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SalaryAs an assistant practitioner your role will be to assist Occupational Therapists, Employment Advisors and other staff in assessment & intervention of clients with a Learning Disability and other disabilities needing specialised employment support. You will be required to provide vocational Assessments with clients in the most appropriate setting. You will carry a changing caseload under the supervision of an OT.
As an OT Assistant in Equals – employment for all is the goal. Using personalised interventions, employer relationships and partnerships, to support those with learning difficulties and long-term conditions (pan-disability).
The role aims to bridge the gap and empower equal opportunities for employment for those vulnerable individuals with Learning Disabilities. As a core principle in OT is ‘Equality’ this is our ethos in the Equals department of Enfield ILDS
To work with Equals Employment Team to get adults with Learning Disabilities living in Enfield into paid Employment
To use all their Assistant Practitioner skills to assess adults with Learning Disabilities and other SEN Disabilities who want to work, in functional work environments in a person-centred way.
To work creatively in identifying suitable places in the community to assess your client, ensuring Health and Safety protocols are observed and Clinical & Environmental Risks are reduced.
To go into the workplace to assess specific work skills and look at potential adaptions and reasonable adjustments, contributing to the clients ‘Support Me’ Plan and liaising with the employer to maintain the work placement.
To make instructions more accessible and create ‘tools’ to enable easier communication in the workplace would be an asset, especially when placing someone with high needs.
Using a strength based, person-centred approach to identify client skills, support systems required and valued work placements
To work with MDT to ensure employment goals are met and reviewed
The partnership betweenBarnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH)andCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I)is going from strength to strength since it was originally established in 2021 forming theNorth London Mental Partnership.
Why choose to join the Partnership?
- We believe that by working together, our two Trusts can achieve more for the residents of North Central London and our patients than we can by working apart.
- Deliver the best care using the most up-to-date practise in supporting those with mental health illnesses.
- Transforming and creating a positive environment for our service users, staff and visitors.
- Creating and working together to become a great place to work for all our staff.
- We offer flexible working, a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives, NHS Pension and so much more.
- Generous Annual Leave Allowance
- NHS Discounts in a large variety of retail stores and services.
- We have excellent internal staff network support groups.
RELATIONSHIPS/COMMUNICATIONS
1. To demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
1. To establish and maintain effective relationships with learners with
complex learning, emotional and behavioural needs and their
carer’s/parents, other professionals and agencies; in order to ensure a
comprehensive and consistent approach to client care.
1. To utilise varied communication techniques and resources to ensure that you are understood by and that you understand clients with communication difficulties eg non-verbal, hearing and visual impairments, cultural/language differences.
1. To form professional relationships with clients and their families and carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
1. To adjust communication methods in response to learners needs
including the use of Alternative and Augmented Communication
(AAC), interpreters, Assistive Technology and talking mats.
1. To provide and receive personal and confidential information of a sensitive nature relating to residents, service users and carers demonstrating empathy and reassurance.
1. To report effectively to the team on clients performance/progress or regression.
1. To attend Multidisciplinary meetings, reviews and case conferences including adult and child protection meetings and report on client progress.
1. To liaise with other disciplines and agencies in health, social services, public, private and voluntary sectors on behalf of the service and to foster effective community relationships .
1. To confidentially handle and liaise regarding sensitive issues and
information with other services.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial responsibility
1. This role will require the post holder to be financially aware of the impact that getting a paid job has on an individual’s benefits &livelihood.
1. You will be required to work with DWP enabling Service users to access available funding streams and support
Responsibility for Human Resources
1. To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting
1. To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers
1. CPD training is encouraged for ongoing staff development.
1. Mandatory training will require completion and role specific training will be offered.
Responsibility for Administration
1. As part of the Employment Team Post holder to assist in the planning and facilitation of job clubs for service users to ensure regular support and contact with clients on caseload.
1. To ensure records for caseload are up to date.
1. To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents in relation to clients’ progress.
1. To write summaries of intervention to be incorporated into assessments and reports.
1. To ensure that timely and accurate written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with service, professional and Trust Standards.
Responsibility for IT and Digital Systems/Services
1. To ensure service user record and notes are uploaded onto Eclipse and any non-confidential forms/documents to be securely stored onto the shared drive.
1. To be responsible for the working order of your own IT Hardware and software, accessing IT helpdesks as necessary
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To complete face-to-face appointments with clients, family or employer in the office or community as appropriate
1. Community working required when completing work assessments with service user/ engaging with employers on site.
1. To engage, deliver and evaluate specialist clinical interventions using technical & creative activities to promote independence and wellbeing that support the client to achieve agreed goals.
1. To monitor client’s progress, taking account of their environment and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly using supervision as appropriate.
1. Contribute to formal assessments and provide feedback on clients’ occupational functioning
1. According to service needs, to be responsible for designated caseload under supervision
1. To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, with supervision of a registered therapist.
1. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
1. To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based
Occupational Therapy assessments for service users with a variety of needs
within Enfield in order to establish and meet their employment and productivity
needs.
1. To support service users/ family to ensure that occupational
independence targets and goals are developed and reviewed in
partnership with MDT and identified others and that they reflect
employment/educational goals.
1. To be aware of medication issues that may impact on the service user’s
occupational performance, especially in an employment capacity.
1. To work in partnership with employers in and around Enfield, maintain existing partnerships and forge new partnerships.
POLICY / SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
1. The post holder will work at part of the Equals, OT, Therapies and wider ILDS Teams and as such will be expected to contribute the day to day running and development of the service
1. The job holder will be responsible for managing their own workload and using their own initiative in meeting the needs of the client
1. The post holder will review their work & caseload with their own supervisor regularly to manage the risk and complexity of workload
1. Along with other staff you will be expected to keep up to date with current practice & guidance and contribute to changes to the service policies & processes
1. Along with other staff you may be required to work along side other staff/ teams to complete projects or enable pathways
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
1. To participate in therapies team & Service audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.
1. To be part of or undertake research tasks as part of role or service development.
GENERAL
1. All staff are responsible for the continual compliance with CQC standards and outcomes.
1. The postholder must be aware of, and work in line with, the Trust’s Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures.
1. To ensure that areas are well maintained and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials
1. To maintain and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job
Many adults with Learning Disabilities present with communication, emotional, social and psychological difficulties and can also have complex physical and mental health needs, e.g. dementia, forensic mental health histories, psychosis, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Whilst providing intervention in the community you will be responsible to plan and risk assess the individual and their circumstances to minimise risks. This is to ensure the safety and security of you, the client and the public, as clients may be vulnerable and present with behaviours that prevent them from safely accessing ordinary community facilities.
The post requires the use of equipment and skills that necessitates training in specific handling and management techniques, Physical Intervention, Systematic Instruction
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
All staff are required to be appraised by their line managers at least once a year at a personal development review meeting where progress made over the last year is discussed and agreed. Focus on the following year’s departmental and personal objectives will be identified, discussed and agreed. Where necessary, help and support will be provided and development opportunities agreed in line with service provision and knowledge and skills competency framework.
