Senior Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM THE JOB DESCRIPTION - FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED

The Plymouth Dementia Pathway provides a specialist service for adults living in Plymouth who present with progressive memory decline and difficulties associated with this and everyday activities. The aim of the service is to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and provide post diagnostic follow up and treatment. It supports people with dementia, their carers and family through their dementia journey.

Within the Dementia Pathway, the Occupational Therapy team is a secondary service, providing specialist assessment, treatment, and enablement to service users at any stage of their journey from early investigations, diagnosis, to those with more advanced and complex needs. This is provided through individual community assessments as well as therapeutic group work. The outcome of our intervention is to promote engagement, optimum functioning / independence with an individuals daily life and to promote safety and positive well-being levels.

The post holder will be based at Mount Gould Hospital and running groups in locations across Plymouth. In line with Livewell Southwest Hybrid Working policy, the post holder may also be required to work from home remotely on occasion.

Summary of Job Description:

As an Occupational Therapist within this service, you will be expected to be involved with the following areas:

Be responsible for leading, developing and implementing occupational therapy services; including both individual and group activities and treatments in accordance with identified needs, in the community. This will include developing additional, specialist therapeutic interventions and opportunities in line with service need.

Promote non-pharmacological treatments for people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Reinstate and promote the value placed on improving social and cognitive function. Reduce social isolation and improve patients sense of well-being. The post holder will be expected to complete outcome measures based on therapeutic treatments with a view to collate data to evidence the patient experience and benefit to the carer / family.

The post holder is to support the wider pathway in achieving MSNAP accreditation by expanding therapy services to meet their criteria. This will include maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), which will include art / creative therapies and reminiscence.

The post holder will need to work within Dementia NICE guidelines to offer a range of activities to promote well-being that are tailored to the patients preferences.

The post holder will be required to offer cognitive rehabilitation to patients with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment including memory strategies and delivering the Memory Strategy Group (MSG).

The post holder will be required to lead Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group sessions to patients given a dementia diagnosis as part of the treatment pathway within the service.

On occasion, the post holder will need to also manage a small caseload of patients during relief periods, using evidence-based principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. Providing a community-based specialist occupational therapy service for older adults with a mild cognitive impairment or diagnosis of dementia. There may also be an additional history of a mental illness, a dual diagnosis, complex physical health needs and possible related social engagement issues.

Work collaboratively with key partner organisations, including the voluntary sector, people with dementia, carers, clinicians, and other practitioners within a multi-disciplinary team in delivering services.

Assess risk and respond in an appropriate and timely manner alongside formulation of risk management plans and monitoring the effectiveness of any treatment plan.

Actively participate in the planning, development, evaluation, and maintenance of occupational therapy services within Livewell Southwest as a whole, participating where appropriate in emerging projects, research, and audits.

To work with the Band 6 OT Assessment Lead for the Dementia Pathway, drawing on evidence-based interventions and ensuring support staff are guided in developing their skills and knowledge within the Dementia Pathway

The post holder will be responsible for managing a Band 3 OT Assistant and volunteer.

Experience

Essential

• Experience as an OT in Older Adult Mental Health
• Experience of working with people with dementia
• Undertaking comprehensive, evidence-based assessments, information gathering
• Group work
• Assessing risk and positive risk management
• Managing referrals, transfers and discharges
• Multi-disciplinary work

Desirable

• Cognitive assessment and Mood Tools
• Managing/ supervising other staff

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development

Desirable

• Evidence of further learning and development specifically in the area of Dementia

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Knowledge or experience in the delivery of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and the completion of relevant training courses.
• Experience of running groups with dementia patients.
• Experience in developing Occupational Therapy group programmes.
• OT process and philosophy
• Knowledge of Dementia types, assessment, and diagnosis process
• Knowledge of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia
• Able to demonstrate person-centred, creative problem-solving approaches working with people with dementia and their carers.
• Knowledge of therapeutic techniques - non pharmacological interventions
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act,
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children Principles
• Undertaking clinical assessments / information gathering
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy using good communication skills
• Demonstrate values of being open, compassionate, and empowering
• Ability to organise and prioritise workloads.
• Ability to manage waiting lists.
• Ability and confidence lead groups.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Ability to manage and hold difficult situations and cope with stress.
• Able to provide supervision & support to junior staff & students
• Committed and open to new ideas and experiences
• Good administration and IT skills
• Driving; an up-to-date UK Driving Licence

Desirable

• Knowledge of standardised OT assessments for older adults/dementia
• National Dementia Strategy
• NICE Guidelines appropriate to service
• Care Act and service provisions for people with dementia and their carers
• Advocates including IMCA/IMHA
• CPA including integrated care planning
• Pharmacological interventions in Dementia
• Dementia friendly environments
• Presentation skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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