Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner
| Posting date: | 11 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Negotiable |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 May 2026 |
| Location: | Torquay, TQ2 7AA |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9388-26-0420 |
Summary
Detailed job description and responsibilities Communication and working relationships Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid formal consent and jointly agreed goals. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Communication will include imparting comprehensive information on Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid formal consent and jointly agreed goals. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Communication will include imparting comprehensive information daily relating to diagnosis, prognosis, physical and functional recovery and lifestyle adjustments to patients and their relatives/carers. Regular and spontaneous use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to discuss basic information on condition, progression of rehabilitation and treatment programmes with patient or carer. This will include patients who may have difficulties relating to complex emotional, psychological as well as physical conditions relating to their cancer diagnosis. This client group includes those who have difficulties in understanding or communicating, patient may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis. Communication will involve use of skills in motivating, negotiating, counselling, training, empathising and reassuring. Contribute to the planning, development and implementation of educational programmes for staff, patients and carers. To seek out, recognise and value the contributions of others and the role they play in a patients life Communication with colleagues To maintain accurate comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal, departmental and Trust guidelines. To communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports, letters or verbally. Represent therapy and/or individual patient to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary service and to integrate Occupational Therapy management into the overall management plan. This may involve health and social care staff, voluntary and private sector. This will involve advising to the multi-disciplinary team on management of physical recovery and discussion of patient care, progress and discharge planning. Communication External External communication may include discussion with multidisciplinary team members regarding patient management including G.P.s, Consultants, District Nurses, carer services and Social Services. A daily basis relating to diagnosis, prognosis, physical and functional recovery and lifestyle adjustments to patients and their relatives/carers. Regular and spontaneous use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to discuss basic information on condition, progression treatment programmes with patient or carer. This will include patients who may have difficulties relating to complex emotional, psychological as well as physical conditions relating to their cancer diagnosis. This client group includes those who have difficulties in understanding or communicating, patient may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis. Communication will involve use of skills in motivating, negotiating, counselling, training, empathising and reassuring. Contribute to the planning, development and implementation of educational programmes for staff, patients and carers. To seek out, recognise and value the contributions of others and the role they play in a patients life Communication with colleagues To maintain accurate comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal, departmental and Trust guidelines. To communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports, letters or verbally. Represent therapy and/or individual patient to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary service and to integrate occupational therapy management into the overall management plan. This may involve health and social care staff, voluntary and private sector. This will involve advising to the multi-disciplinary team on management of physical recovery and discussion of patient care, progress and discharge planning. Communication External External communication may include discussion with multidisciplinary team members regarding patient management including G.P.s, Consultants, District Nurses, carer services and Social Services. Planning and organisation Undertakes clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, under the guidance of a qualified Occupational Therapist, including professional and legal accountability and managing clinical risk for all aspects of own work and caseload. To be responsible for organising and planning appropriate caseload, to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise. To undertake comprehensive assessments of appropriate patients with a range of physical, psychological, cognitive and behavioural conditions. To formulate and deliver an individualised therapy treatment programme and any onward referral, under the guidance of a qualified therapist, based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice, including therapeutic handling, patient education, provision of exercise (individual / group), provision of routine equipment/orthotics, classes, and other alternative options. Policy and service development To have a good working knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, National and Local guidelines, policies and procedures. To keep up to date with clinical developments using clinical databases and electronic technology. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practise, developing specialist knowledge of conditions and patient types To prepare for and actively participate in the staff yearly achievement review, to include setting of yearly personal objectives and be responsible for complying with set agreed personal development programmes. To maintain competencies required for this role. To attend and comply with all mandatory training sessions / responsibilities and update knowledge and skills as required by Trust policies Finance, equipment and other resources This position holds no budgetary responsibility People management and training To support junior members of staff and student Occupational therapists as delegated by senior staff, promoting and monitoring best practice. Information technology and administrative duties To be competent in the use of data recording systems used within the Trust to include EPIC etc to record patient related activity and data. To be responsible for accurate and timely data input for Milbrook Healthcare equipment ordering to facilitate patient discharge. To support qualified staff with audit and maintaining data collection within speciality. To be competent in online training via The Hive Freedom to act To work without direct supervision and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient group delegated by a senior therapist. Supervision takes the form of regular formal and informal training and clinical reasoning sessions. Daily access to advice and support from senior therapists is available as required. Clinical work is evaluated via notes audit and joint assessment and treatment sessions with senior staff. Ongoing evaluation of competencies by use of competency framework. Feedback to line managers. Some aspects of work will involve delivery of the care as part of a multidisciplinary team. In other cases, to be the sole therapist with responsibility for that patients episode of care. To participate in cancer services 7 day working rotas to include bank holidays. To support an occupational therapy service as part of a wider therapies team based on service needs and requirements of the Trust. This may include home visits or assessments in alternative settings and the ability to be flexible or move between wards/areas. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices using evidence-based practice and actively participate in projects and audits within speciality. Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, participation in and contribution to in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.