Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Communication & relationship skills

Utilise highly developed communication skills to conduct functional assessments of service users. Communicate complex information related to an individuals mental health needs, outcomes and recommendations from assessments to service user, carer, relatives and other professionals.

Effectively communicate complex and/or sensitive information where there are barriers to understanding. This includes communication concerning adult protection, abuse, cognitive impairment and other risks surrounding a clients mental health.

Maintain and develop effective communications and working relationships within the team and with external agencies, contributing to decisions with regard to service user therapy plans by reporting back on the outcome of OT assessments and interventions.

Build and develop a Therapeutic relationship with service users and their carers.

Manage confidential information in respect of members of the public in accordance with local and national policy (GDPR)

Act as the lead professional where the main intervention is Occupational Therapy.

Promote the Occupational Therapy role through regular participation in meetings, presentations and feedback of clinical activities.

Knowledge, training and experience

The post-holder will hold current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist

Have specialist knowledge and training, gained through formal and post registration experience and/or training, relating to mental health and apply this knowledge when delivering care to service users.

Have skills and experience in developing and facilitating training to staff and students.

Provide advice, training and support to other agencies around issues relating to mental health.

Maintain and develop a Continuing Professional Development portfolio to demonstrate ongoing learning and professional competence.

Participate and contribute to local OT forums and networks.

Work within the carer development framework for Occupational Therapy focusing on the four interacting pillars of practice. These being: Professional Practice, facilitation of Learning, Leadership and Evidence, Research and development.

Analytical & judgement skills

Make decisions about the range of Occupational Therapy interventions and therapy plans based on clinical judgement of a service users need.

Conduct comprehensive assessments of both service users and carers in line with team operational policies.

Analyse service users occupational performance areas and adapt interventions as required in order to maximise and maintain service users skills and function.

Formulate detailed assessments to inform the decision making regarding service users ongoing needs.

Planning & organisational skills

Plan and coordinate Occupational Therapy care plans for both individuals and groups according to their identified occupational needs. Coordinate transfer or referral of service users to other teams or services where required.

Prioritise, plan and coordinate own workload and activities in line with the changing needs of the team and service. This includes planning and monitoring service user occupational needs and presentation, conducting assessments, ensuring patient records are up to date and supporting colleagues on a daily basis.

Participate in caseload management audits and ensure relevant information is available for this to take place.

Physical skills

To undertake training in RESPECT techniques and undertake regular updates.

To perform moving and handling techniques as advised by moving and handling risk assessments.

To educate and develop the moving and handling techniques of others.

Responsibilities for patient/client care

Undertake OT assessments with service users using standardised and non-standardised OT assessment tools, to identify and address occupational performance and skill deficits.

Assess and review service users clinical risk management plan using the service's current risk assessment and OT risk assessment tools.

Collaborate with service users/carers to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan.

Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the service user, using graded activity and person centred principles to achieve therapeutic goals.

Identify the needs of carers and refer for a carers assessments when appropriate and work collaboratively with other professionals/agencies to develop support and educational activities for carers.

Participate in clinical governance activities.

To continue reading about the duties of this role, please refer to the Job Description.

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of a range of theories and models underpinning Occupational Therapy clinical practice. This must include knowledge of safe working practices.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Competent caseload management.
• A basic understanding of current practice in mental health, risk assessment and management.

Desirable

• Experience of managing non-qualified staff and students.
• Experience of contributing towards service development
• Experience of audit and service user involvement.
• An awareness of relevant legislation and policies to the service area including the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Safeguarding of adults and children.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Professional registration with Health and Care Professions Council.

Desirable

• Post-registration education in mental health practice relevant to the practice area.
• To be a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Knowledge

Essential

• Able to demonstrate knowledge and some experience of using a range of Occupational Therapy assessment tools.
• Ongoing development of group facilitation skills.
• Application of evidence based practice in own clinical practice.
• Good communication, organisational and administration skills. Including ability to provide concise and clearly written reports, and have good I.T skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, time management skills and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

• Supervision skills.
• Clinical evaluation skills.
• Competency in assessing for small aids for daily living.
• Innovation and creativity skills.
• Motivation skills.
• Presentation skills.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to transport Activity of Daily Living equipment and materials relating to running/facilitating groups.
• Ability to demonstrate maintenance of CPD and ongoing learning.
• Ability to transport self to a variety of locations to meet the needs of service users.

Desirable

• Full, clean driving license and use of a car.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).