ROCHDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL
JOB DESCRIPTION
SERVICE:
Adult Care
SECTION:
Neighbourhood Teams
LOCATION:
Various
JOB TITLE:
Occupational Therapy Assistant
POST NUMBER:
Grade:
5
Accountable to:
Team Manager
Accountable for:
N/A
Hours of Duty:
37 hours per week in accordance with the Service’s Work
Life Balance/flexible working scheme
Any Special Conditions
of Service:
The Authority operates a Smoke Free Policy for all its
employees and applies to any building and associated
grounds within in the immediate vicinity of the building
which is wholly owned, leased or operated and occupied by
R M B C.
The post holder will be expected to undertake a certain
amount of travelling in the course of his/her duties for which
Essential car user allowance will be paid.
The post is subject to an enhanced DBS and background
checks
In accordance with Section 7 of the Immigration Act 2016
this post requires the ability to converse at ease with the
members of the public and provide advice in accurate
spoken English.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children,
young people and vulnerable adults and expects staff to share this commitment.
Occupational Therapy Assistants generally work with a caseload with the opportunity for
guidance from team managers and professionally qualified colleagues.
This will determine the core focus of work but each section will have a common structure as
outlined in the organisational chart below
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE JOB
To ensure that people in need of social care services and their carers receive services which meet their needs by:
Carrying out the assessment and review of needs of individuals and their carers in line with current social care legislation and RBC policies and procedures.
Providing advice and support to enable service users and their carers to live as independently as possible.
Commission specialised and standard equipment and minor/major adaptions where appropriate to support eligible service users and carers
Dorector of Operations-Adult Care
Deputy Director of operations
Head of Locality
Team Manager- Heywood
Advanced Practitioner Occupational therapist Social worker Locality coordinator Care navigator Support planner Social care assistant
OT assistant Team Manager-West Advanced Practitioner Occupational therapist Social worker Locality Coordinator Care navigator Support planner Social care assistant
OT assiastant Team Manager-Middleton Advanced Practitioner Occupational therapist Social worker Locality coordinator Care Navigator Support planner Social Care assistant
OT assistant Head of Locality Team Manager-East Advanced practitioner Occupational therapist (Including STARS) Social worker Locality coordinator Care navigator Support planner Social care assistant
OT assistant Team Manager-Central Advanced practitioner Occupational therapist Social worker Locality coordinator Care navigator Support planner Social care assistant
OT assistant Team Manager-Pennines Advanced practitioner Occupational therapist Social worker Locality coordinator Care navigator Support planner Social care assistant
Commissioning services and supporting senior staff where appropriate using resources in a cost effective and efficient manner including cash budgets.
Establishing and developing effective working relationships with other agencies, both internal and external.
Control of Resources
Personnel
To be responsible for managing case load and motivation, seeking support when required. To support students from time to time who may be on Occupational Therapy placement within the Locality team.
Financial
To work within the Councils team budget and manage any financial resources delegated to the post holder in accordance with the financial regulations of the Council.
Premises, Equipment and Materials
To ensure effective and appropriate use and security of information systems relevant to the post including software and ICT equipment.
Health/Safety/Welfare
Responsibility for the safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the Health and Safety Policies of the Council.
Equality and Diversity
To work in accordance with the Council’s Policy relating to the promotion of Equality and Diversity. Training and Development
The post holder will be responsible for assisting in the identification and undertaking of his/her own training and development requirements in accordance with the Council’s Performance Management Framework.
Relationships (Internal and External)
Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with individuals their
families/carers, circle of support, staff outside agencies, including NHS, other public and voluntary agencies.
Maintain amicable and professional relationships with the organisation. Responsibilities
The post holder must -
(i) Perform his/her duties in line with the corporate leadership values and behaviours.
(ii) Perform his/her duties in accordance with Rochdale Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
Values and Behaviours
Proud Passionate
Pioneering and Open
Be aware of and apply these behaviours at all times.
Principal Duties
1. To use the range of person-centred, personalised and strength based approaches to develop an understanding of what support people want/need.
2. To develop a framework for decision making that incorporates the wishes of the individual, their family and circles of support.
3. Where identified, facilitate and develop a support plan with the individual, their family and circle of support which identifies agreed outcomes and is in line with their available funding and build in measures to protect the individual from harm
4. To assist and support individuals to arrange a person centred and personalised review and, if needs have changes, a re-assessment of their support plan.
5. To assess the needs of service users with a physical disability/sensory loss and their carers who are referred for equipment and adaptations, identifying levels of risk and urgency of response in order to create an individual Care Plan. To consult with manager / supervisor if complex issues are identified and continue to hold cases when it is agreed that this is the appropriate course of action.
6. To undertake follow up visits and re-assessments as necessary, either related to own caseload, or as requested by an appropriate manager.
