Job summary
If you are looking for a bank or substantive post and a new challenge, and have a particular interest in Forensic services then this is the position for you.
The Forensic Services based at St Bernard's Hospital on the Ealing site in London are comprised of a number of specialist areas including Women's and Men's services at both low and medium security. The post holder will join an already established Occupational Therapy service and will be based in the Low Secure and Community directorate.
We have a wider Occupational Therapy service comprising of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, activity coordinators and Recovery Support workers.
You will be supervised and supported by Occupational Therapist to deliver an occupational therapy led program within the Forensic services.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will join an already established Occupational Therapy service which spans the services mentioned above. In this role you will be working directly with specialist Occupational Therapy practitioners who work predominately with in-patients to provide a cross ward Occupational Therapy and Vocational programme with good links into the community.
We have a service wide requirement to deliver a range of off ward group programmes that develop service user' skills and function in line with recovery principles and practice. These include social skills, transitions, life skills, goal setting, self-catering and leisure management a lot of these skills are developed within our vocational programme.
Occupational Therapists lead in the development and provision of vocational pathways for our service users that are within the secure perimeter and lead out into the community with storing links Vocational Service in West Ealing, also within the trust.
Our links with education and physical activity services on the St Bernard's site are also essential so that service users can gain the qualifications that they need to develop their skills and CV's further.
About us
Forensic services are interesting and challenging areas to develop a career in Occupational therapy. We have a close knit team who are very supportive and have years of experience and expertise in this clinical area.
We have a wide range of services and facilitate cross service learning, teaching and development. We have many training options available to our staff.
As an Occupational Therapy Service we have a strong commitment to CPD within the trust and provide a range of opportunities for staff with the expectation that learning is shared and clinical excellence is achieved. We have regular AHP forums, study days and learning lessons conferences.
Our working hours are Monday to Friday 8-4pm or 9-5pm. However, we recognise the need to be flexible and support both compressed hours, full time and part time hours, depending on the role and also school hours 10 till 2pm will be considered
As part of the interview process you may be offered other available posts within the trust. We are in close contact with other Heads of Occupational Therapy and an interview with forensics can ensure you are also made aware of other roles within the trust.
We expect and welcome informal enquiries and particularly visits to the service prior to interview. We consider this a key part of the process of understanding the Occupational Therapy role in forensic services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a client-centred range of meaningful occupations under the supervision of the occupational therapy service to a defined caseload of service users, within the local services or forensic division working with multi-disciplinary team members.
To promote a range of individual and group orientated approaches in leisure, work, productivity and self-care.
To contribute to the evaluation and continued development of the occupational therapy service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a client-centred range of meaningful occupations under the supervision of the occupational therapy service to a defined caseload of service users, within the local services or forensic division working with multi-disciplinary team members.
To promote a range of individual and group orientated approaches in leisure, work, productivity and self-care.
To contribute to the evaluation and continued development of the occupational therapy service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Proven evidence of an acceptable level of education/qualification (e.g. CSE, GCSE, O Level).
- NVQ level 3
Desirable
- Any relevant qualifications
- Relevant Group Work related courses.
- City & Guilds 730
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a mental health care setting as an OTA.
- Provide group activities within a mental health setting
Desirable
- Vocational experience e.g. catering, retail, horticulture, carpentry
- Experience of reflective practice and CPD
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate willingness to engage continuing personal and professional development.
Desirable
- Willing to undertake further training as required
- Understanding the Recovery approach and the contribution of Occupational Therapy
- Models of Occupational Therapy i.e. MOHO or MOCA
Skills
Essential
- Good communications skills both written and verbal.
- Able to demonstrate interests/hobbies and crafts.
- Ability to manage allocated petty cash and follow financial procedures
- Good computer and technology skills.
- Proven team player with a flexible approach.
- Able to develop and maintain professional boundaries.
- Able to form good working relationships in a multi-disciplinary setting.
- Ability to impart knowledge to others, supervise and direct work of others.
- Demonstrate the importance of cultural and other differences in working with people in a safe and sensitive manner.
- Demonstrate the need to integrate security requirements when facilitating therapeutic activities when promoting the rehabilitation of service users.
- Demonstrate an ability to manage own stress
Desirable
- Experience of team building.
- Demonstrate motivation through own personal interest.
- A sound knowledge of current mental health / forensic service delivery
- Awareness of risk assessment and positive risk management
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work a shift pattern including evenings and weekends.
- Ability to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and able to use own initiative.
- Self-confident with an out going personality, who calm remain calm under pressure.
- Recognises own abilities and limitations.
- Proven record of good attendance.
- Ability to fulfil all aspects of the job description.
Desirable
- Committed to mental health promotion and social inclusion
- Member of COT Member of Specialist Section of COT for Mental Health
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Proven evidence of an acceptable level of education/qualification (e.g. CSE, GCSE, O Level).
- NVQ level 3
Desirable
- Any relevant qualifications
- Relevant Group Work related courses.
- City & Guilds 730
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a mental health care setting as an OTA.
- Provide group activities within a mental health setting
Desirable
- Vocational experience e.g. catering, retail, horticulture, carpentry
- Experience of reflective practice and CPD
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate willingness to engage continuing personal and professional development.
Desirable
- Willing to undertake further training as required
- Understanding the Recovery approach and the contribution of Occupational Therapy
- Models of Occupational Therapy i.e. MOHO or MOCA
Skills
Essential
- Good communications skills both written and verbal.
- Able to demonstrate interests/hobbies and crafts.
- Ability to manage allocated petty cash and follow financial procedures
- Good computer and technology skills.
- Proven team player with a flexible approach.
- Able to develop and maintain professional boundaries.
- Able to form good working relationships in a multi-disciplinary setting.
- Ability to impart knowledge to others, supervise and direct work of others.
- Demonstrate the importance of cultural and other differences in working with people in a safe and sensitive manner.
- Demonstrate the need to integrate security requirements when facilitating therapeutic activities when promoting the rehabilitation of service users.
- Demonstrate an ability to manage own stress
Desirable
- Experience of team building.
- Demonstrate motivation through own personal interest.
- A sound knowledge of current mental health / forensic service delivery
- Awareness of risk assessment and positive risk management
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work a shift pattern including evenings and weekends.
- Ability to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and able to use own initiative.
- Self-confident with an out going personality, who calm remain calm under pressure.
- Recognises own abilities and limitations.
- Proven record of good attendance.
- Ability to fulfil all aspects of the job description.
Desirable
- Committed to mental health promotion and social inclusion
- Member of COT Member of Specialist Section of COT for Mental Health
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.
