Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Occupational Therapy Support Worker to work within the Carmarthenshire Older Adult Mental Health Assessment Ward in Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli (Bryngolau ward).
The successful candidate will work within a multi-disciplinary team. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm and motivation to support the ward Occupational Therapist in delivering a high quality service to ensure the experience of patients on the ward is enriched through use of meaningful occupation.
The successful applicant will have experience of working with Older Adults and will have a particular interest in Older Adult Mental Health. To apply you should have a NVQ level 3 or equivalent plus relevant experience working in a therapy setting. The post holder will be expected to complete the All Wales Occupational Therapy Support Worker Diploma and will have access to regular supervision.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work with clients who have dementia including younger dementia sufferers and those older people living with functional mental illness with increased complexity; due to physical ill health and the physiology of ageing. The ability to work in partnership with carers/family members and services in the community is essential.
The post holder will work in the inpatient ward and community as directed by the Occupational Therapist and promote independence, health, wellbeing and safety. They will undertake simple occupationally focussed assessments and deliver a variety of Occupational Therapy therapeutic interventions. The post holder will be required to use creative skills to provide a flexible, person centred programme of meaningful activities for individuals/groups of patients, aimed at restoring and maintaining functional ability. The role requires a person that can work effectively with a team to achieve good patient experiences and outcomes to support multi-disciplinary care and discharge planning to enable the person to live well.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 25/09/2024.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
1. Good command of English Language and basic Maths skills
2. NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in relation to health and social care.
3. Additional knowledge and experience of Occupational Therapy principles and grading/ task analysis to improve function
4. Ability and willingness to complete the Level 3 /4 OT Support Worker Diploma
5. Understands the functional impact of dementia and other mental health conditions.
6. Knowledge of leisure, creative and technical skills and its application within one to one and group interventions.
7. Working knowledge of basic aids/equipment for independence
8. Demonstrates knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in Health and Social care.
9. Health, safety and risk awareness.
Desirable
10. Relevant additional courses to support clinical work Motivational interviewing, Teepa Snow training, Pool Activity Level, Sensory integration, cognitive stimulation therapy (CST)
11. Trusted assessor training
Other
Essential
12. Calm, confident, caring, approachable and reliable
13. Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner.
Experience
Essential
14. Experience of working as a support worker in occupational therapy or associated field.
15. Experience of carrying out basic assessments personal care and kitchen
16. Experience of working within elderly adult care and dementia
17. Experience of working as part of a team.
18. Experience of grading and adapting activities for rehabilitation to promote independence
19. Experience of working autonomously within ward and or community setting
20. Experience of using a computer with knowledge of common office software
Desirable
21. Additional clinical or healthcare related experience
Language Skills
Desirable
22. Welsh Speaker (Level 1)