organise delegated work tasks and activities being flexible to the needs of the service as indicated by the occupational therapist.
COMMUNICATION
1. To take and relay messages accurately on the telephone and face to face with patients, relatives, health care professionals and others e.g. company representatives.
2. To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient's condition and treatment progress.
3. To develop skills in participating in meetings and handovers, taking and receiving occupational therapy information about known patient group
4. To be able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication will be tailored to the patients'/carers' level of comprehension or cognition e.g. using interpreters.
5. To liaise with health care professionals and occupational therapists on a day-to-day basis in clinical area of work, with regard to patient care.
6. To book transport for access visits and home visits.
7. To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department, both clinically and administratively.
8. To maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times in line with trust and departmental policies.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
1. To maintain accurate and timely patient notes and activity records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records.
2. To use departmental/ trust software e.g. EPIC, or occupational therapy tools.
3. To undertake non-clinical induction of assistants and students as required.
4. To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.
5. To be responsible for competent use, maintenance and cleaning of all equipment used, to report defects in equipment in a timely manner to the clinical lead in the area and locate missing items.
6. To understand the function and use of departmental equipment and be able to use safely jointly with occupational therapy staff or independently with own patients.
7. To undertake routine light cleaning/tidying tasks of clinical equipment e.g. wheelchairs, electrical equipment.
8. To administer any equipment loan monitoring system and liaise with maintenance engineers where appropriate.
9. To undertake administrative tasks particularly related to photocopying, record keeping, filing, errands and making appointments.
10. To be responsible for stock control within clinical areas ensuring consistent supply and request new orders from the departmental secretary, including using catalogues for new equipment.
11. Collect, unpack and store new supplies.
12. To administer appropriate systems for the managing the petty cash and stock control in relevant place of work.
13. To monitor levels, condition and date of contents in resuscitation trolley or first aid box, in relevant areas, on a regular basis and ensure new supplies are requested as required.
14. To comment on changes to departmental policies, procedures and service development as required., 1. To demonstrate capability in occupational therapy assistant skills, by completing the tasks listed in the assistant induction and competency checklist, within the first 3 months of employment.
2. To participate in the supervision and appraisal process and be proactive in own learning and objective setting.
3. To undertake in-service training to improve patient care and for personal development and organise programme on a rotational basis.
4. To participate in the department's ongoing audit programme as required.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To live and role model the King's Trust Values and Vision.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.
All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;
+ attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
+ familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
+ reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.