Address
Form of work
SalaryJob Description
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapy Assistant to join our dynamic, friendly and supportive team of occupational therapists.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated person with Occupational Therapy Assistant experience, good communication skills and the ability to work with people as part of a multidisciplinary team.
You will work with in-patients to assist the therapists to maximise patients' independence and ensure their safe discharge from hospital. The work is mostly ward based, but you may be required to accompany and assist Occupational Therapists on home/ access visits where necessary and appropriate. The post involves some manual handling of patients and equipment.
Main duties of the job
You will require:
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to complete manual handling tasks
- Ability to assist with self-care and activities of daily living
- Basic computer skills.
If you have excellent communication skills and want to assist in maximising patients' independence then this could be the post that you are looking for.
You will be supported by experienced senior staff and will have the opportunity to develop both clinically and professionally, working with junior staff and students.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
We are passionate in supporting our staff to develop and have great opportunities for career progression. We take equality and diversity seriously and seek to empower all diverse groups within our trust. We seek to develop a culture where diversity in all its forms is celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that women are empowered to work at all levels of management and that working patterns are as flexible as possible giving all members of staff opportunity to flourish in using their skills for our patients. We work across our trust to enable those who consider themselves to have a disability both visible and invisible to have access to all they need to thrive in their work environment. We work hard to embed an inclusive and accepting culture for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary staff. We have 78 nationalities working in our trust and we are proud of this. We are active in embracing the ethnic and cultural diversity in our trust. We work to empower people with any protected characteristic to have opportunities to work in an environment that helps them to contribute to the best of their ability, recognising and valuing the unique contributions each of us brings for best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to supporting the delivery of the Equality Act with zero tolerance for any discrimination, harassment or victimisation of applicants and staff with these protected characteristics. MTW also has active Disability, LGBT+ and Cultural Ethnic Minorities Networks to bring staff together and in act positive change!
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/ Occupational Therapy, NVQ 4 in health and social care or minimum of three years experience as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a AHP Support Worker Band 3
- Evidence of achieving the KSF dimensions of AHP Support Worker Band 3.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to motivate, facilitate and lead patients in a group environment as group leader
- Able to travel around local area, and between Trust hospital sites
- Good time management and organisational skills.
- Good communicator - verbally and written - with patients and others
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Experience at educating and training assistants and newly qualified therapists within clinical area of expertise
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address
Maidstone Hospital
Maidstone
ME16 9QQ
Employer's website
https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Manager
Jane Duffy
01892635688
Date posted
05 March 2024
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£25,147 to £27,596 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
359-5962139-T1-A
Job locations
Maidstone Hospital
Maidstone
ME16 9QQ
