Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• To manage a clinical caseload of adults with mental health needs requiring occupational assessment and treatment interventions within inpatient settings.

• To undertake occupational therapy assessments/treatment interventions with designated service users, utilising investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualised treatment plans.

• To plan and implement occupational therapy interventions (individual and group) using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

• To work collaboratively with service users and their families/carers to identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall recovery care plan.

• To utilise standardised and non-standardised occupational therapy assessment tools as part of the assessment process.

• To actively engage and motivate service users in the occupations of self-care, productivity and leisure.

• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress to ensure effective intervention.

• To work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary team members providing occupational therapy specific contributions to the care and treatment process of patients.

• To utilise clinical reasoning skills, demonstrating critical thinking, reflection and analysis from which to inform practice.

• To apply an experiential understanding of the effects of functional, cognitive and physical impairment related to mental health needs in the therapeutic process of treatment planning and intervention.

• Provide information and recommendations to assist lifestyle change including the provision of aids, adaptations, personal care packages and supported living accommodation.

• To be responsible for the planning and delivery of occupational therapy interventions in a variety of environments, according to service user need.

• To be responsible for the safe fitting and use of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) equipment provided to service users by oneself and occupational therapy support staff within the Team.

• To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post in order to provide a quality occupational therapy service.

Professional

• Adhere to the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and other appropriate guidance and standards, and Heath and Care Professions Council guidance and standards, and Trust policies and procedures.

• Maintain own Clinical Professional Development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate then as necessary into own work.

• Attend relevant internal and external training and participate in reflective practice.

• To take an active role in own supervision sessions; clinical, managerial and professional and the appraisal process.

• Carry out clinical and professional supervision for occupational therapy support staff and carry out appraisals as required.

• Support the occupational therapy team in provision of clinical placements, to be an occupational therapy placement educator, report on placement provision and support in the monitoring of clinical placements.

• Provide occupational therapy training, advice and consultation for the multidisciplinary team and service users/carers.

• To undertake and successfully complete a preceptorship programme as a newly qualified Band 5 Occupational Therapist.

• Demonstrate an understanding of quality and safety issues in the work setting.

Organisational/Corporate/Group

Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance, being aware of the Trust directives for notification of absence.

Responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties, and work within own competence and adhere to Trust, professional, and specific manufacturer instruction, and to support relevant others to do likewise through specialist advice and supervision of practice.

Support governance processes within the Mental Health Division as required.

This list of duties is not exhaustive and the job description may be added to or otherwise varied from time to time in agreement with the Mental Health Divisional Director and the post holder. To comply with Trust policy and guidance at all times.

Physical Effort

To carry out clinical interventions with moderate physical effort on a weekly basis. This includes moving and handling of pieces of equipment necessary to increase service users independence within their home environment. This takes place in service users homes and other community settings where accessibility and maneuverability may be limited.

Mental Effort

To concentrate during assessment and treatment sessions for up to two hours and to ensure good communication with service users experiencing impaired communication and comprehension.

To deal sensitively with service users who may have high levels of anxiety or distress, caused by pain, mental health conditions or limited mobility and level of function.

Emotional Effort

To work alone in the community in a variety of settings including service users homes/public places/community centers/extra care facilities, assessing and managing risk throughout.

To be aware of the frequent unpredictable nature of the job and to handle this sensitively and professionally.

Frequently dealing with service users and/or carers who may be anxious or display challenging behavior and dealing with these scenarios in community settings.

At times dealing with terminally ill service users or those experiencing chronic degenerative illness

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration

Desirable

• Evidence of CPD/training related to mental health

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of common mental health conditions

Desirable

• Relevant placement/work experience

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hallam Street Hospital

Hallam Street

West Bromwich

B71 4NH

Employer's website

https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)