7. To match the skills and interests of individuals with opportunities within their local community.
8. To write reports and use other documentation as necessary and appropriate in order to maintain a caseload of people with a physical disability / sensory loss.
9. To contribute to and maintain written or electronic records as required by the relevant policies and procedures and good practice guidance.
10. To provide advice and information to other staff, service users and carers to increase functional independence and reduce risk with the aim to become less dependent on others and develop in their place a ‘self-support’ network of friends and associates
11. To complete assessments for equipment and adaptation provision including carers assessments as directed by managers/senior staff.
12. To ensure advice and support is given to individuals with a disability or vulnerability, eligible for social care receive both an assessment and any subsequent package necessary to meet their identified social care needs.
13. To work with individuals, their family and circles of support to both re/assess needs, and develop/implement and where appropriate review the individuals personal support plan in line with their individual budget.
14. To take into account any preventive measures that may be necessary to keep the individual from harm.
15. Undertake the assessment/review/re-assessment of equipment and adaptations and where appropriate packages of care as identified or as directed by managers or senior staff.
16. Instigate the calculation of a revised indicative budget using the resource allocation system if needs have changed and support senior staff when instructed to do so.
17. To support the on call or duty system as required ensuring a flexible and timely response to the needs of individuals and queries from the public as directed by managers and senior staff.
18. To provide equipment, demonstrate and instruct users, carers and other professionals in the safe use and provide on-going training as required. In consultation with manager/supervisor to find alternative equipment solutions to meet identified needs, where stock items are unsuitable.
19. To write reports and use other documentation as necessary (depending on service area) and appropriate in order to maintain a caseload of people with a physical disability / sensory loss.
Secondary Duties
1. To attend regular staff meetings and, other relevant meetings as and when required.
2. To participate in training courses as and when required.
3. To provide appropriate cover for other colleagues across holidays, sickness or training.
4. To participate in planned supervision and personal development reviews.
5. To offer support to service users/families in relation to benefit entitlements by seeking advice from appropriate agencies.
6. As directed to liaise with staff/representatives of other sections of the Service and other internal and external agencies in the interests of service users and as part of their individual support plan.
7. To participate in Council programmes of in-service training as a trainee and when required as a trainer facilitator.
8. To keep up to date with developments in equipment procedures and Health and Safety issues and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
9. To contribute as appropriate to practice and service developments.
10. To undertake such other duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature as may be determined from time to time by the Service Head (or nominated representative) in consultation with the post holder (and if he/she so wishes, with his/her Trade Union representative).
Job Description prepared by
Lynne Bowker June 2020
Rochdale Borough Council Person Specification
Service : Adult Care Post: Occupational Therapy Assistant
Section : Neighbourhood Teams Post Number :
Job Ref: Grade: 5
Note to Applicants:
The Essential Criteria are the qualifications, experience, skills or knowledge you MUST SHOW YOU HAVE to be considered for the job.
The How Identified column shows how the Council will obtain the necessary information about you. If the How Identified column says the Application Form next to an Essential Criteria you MUST include in your application enough information to show how you meet this criteria. You should include examples from your paid or voluntary work.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects staff to share this commitment.
Essential criteria Essential (E) Desirable (D) How Identified: AF Application Form I Interview A Assessment
(a) Special Working Conditions
1 Are you able to visit service users at home? E AF/ I 2 Are you willing to travel around the borough and other locations
regionally as required?
E AF/ I
3 Are you able to work flexibly in accordance with the requirements of the service?
E AF/ I
4 Hours may be required to be worked over 7 days, as per the needs of the service
E AF/ I
(b) Qualifications and Experience
5 Tell us about your experience of working with people with various disabilities including sensory impairment issues?
E AF/ I
6 Please provide details of your experience of undertaking specialist assessments and training?
E I
7 Tell us about your experience of developing and delivering services to service users with various disabilities and sensory impairments?
E I
(c) Skills and Knowledge
8 What is your knowledge of physical conditions and their impact on the lives of service users and carers?
E AF/ I
9 Give details of your ability to produce needs led assessments for people with various disabilities and sensory needs and to arrange appropriate services within financial limits
E I
10 Tell us about your ability to teach daily living skills with service users with various disabilities and sensory needs?
E I
11 What is your knowledge of relevant social care and housing legislation and guidance?
E AF/ I
12 What capacity and willingness to solve problems do you have? E AF/ I 13 How would you operate effectively as a member of a team? E I 14 What abilities do you have in order to work on your own
initiative?
E AF/ I
15 How do you communicate clearly, verbally and in writing in a professional manner?
E AF/ I
17 How would you maintain case records in line with Council policy?
E AF/ I
18 How would you relate effectively to a wide range of people in the public, private and voluntary sectors including service users, carers and community groups?
E I
(g) Behaviours and Values
19 Approach the job at all times using the values set out below:
Proud Passionate
Pioneering and Open
Please confirm you are willing to adhere to these values and behaviours.
