Job Description Job Title: Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor Responsible to: Occupational Therapist Hours: 37.5 Last updated: April 2015 Base: Worrall House 30 Kingshill Ave Kent ME19 4AE AFC Banding: 4 Job Summary To plan and provide therapeutic activities tailored to individual needs of adults with a Learning Disability within the framework laid down by the Occupational Therapist. To report back to the Occupational Therapist and relevant multi-agency personnel the progress and changes of individuals during interventions. To work within the College of Occupational Therapy standards and the Kent s Quality Assurance programme. To be responsible for equipment and resources used by Occupational Therapy (OT) staff for Assessment and Interventions. Organisational Chart Head of Profession - Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead - Occupational Therapy Specialist Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor Dimensions Budgetary responsibility none directly, however efficient use of petty cash is an integral part of this post. Supervisory responsibility none directly, however the post holder will supervise carers and/or members of the multi-disciplinary community team in their role of working with a client with a learning disability. The post holder will cover a specific locality and where required work within the Trusts other geographical areas. Key Result Areas Communication and Working Relationships Develop professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
Use a style of communication appropriate to the level of understanding of the individual, e.g. using, Makaton, symbols or objects of reference. Report effectively to the Occupational Therapist during supervision and to the multi-disciplinary team on the individual s progress. Provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to clients progress. Correspond and communicate with external agencies on relevant matters. Network with other Technical Instructors and other OT team members to share skills and experiences. Analytical and Judgement skills: Plan and provide a programme of therapeutic activities tailored to the individual or group within the framework laid down by the Occupation Therapist Decide on priorities within own workload, balancing both patient and professional demands. Evaluate the planned OT intervention for service users in activities relating to their treatment programme and provide written and verbal reports as required. Take responsibility for own clinical standards ensuring the appropriate use of outcome measures and evidence based practice. Planning and Organisational skills: Work to agreed goals for measurable qualitative and quantitative improvements to the service. Facilitating group or individual work planned with a registered OT in various community settings. Be responsible for own designated area of work, planning and organising treatment and use of time for the patients benefit. Physical skills: Be able to communicate effectively using both verbal and non-verbal methods Demonstrate and teach appropriate techniques to clients, parents, carers and staff as needed. Basic keyboard skills Able to drive Responsibility for Patient/Client Care: Assist in the development and implementation of a specialist programme of care that provides individual advice and care to patients with learning disabilities. Be responsible for the safe use, storage and maintenance of equipment, report any defects immediately and ensure repairs are completed speedily. Ensure that client, relatives, carers and staff are appropriately trained in the use of any equipment provided. Maintain accurate records of all interventions. Communicate effectively with colleagues Provide OT input at a variety of settings Communicate effectively with colleagues Support clients in maximising their potential.
Responsibilities for policy and service development implementation: Contribute to the continuing development of the Occupational Therapy Service following professional code of conduct and quality Assurance Programme. Actively participate in delivering the local clinical governance agenda. Develop services with reference to NICE guidance. Take part in on-going training opportunities and regular clinical supervision to ensure standards are maintained at the highest level and that advice given to others is evidence based and up to date. Adhere to standards/policies set by Kent Community Health NHS Trust Responsibilities for financial and physical resources: Maintain equipment library. Plan and identify future equipment needs. Regular stock taking. Maintaining equipment lists and keeping loan equipment records. Ensure all equipment is maintained to Health and Safety standards. Responsibilities for Human Resources: Participate in staff appraisal and personal development plan as appraisee. Teach and advise other members of the multi-disciplinary team, Occupational Therapists and students. Actively contribute to the continuing professional development in-service training programme. Provide non clinical induction for students and new staff members, as required by Senior Occupational Therapy staff Responsibilities for Information Resources: To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with OT Profession and Trust Standards. Ensure accurate and timely statistical reports are completed and appropriately analysed and utilised to improve service efficiency. Ensure patient records are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Attend relevant meetings and lectures, taking minutes as required. Responsibilities for Research and Development: Read relevant books, articles, journals e.g. BJOT and magazines. Research via the intranet and internet. Ensure that best practice is used during OT Intervention. Maintain own continuing professional development and keep up to date with new developments and research based practice. Participate in surveys/audits as requested. Freedom to Act: Be familiar with Health and Safety aspects of work, and abide by Trust and service specific policies. Ensure all mandatory training is up to date.
