Occupational Therapy Assistant

Location

Guildford, Surrey | United Kingdom

Job description

Are you passionate about working with children and young people? Then this may be the role for you. This is an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapy Assistant who is confident with animals, likes the outdoors and wants to work directly with children and young people, making a difference to their lives and outcomes. You will need to have a good understanding of the complexities of children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs. Working with a small but brilliant therapy team, you will have a pro-active approach and want to get involved in the day to day direct work, working with a framework of assessment and intervention, with an adaptable and flexible approach to how you meet need and support children and young people to progress their goals. This is an emerging role in a therapeutic educational provision that utilises the powerful impact equine and other animals can have on our wellbeing. We are looking for someone who enjoys a challenge and wants to work creatively with young people and think ‘outside of the box’. This includes elements of managing behaviours and doing so with a nurturing, validating, confident and consistent approach with good boundaries using models such as PACE and Zones of Regulation. The role will include contributing to a whole range of therapeutic activities, with a focus on providing OT intervention under the guidance of an OT, including undertaking assessments, and will also include facilitating therapeutic goal focused groups. This is either a part time or a full time position. Permanent term or non term contract available. Annual leave is taken outside term time. The working hours are preferably 9-5pm, on regular days per week. This may be negotiable for the right candidate. There is also opportunity for weekend work, should this be desired. Job Requirement The role holder will provide a full range of Occupational therapy services under the guidance and instruction of our Occupational Therapist and management team, including utilising Equine and/or Animal Assisted Therapy, working with a varied client base of children and young people (and if outside term/school time - occasionally adults). The role holder will contribute to assessments and providing appropriate therapeutic goal orientated intervention, incorporating animals (horses or other animals) to clients, in order to support the client to progress therapeutic goals. The role holder will be supervised by a qualified and experienced OT. Skills Experience and Qualification • Experience of working directly with children and young people with a variety of needs is essential. • Professional registration with a national body (e.g. HCPC) is desirable • Experience of working with mental health is desirable • Relevant qualifications and experience is desirable, e.g. in AAT or Equine Assisted Psychotherapy • Experience in delivering psycho education workshops incorporating animals will be an added advantage. Additional Skills • Ability to project a positive public image of self and the organisation whilst exhibiting a culture of outstanding service and high ethical standards. • Excellent communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English is essential • Capable of establishing and maintaining constructive interpersonal relationships within the organisation. • Demonstrated experience of working within a multi-disciplinary and diverse environment. Overview of role • Contribute as an active member of the therapy team, to the smooth operation of the therapeutic input Elysian facilitates to children, young people, families, groups. • Manage an individual case load whilst delivering therapeutic assessment and treatment to clients • Contribute to the assessment of new clients, and formulate and provide therapeutic goals centred treatment plans for clients with the therapeutic team. • Maintain any records necessary for the evaluation of practice, service needs and efficiency and ensure that documentation is clear, accurate and in compliance with legal requirements. • Undertake research relevant to the assessment of need and the development and evaluation of interventions when needed. • Maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times. • Contribute to the delivery structure for Animal Assisted Therapy groups and workshops, and their implementation. • Where appropriate, provide support for students, junior or new staff. • Contribute to general liaison with clients, client carers/parents and relevant professionals in the organisations of interventions, sessions, session planning and treatment plans. • Contribute to organisational reporting with evaluation and outcome data. • Contribute to the overall promotion activities of the organisation. Elysian is extremely committed to safeguarding all children and young people, and this post, like all posts with elysian, is subject to safeguarding checking including scrutiny of references and DBS checks.

Job tags

Salary