Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

1.   To design and provide Occupational Therapy prescribed therapeutic programs for individual and group activity-based sessions specialising in woodwork activities for in and outpatients referred to the Occupational Therapy Neurological Rehabilitation Service.

2.   To assist the Lead or Senior Occupational Therapists in the day-to-day supervision and delegation of routine occupational therapy activities to the OT assistants/technical instructors where appropriate.

3.   To record all occupational therapy intervention in compliance with the OUH, COT and NHS guidelines.

4.   To evaluate continuously occupational therapy interventions and to maintain and develop a high standard of professional practice at all times. To feedback patient information/progress to occupational therapists and other members of the inter-disciplinary team as required.

5.   To design and lead one or more specific technical/ crafts or therapeutic activities in a group setting incorporating appropriate motivational techniques.

6. To work as part of the interdisciplinary team providing neurological rehabilitation individually and in groups

7. To agree workshop goals with the patient and the referring OT which contribute to the goal planning process.

8.  To respect client’s dignity, privacy, culture and wishes during treatment with a      commitment to equal access to Occupational therapy

9. To risk assess and undertake manual handling techniques involving patients and or equipment following appropriate training in line with organisational manual handling policies. To assess the risk of all workshop activity specific to individual patients and other staff members.

10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out interventions including manual handling and therapeutic techniques

Communication

1. To liaise with all members of the inter-disciplinary team (IDT), patients carers, including explaining condition related information to patients, carers and other staff and encouraging patients to engage in therapeutic activity in order to support safe and effective discharge

2. To identify treatment programmes for patients, and to report on occupational therapy interventions and treatment progress

3.  To liaise with the Lead or Senior Occupational Therapists in the management and prioritisation of the caseload.

4. To promote good working relationships with all disciplines within the IDT, Oxford Centre for Enablement, the directorate and OUH

5. To attend staff meetings and other service-related meetings.

Management

1.   To assist the Lead and Senior Occupational Therapists in ensuring that all occupational therapy and workshop equipment in the Occupational Therapy Department is stored safely and maintained in safe working order, and that a tidy environment is maintained at all times.

2.   To record departmental statistics and equipment records using the Trust information systems and provide the Lead of Occupational Therapy Services with any data as required.

3.    To be aware of and adhere to all OUH, and NHS health and safety and personnel policies and procedures, including responsibility for the provision of workshop COSHH and risk assessments

4. To participate in regular supervisory sessions and the individual staff performance and development review process, setting personal and service objectives and developing a personal development plan.

5. To be responsible for the safe use of workshop equipment by patients and other staff and to prepare the necessary materials for the workshop projects, including machining wood and preparing components.

6. To formulate and present funding applications for workshop items to the appropriate charitable organisations. To maintain workshop stock and supplies within the allocated budget and to handle cash generated from client/patient activities,

Education and Training

1.   To have an awareness of current trends in treatment techniques and professional issues and to participate in active learning by appropriate study and by attending therapy and in-service training programmes as appropriate.

2.   To be involved in the induction and orientation programmes of new occupational therapy staff/students to the Occupational Therapy Service.

3.   To welcome visitors to the Department and discuss the Occupational Therapy Service in an informed and appropriate manner.

4.   To assist the Lead of Occupational Therapy Services in the development and maintenance of a high profile of occupational therapy within the Oxford Centre  for Enablement through effective communication, teaching and presentations.

Research

1.   To liaise with other colleagues who may require assistance in Research Projects.

2.   To keep up to date with relevant research and issues relevant to the clinical area to provide evidence based care.