Job title: Occupational Therapy Assistant

Salary: C1 £28,598 - £31,022 per annum (pro rata)

Hours: 18.5 Hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Tech North LS7

Do you want to be part of the Children’s Occupational Therapy team working in the Child Health and Disability Service in Leeds?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Occupational Therapy Assistant to join the Child Health & Disability Team. You will play a key role in reducing the barriers experienced by Children and Young People with a Disability in their own homes.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will bring to the role:

Experience of working with children and families
Experience of working with children with a disability.
Excellent interpersonal skills and be a team player.
You will be a confident communicator with a can-do approach.
You will be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, supporting our Child Friendly vision for Leeds to be the best city in the UK and the best city for children and young people to grow up in.

About the role

Under the direction of the Occupational Therapy Team manager and with regular supervision from a registered Occupational therapist you will undertake assessments for equipment and adaptations to support Children and Young People with a within their own home.

You will be joining a highly motivated and committed team of Occupational Therapists

As Child Friendly Leeds our vision is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK and the best city for children and young people to grow up in. Through our vision and obsessions, we invest in children and young people to help build an increasingly prosperous and successful city. We aim to improve outcomes for all our children whilst recognising the need for outcomes to improve faster for children and young people from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.

Children’s Occupational therapy in Leeds is underpinned by a culture of restorative practice and working with our children and families.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Jane Fisher or Miranda Chalmers, Occupational Therapy Team Managers. Call 0113 378 5140 or email chad.ot.team.managers@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Undertake assessments for with needs, deemed appropriate for OTAs, during the duty screening process, where the provision of equipment and adaptations would support independence.
With supervision, to carry a caseload of appropriately allocated cases and undertake assessments of service user needs with a strength based, occupational focus, and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion in day-to-day activities.
Develop, implement and review outcome focussed intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent wellbeing and inclusion.
Work alongside Occupational Therapists and CHAD Social Workers to deliver reablement/rehabilitation to improve service user confidence and independence.
To understand and contribute to the annual service plans of the CHAD service that creates opportunities for all disabled children and their families.
To have knowledge of the various cross tenure funding streams and the scope of the adaptations and re-housing services within Council.
Responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.
Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on an analysis of information given from a range of sources.
Maintain and update case notes and other records, write reports as required.
Delivery, fitting and collection of equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.
Contribute to the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services
Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the limits of data protection.
Be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of children.
Work closely with other services in the council, including, but not exclusively, Social workers and Housing to deliver effective and efficient solutions to barriers faced by disabled children.
Make appropriate referrals to Housing to support children who require rehousing.
Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant policies and procedures.
Assist with the practice education of undergraduate OT students.
Work within the safeguarding framework to raise alerts and assist with the management of risks where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.
Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
Responsible for responding to equipment breakdowns
Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
The role will be community based working but may be required to work in other locations throughout the city to effectively deliver their duties.
Work as part of a team within social care, maintaining effective relationships with other colleagues, Elected Members, children, families, carers and other agencies.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and actively support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the behaviours, values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications no specific qualifications are required

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise and evaluate work with service users
Able to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and service users, carers and colleagues
Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies Able to carry out assessments of people with less-complex needs
Able to devise and implement appropriate recommendations for equipment and adaptations
Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure
Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology
Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
Able to make proactive use of Supervision to understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
Able to carry equipment necessary for assessment and provision
Ability to carry out safe functional assessments
Possession of a full current driving licence

Knowledge Required

Basic understanding of legislation and current issues of disabled children from a wide range of backgrounds
Basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.
Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
Demonstrate a knowledge of barriers faced by Disabled People
Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email
Of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection

Experience Required

Of working with disabled children in a paid or voluntary capacity

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Knowledge Required

Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
Report writing and Communications Skills
Of the scope of the Care Act relating to equipment and adaptations

Experience Required

Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments
Of using supervision effectively