Be familiar with and abide by service specific policies. Physical Effort Daily exertion of physical effort variable from mild to intense dependent on the caseload. The post holder will be working as part of a domiciliary visiting service and will frequently be required to work in clients own home or usual place of residence which involves the manual handling of clients who are potentially unknown and can be very dependent. Moving, bending, stretching and twisting. Manual handling of clients during treatment and assessment as well as handling of inanimate objects such as sleep systems and walking aids. Mental Effort Regular need for intense concentration on assessments and treatments for clients, their families and carers. Report and letter writing on a daily basis. Driving over a wide geographical area. Map reading skills are required particularly in unknown areas. The post holder is exposed to prolonged intense concentration due to the unpredictable nature of the job and requires the ability to work with regular interruptions from other staff, clients and carers. Interruptions can be face to face or by telephone. The post holder is required to prioritise, especially in the times of a client crisis and remain flexible within daily working arrangements, demands, constraints and limited time and resources. Emotional Effort Treating people with learning disabilities can involve frequent exposure to highly emotional, traumatic or distressing circumstances. To be able deal with tact and empathy with clients, relatives, carers, who are involved with long term disability Working Conditions Community based environment with occasional exposure to unpleasant conditions e.g. bodily fluids, challenging behaviour, lone working. On Call This post does not require participation in an on call rota. Corporate Accountabilities Standards of Business conduct The post-holder will be required to comply with the Trust s Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions, and at all times deal honestly with the Trust, with colleagues and all those who have dealings with the Trust, including patients, relatives and suppliers.
All Trust staff may be involved directly or indirectly with people who are receiving a health service. Therefore, the Trust is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and this post may be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. It should also be stated here if the post holder is expected to adhere to any professional guidelines or codes of conduct, for example the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional conduct. Risk Management The post-holder will ensure compliance with the Trust s risk management policies and procedures. These describe the Trust s commitment to risk management, the recognition that our aim is to protect patients, staff and visitors from harm, and stress that all staff have a responsibility to minimise risk. Governance Standards Comply with the relevant governance standards applicable to the Trust as communicated to the postholder from time to time. Data Protection To comply with Trust Policies and the Data Protection Act in all respects, with particular relevance to the protection and use of patient information. Confidentiality The Trust s employees are required to ensure that information about patients is safeguarded to maintain confidentiality and is kept securely in accordance with NHS requirements of 1999. (The Caldicott Committee s Report on the review of patient-identifiable information 1997, & HSC/1999/012). This means that patient information can only be passed to someone else if it contributes to the provision of care or the effective management of health care services within the Trust. Child/Adult Safeguarding All staff must be familiar with and adhere to Trust child/adult safeguarding procedures and guidelines, in conjunction with Kent Safeguarding Children/Vulnerable Adults Board procedures and supporting policies/guidelines. All staff are required to attend child/adult safeguarding basic awareness training and additional training regarding child /adult safeguarding, commensurate to their position and role. Records Management To maintain Trust and patient records (both paper and electronic) in accordance with Trust policies to facilitate clinical care and effective administration. Freedom of Information To provide advice and assistance to all persons who propose to make, or have made requests for information, and to ensure all requests for information are managed appropriately in accordance with Trust Freedom of Information procedures. Security To comply with Trust policies to ensure there is a safe and secure environment that protects patients, staff and visitors and their property, and the physical assets and the information of the organisation. Infection Control The post holder will ensure compliance with the Trust s Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures and the Health Act 2006, ensuring that the risk of healthcare associated infection to service users and staff is minimised.
Whistleblowing The post holder has responsibility for patient and staff welfare and should raise any concerns relating to a breach of NHS policies and procedures with their manager or refer to the Whistleblowing Policy for alternative options. Environmental Impact The post-holder will ensure compliance with the Trust s environmental management policies and procedures. These describe the Trust s commitment to climate change and carbon management, the recognition that our aim is to protect the environment and the use of natural resources that all staff have a responsibility towards. Performance review This Job Description will be used as a basis for individual performance review between the post holder and the manager. The Job Description covers only the key result areas and, as such, does not intend to provide a comprehensive list of objectives. Specific objectives will be reviewed each April, and may develop to meet the changing needs of the service. The postholder will need to take due account, in the way they achieve the key result areas, of Trust policies and procedures. Equality and Diversity The Trust aims to maintain the goodwill and confidence of its own staff, service and users and the general public. To assist in achieving the objective it is essential that at all times employees carry out their duties in a courteous and sympathetic manner. The post holder will carry out their duties in accordance with the Trust s Equal Opportunities Policy respecting the differing backgrounds of colleagues and clients. Job description agreement Job holder s name Job holder s signature: Date: Line managers name and title Line managers signature Date
QUALIFICATIONS EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITIES PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES ABILITY TO MANAGE Person Specification ESSENTIAL NVQ3 / B.Tech in relevant areas OR equivalent qualification in subjects relevant to working with people with Learning Disabilities Experience of working with people with a learning disability Current policy issues relating to people with learning disabilities Demonstration of basic Occupational Therapy knowledge Excellent interpersonal and communication skills IT skills Car driver with valid UK driving licence Ability to work independently Evidence of accurate reporting / observation skills Enthusiasm and motivation Confident but approachable manner Flexible approach to changing circumstances, empathetic and reliable Demonstrates problem solving approach to assessments and treatments Smart, tidy, professional appearance Ability to manage own time and resources Ability to manage stressful situations. Ability to change communication style and approach as required. DESIRABLE Willingness to undertake further education / training Experience of working in an Occupational Therapy setting Knowledge of Valuing People 2001/2009 Mental Capacity Act Community Care