Job summary
We are seeking to recruit a half time Band 6 Memory Assessment Occupational Therapist to work within the Sutton Memory Assessment Service for local people showing early and more advanced symptoms of memory impairment including those under 75years old. The service offers both clinic and home-based appointments and plays an active role in supporting families/carers through individual sessions and psycho-education programmes. It is a well established and valued role within the multi-disciplinary team.
The service provides Occupational Therapy student placements and so the post holder will share Placement Educator responsibility, as well as enable shadowing opportunities for other trainees who visit the wider service.
You would be thoroughly inducted in the team and well supported by the Memory Assessment team and the wider OP CMHT. There are established team development sessions, supervision structures and reflective practice sessions.
The Service is seeking MSNAPP accreditation and so the role will also provide opportunities to develop skills in service review and development.
Main duties of the job
You will work alongside other OT's in offering specialist Occupational Therapy functional assessments for patients who are undergoing assessment for diagnosis of a possible dementia or for those who have been diagnosed with a dementia. This input will assist in the formulation of the diagnosis through the assessment of functional skills, review of the patient's home environment, exploration of purposeful occupation and provision of small aides and adaptations as required. The role will require a good knowledge of local services as it will include liaison with and sign posting to patients and their carers as well as developing strong links with other statutory and non-statutory agencies. Due to the multi-faceted needs of this client group this role will help the post holder to develop skills in physical health awareness, the impact of cognitive changes as well as mental health needs on a patients functioning and wellbeing.
The applicant will ideally have previous experience of working with Older People in a community setting and experience of working with people with dementia. The applicant will have excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise work, excellent communication skills, be able to work autonomously and confidently, demonstrate a keen interest in dementia, be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the wider service and demonstrate motivation in the work setting and be passionate about high quality care delivery for the users of our service.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be responsible for carrying out robust specialist assessments to those referred to the service.
To be responsible for making clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options from and OT perspective.
To utilise a wide variety of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are required to be seen.
To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.
To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
To promote social inclusion & recovery and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.
To develop and maintain a high standard of practice, based on assessment, through the use of a range of psychosocial approaches, within a health and psycho-social framework.
To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situation, referring to senior staff when necessary.
To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome.
To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff
To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.
To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be responsible for carrying out robust specialist assessments to those referred to the service.
To be responsible for making clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options from and OT perspective.
To utilise a wide variety of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are required to be seen.
To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.
To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
To promote social inclusion & recovery and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.
To develop and maintain a high standard of practice, based on assessment, through the use of a range of psychosocial approaches, within a health and psycho-social framework.
To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situation, referring to senior staff when necessary.
To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome.
To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff
To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.
To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of working with people with dementia and other conditions affecting cognition.
- Experience of working with older people with mental health problems
- Experience of participating in a service development project
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
- Successful completion of preceptorship
- Experience of being a practice placement educator
Qualitification
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registration to practice in the UK
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
Desirable
- Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment
- Apple registration
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
- Proficient standard of written communication skills
- Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
- Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
- Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.
Desirable
- Audit skills
- Working knowledge of model of human occupation tools
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of working with people with dementia and other conditions affecting cognition.
- Experience of working with older people with mental health problems
- Experience of participating in a service development project
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
- Successful completion of preceptorship
- Experience of being a practice placement educator
Qualitification
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registration to practice in the UK
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
Desirable
- Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment
- Apple registration
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
- Proficient standard of written communication skills
- Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
- Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
- Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.
Desirable
- Audit skills
- Working knowledge of model of human occupation tools
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
