Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Are you passionate about enabling people to achieve their best quality of life? Are you creative, a good problem solver and able to work out what minimises a person's distress and allows them to engage purposefully in those activities that are meaningful to them? Then this is the job for you.
Join our dynamic occupational therapy team at our Dementia and Frailty ward at the Thurrock Community Hospital.
We believe in fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where every team member is valued. If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of our patients and grow your career with a supportive team, we want to hear from you!
We provide in-house training and will consider any applicant interested in our EPUT apprenticeship scheme.
Main duties of the job
To support the delivery of occupational therapy interventions for older adults with dementia. The role is primarily focused on the assessment and treatment of individuals with diagnosed dementias and may have comorbid physical health needs. The focus is to create strategies and treatments that promote independence, enhance quality of life, and minimise distress.
Job responsibilities
1. To work as part of the Occupational Therapy Service implementing Occupational Therapy programmes under the direction of qualified staff.
2. To work in collaboration with the MDT to maximise the individuals potential to remain independent, minimise distress and offer opportunities for purposeful engagement.
3. Following in-house training carry out functional assessments to determine individuals occupational performance in purposeful activity and activities of daily living.
4. Carry out delegated targeted interventions on a 1:1 or group basis as directed by the Occupational Therapist.
5. Carry out delegated treatments to remove barriers to discharge and enable individuals to be discharged to least restrictive accommodation.
6. Carry out specific targeted interventions to establish a routine or structure of engagement that minimises challenging behaviour.
7. Provide a range of wellbeing interventions to aid recovery and improve health and function.
8. Provide a range of wellbeing interventions to gain coping skills and promote health.
9. To utilise therapeutic strategies to engage patients to maximise function and limit the loss of independence.
10. To develop rapport with patients to encourage their interest and develop/maintain skills.
11. To be aware of individual patients needs and risks through communication with Occupational Therapy and Nursing staff.
12. To gather information on patients function both through reading through records and direct patient contact and report to the Occupational Therapist to support recovery and discharge.
13. To observe general behaviour, ability and response of patients to engagement in interventions.
14. To have an awareness of the situations that may make patients vulnerable or at risk.
15. To report any concerns immediately to qualified staff.
16. To respect patients choices and confidentiality at all times.
17. To record interventions in an agreed format.
18. Any other tasks delegated by qualified staff as appropriate to grade and experience.
19. To support the administration of the team as required.
20. To complete necessary statistical information, e.g. daily diary sheets.
21. To note any faulty equipment and inform qualified staff.
22. To ensure work areas are kept clean and tidy.
23. Attend professional Occupational Therapy meetings as required.
24. To undertake annual appraisal and to contribute constructively to the supervision process.
25. To comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.
26. Any other duties as delegated by your Director or Chief Executive commensurate with the responsibilities of this post.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of people with Dementia or similar difficulties.
* Experience of working with older adults.
* Experience of working with physical health conditions/disability.
* Experience of sensory interventions.
* Experience of challenging behaviour.
* Experience of people with limited verbal communication skills.
Knowledge and skills
* Knowledge of sensory approaches.
* Skills in simplifying activities of daily living.
* Understanding motivation and engagement.
* Enthusiastic and able to motivate others.
* Interested and motivated to work with this client group.
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.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum, pro rata for part time, plus 5% HCA
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