Activity & Engagement Practitioner - NHS Professionals : Job Details

Job Title: Activity & Engagement Practitioner

Band: 3 / 4

Trust: South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Location: Lewisham Ladywell Unit

Ward/Dept: Hayworth Ward

Hours: 37.5Hrs / 9am-5pm / Monday-Friday

Introduction to the Role:

In this role, you will provide a wide range of activities, through a mixture of 1:1 sessions and groupwork suitable to meet the interests and needs of Service Users on Hayworth Ward in the Ladywell Unit on which inpatient assessment, treatment and care is provide to the elderly with acute mental illness / cognitive impairments such as dementia. Examples of these activities will include gardening, music appreciation, arts and crafts, games, reminiscence and sensory approaches. The role will involve adapting and individualising activity plans so that they are meaningful to patients being treated. You will play a crucial role in promoting the use of therapeutic engagement by all members of the Team to support Service Users’ overall health and wellbeing.

You should have a positive, upbeat personality with a strong desire to help keep Service Users to be appropriately engaged throughout their admission. The role requires an understanding of the need to uphold the principles of privacy, dignity, independence and promoting choice when working with an older adult population.

This post will be under the direction of the Ward Occupational Therapist.

Some of the main Responsibilities of the role include the following:

• To lead on providing individual and group activity sessions.
• To promote a whole team approach to the use of therapeutic engagement to support health and wellbeing.
• Encourage staff members,relatives and friends to participate in the ward-based activities and engagement with Service Users.
• To plan on going weekly activity rotas in conjunction with the service users wishes and encourage service users to maintain pre-existing and/or new hobbies.
• To be able to adapt activities to be appropriate for varying levels of cognitive presentation and physical abilities.
• To support in the routine collection of Service User, Family and Friend feedback so as to inform what activities are offered on the Ward.
• To observe individual’s progress, and possible rehabilitation potential and to participate in Service User reviews as appropriate.
• Maintain full and accurate records of activities using the relevant documentation process, in order to monitor, record and evaluate individual and group participation and progress.
• To keep abreast with new developments in the field of caring for older people with mental health difficulties.
• Foster good community relations and assist in the organisation of fundraising initiatives within the Unit.

To be successful in applying for this role you will need:

• Experience of working with people who have a variety of mental health problems including dementia.
• A good knowledge and understanding of the needs of older people with mental health problems including dementia.
• Ability to independently facilitate groups.
• Ability to identify and facilitate meaningful and relevant activities for patients who have cognitive impairment.

In addition to experience, all Qualified roles will be required to provide evidence of:

• Relevant Qualifications
• Registration with the relevant Registration Body if applicable.

Who are NHS Professionals?

If a hospital cannot supply staff on a ward or area, due to increased demand, sickness, or common staff shortages, they need to call upon Bank staff. NHS Professionals works with Trusts to develop a 'Bank’ of highly skilled workers who want to work flexibly with the NHS.

Why NHS Professionals?

We value your skills, dedication, and commitment in supporting your local Trust and the NHS. We believe together we continue to deliver world-class healthcare service to our patients.