Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner (XR04)
| Posting date: | 27 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,485.00 to £30,162.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £27485.00 - £30162.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 February 2026 |
| Location: | Leeds, LS9 7TF |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9298-ATH-469 |
Summary
To work within the Occupational Therapy (OT) team providing highly skilled and specialised clinical, administrative, and organisational support to the Occupational Therapy Service. The post holder will work with the team to support the OT assessment pathway and will be responsible for the screening of non-complex patients under the supervision of a qualified member of staff and advise on the most appropriate initial assessments and interventions. The post holder will contribute to the management of a caseload of patients and work with infrequent supervision from registered OT colleagues who are available for non-standard/complex queries. On occasions the post holder will assess home environments to ensure safe discharge, without the supervision of a qualified member of staff. JOB DIMENSIONS Day to day supervisory support, and overall management will be provided to the support worker by registered OT staff. The post holder is responsible for: 1. Assessing and providing care and therapy interventions for individual patients, adapting the process as indicated. 2. Assessment and intervention may take place in patients homes and base wards. 3. The post holder will work with the team to support the OT assessment pathway and will be responsible for the screening of non-complex patients under the supervision of a qualified member of staff and advise on the most appropriate initial assessments and interventions. The post holder will contribute to the management of a caseload of patients and work with infrequent supervision from registered OT colleagues who are available for non-standard/non-routine queries. On occasions the post holder will assess home environments to ensure safe discharge, without the supervision of a qualified member of staff. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS Communication Skills written, verbal, numeracy Interpersonal Skills Ability to work as part of a Team (OT, and wider MDT) Ability to manage a workload provided by more than one professional. Problem-solving Time Management Organisational Skills Administrative Skills Able to work in a stressful environment Ability to use initiative Ability to influence and persuade Ability to take responsibility for personal development Ability to move and handle patients and equipment Provide support to band 3 support workers and informal support to students Maintaining professionalism at all times, and demonstrating the Leeds Way Values CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Understanding of Occupational Therapy and job roles. Awareness of the needs and problems of those with illness and disabilities Awareness of the functional effects of the patient group in the clinical area caused by illness and / or disability. Understanding of legislation, guidelines and protocols that affect the clinical area Awareness of Health and Safety PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Clinical To accept responsibility for Occupational Therapy initial assessments to facilitate rehabilitation and discharge from hospital. To plan and prioritise clinical tasks. To deliver the service using patient pathways and protocols to support your delivery of therapy process and taking into account each patients individual physical, social and emotional needs. To make contact with patients to initiate assessments and intervention. To analyse and make decisions about the most appropriate environment in which to carryout intervention. To independently carryout home and community assessments. To motivate and persuade patients and carers to participate in therapy intervention. To assess and advise patients regarding transfers, falls, equipment and risks. To assess, prescribe and train patients and carers in the use of assistive equipment. To assess, deliver, fit and demonstrate equipment in patients home and to provide advice and training to patients and carers as required. To interpret and analyse information from assessments, judge how to progress intervention and when to liaise with a qualified member of staff e.g. Nurse, Doctor, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. To assess risk factors and judge when to summons assistance or adapt the treatment session To communicate with patients and carers using a variety of communication strategies and tools to ensure information is understood and treatment is progressed. This will include patients and carers who have difficulties communicating and understanding. To liaise with other team members, internal and external agencies. To identify the need for and refer to internal and external agencies using appropriate referral system. To record interventions accurately and timely using team/trust documentation, complying with Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements. To complete activity data using team/trust documentation and outcome measures. To be able to work in a stressful environment. To be able to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients/ carers. To participate in ward rounds, case conferences and meetings as required. To collect, respond to and feedback relevant information to the senior therapist. To promote Occupational Therapy as a treatment medium to others. To lead and participate in departmental/service developments, projects audit and reviews. To carry out designated ordering and maintenance of stock, equipment and resources. Health and Safety/Risk Management All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting System. Infection Control The job holder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. Equality and Diversity The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. Patient and Public Involvement The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The jobholder should always respect patient confidentiality and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. Communication and working relationships Providing and receiving complex, sensitive, or contentious information to patients with a spinal injury, or their relatives, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance communication skills are required. Communication will occur across internal and external stakeholders including patients, relatives, carers, clinical and managerial staff, MDT members and external communications including Leeds Community Equipment team and other community healthcare services. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS i) PHYSICAL EFFORT: There is a daily requirement to undertake frequent moderate physical activity. For example, treatment sessions involving facilitation of movement in functional transferring of patients, plinth sessions with physiotherapy colleagues and provision and fitting of equipment/pushing wheelchairs/using manual handling equipment. Moderate means lifting, pushing, pulling objects weighing from six to fifteen kilos; controlled restraint of patients e.g. in mental health or learning disabilities situations; sudden explosive effort such as running from a standing start; clearing tables; moving patients/heavy weights (over fifteen kilos) with mechanical aids including hoists and trolleys; manoeuvring patients/clients into position e.g. for treatment or personal care purposes; transferring patient/clients from a bed to a chair or similar. There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to best meet the needs of the service. The post holder may be based on more than one site to carry out their duties. ii) MENTAL EFFORT: There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is predictable with few competing demands for attention. Patient clinical interventions will last up to 1hr per session including detailed clinical documentation and liaising with other agencies. On occasion this will be in conjunction with another therapist, but frequently this will be as a lone worker. While working on the ward you will be approached by other staff and asked to share clinical information about ongoing cases. You will have to triage and prioritise referrals - will available therapist support. iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT: This job may involve occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression. This job may involve exposure to distressing circumstances such as terminal illness.