Occupational Therapy Assistant

The Forensic Community Learning Disability and Autism Service is part of the ELFT Forensic Service, with an overarching aim of reducing the risk of offending or reoffending of adults with a diagnosis of Learning Disability and/ or Autism. The team provides a range of support across North East London, including complex case management and joint work with and consultation to numerous partner agencies such as other areas of the ELFT Forensic Service, criminal justice partners and Community Learning Disability Services, and providing a substantial programme of training. The team will also offer in reach to inpatients at The John Howard Centre and other low secure sites who are approaching discharge. A strengths-based approach will underpin work with service users and carers so that their individual assets can be optimised and positive life choices and opportunities can be enabled in partnership with individuals and the services around them.

• Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, to implement agreed occupational therapy treatment plans by carrying out practical individual and group activities with service users.
• To collaborate with senior OT staff to review and modify specialist treatment programmes when necessary.
• To assist senior OT staff in the assessment and treatment of service users in a specialist mental health service.
• To work and liaise appropriately with the multi-disciplinary team, including attendance at service user-related meetings as directed.
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations. Job responsibilities Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.

Education/ Qualification/ Training Desirable NVQ and/or B-tech in Care related skills Qualification in relevant practical skills Experience Essential Using a range of practical and creative skills Worked with people who have experienced mental health problems Desirable Worked within an forensic mental health setting Worked with an occupational therapy team Planning and running groups Experience of CPD and role development activities Knowledge and Skills Essential Knowledge of equal Opportunities and confidentiality Basic understanding of needs and concerns of service users in a forensic mental health setting Understanding of OT and ability to learn about the OT process Interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained with service users who have complex needs. Word-processing/IT skills Organisational and time management skills Clinical skills to carry out therapeutic individual and group based interventions Ability to contribute to and work within clinical risk assessment Desirable Knowledge of College of OT standards of practice