Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to join the West Dorset Therapies Team based at Forston Clinic.
In this role, you will support people whose lives have been impacted by mental illness, helping them reconnect with meaningful and purposeful occupations following periods of occupational disruption. Your work will be central to promoting recovery, independence, and wellbeing throughout the patient's admission.
Deliver high-quality, person-centred Occupational Therapy interventions, ensuring safety, privacy, and dignity at all times.Support patients during their inpatient admission and play a key role in their transition back into the community.Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.Develop strong links with community and third-sector organisations, using social prescribing to connect individuals with meaningful community resources.
What we offer
Regular clinical supervision and professional support.Opportunities to access additional training and learning, tailored to your professional interests and development goals.A supportive team environment that values innovation, collaboration, and reflective practice.
About you
Motivated and compassionate, with a strong commitment to person-centred, recovery-focused care. To understand the value of partnership working and to be enthusiastic about supporting individuals to rebuild skills, confidence, and participation in everyday life.
Main duties of the job
Your work will aim to encourage engagement in meaningful and purposeful occupation with people whose lives have been affected by occupational disruption as a result of mental illness.
You will be required to provide a high-quality person-centred approach to care delivery that always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity, and to deliver person-centred interventions that support patients with their inpatient admission and transition back into the community. You will collaborate closely with community resources, offering social prescribing and linking patients into third sector organisations.
To plan and facilitate occupational therapy led groups and 1:1 activities, tailored to the patient group within the framework laid down by the Occupational Therapist. To implement and evaluate delegated occupational therapy interventions for service users in activities relating to their care and treatment.
To support patients in the community using both 1:1 and group work.
To carry out administrative duties on the ward including taking responsibility for designated tasks.
To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure effective delivery of occupational therapy. To enhance their own clinical and organisational skills to meet the needs of patients and the organisation. everyday life.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Experience of working with people from a range of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds
- Experience of planning and running groups
- Awareness of Mental Health Issues
Desirable
- Experience of working with external Agencies
Job specific experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting people with mental health problems
- Ability to work autonomously and use initiative.
- Ability to create innovative solutions alongside people to help meet identified goals and needs
- Good organisational skills and to manage time effectively.
- Able to sustain demands of working with potentially challenging patient group.
- Ability to work without direct supervision for short periods
Desirable
- Understanding of risk factors associated with working with patients within mental health services and how to manage these risks effectively.
- Ability to prioritise a varied workload
Managerial/supervisory Experience
Essential
- Ability to effectively use support and supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working as part of a team
Educational Requirements/Qualifications
Essential
- A good standard of education, minimum NVQ level 3 in health or social care or the arts.
Desirable
Information Technology
Essential
- Basic IT skills, normally obtained through practice or practical training
Desirable
- Knowledge of Data Protection Act
Personal qualities/attributes
Essential
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Able to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands
- Ability to build collaborative therapeutic relationships
- Demonstrates a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and service users
- Able to motivate and encourage patients to engage in meaningful activity
- Good observational skills
Additional requirements
Essential
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
- A level of fitness and ability to participate and complete PMVA, Breakaway training and Manual Handling (practice and theory)
Business Travel
Essential
- Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business - Level 1.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Experience of working with people from a range of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds
- Experience of planning and running groups
- Awareness of Mental Health Issues
Desirable
- Experience of working with external Agencies
Job specific experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting people with mental health problems
- Ability to work autonomously and use initiative.
- Ability to create innovative solutions alongside people to help meet identified goals and needs
- Good organisational skills and to manage time effectively.
- Able to sustain demands of working with potentially challenging patient group.
- Ability to work without direct supervision for short periods
Desirable
- Understanding of risk factors associated with working with patients within mental health services and how to manage these risks effectively.
- Ability to prioritise a varied workload
Managerial/supervisory Experience
Essential
- Ability to effectively use support and supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working as part of a team
Educational Requirements/Qualifications
Essential
- A good standard of education, minimum NVQ level 3 in health or social care or the arts.
Desirable
Information Technology
Essential
- Basic IT skills, normally obtained through practice or practical training
Desirable
- Knowledge of Data Protection Act
Personal qualities/attributes
Essential
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Able to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands
- Ability to build collaborative therapeutic relationships
- Demonstrates a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and service users
- Able to motivate and encourage patients to engage in meaningful activity
- Good observational skills
Additional requirements
Essential
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
- A level of fitness and ability to participate and complete PMVA, Breakaway training and Manual Handling (practice and theory)
Business Travel
Essential
- Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business - Level 1.
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.
