We are seeking to recruit a part-time (22.5hrs 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.
The new post holder will job-share across a 7‑day week, with our existing OTA working 3 x 12pm‑8pm shifts a week.
Example:
* Week 2 = Saturday, Sunday, Monday
* Week 4 = Saturday, Sunday, Monday
The post holders will alternate working every other weekend as above.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate 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
We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all‑age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Job responsibilities
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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* An accredited award such as an NVQ Level 3 or similar in relevant subject.
* Care certificate or the ability to achieve within role.
Experience
* Prior work experience in a similar work / care setting.
* Experiences of engaging with people with different needs and abilities.
* Experience of working with perinatal clients.
Knowledge
* Knowledge and experience of working within a person centred, recovery oriented framework.
* Basic factual knowledge of the importance of enabling people to do the things they want, or need or are expected to do to support them in being well in life.
* Knowledge of child / infant development.
Skills
* An ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
* To be able to work autonomously, but collaboratively within a team.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum pro rata plus HCAS
#J-18808-Ljbffr