Job summary
Would you like to be part of a new expansion within community services? Are you an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with significant experience in implementing high-quality, person-centred interventions to improve the quality of life for adults with a learning disability? An exciting opportunity has arisen to increase and develop the Community Learning Disability Intensive Support Team (IST) in South Staffordshire.The IST forms part of the wider South Staffordshire offer to support individuals with a Learning Disability and Autism who are experiencing difficulties which may otherwise lead to placement breakdown or hospital admission. The team is reliant upon effective working relationships between services within and outside of MPFT. This is a challenging but rewarding role and we encourage applications from experienced professionals who practice in supporting adults with a learning disability.
Main duties of the job
You will be applying for an IST Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist role. Working as part of an already established Multi Disciplinary Team you will provide a valued clinical leadership role to design and deliver short term specialist interventions within the framework of an IST shared caseload. This will involve utilising your highly specialist OT skills, including advanced sensory integration assessment and intervention whilst also implementing specialist behavioural assessment to inform Positive Behavioural Support.Experience of working with people with learning disabilities in the community is essential, including an understanding of active support theory and practice. Qualification experience of Sensory Integration theory and practice is essential.Through daily MDT reflection you will work in a highly focused, intensive, and supportive way, aimed at delivering specialist intervention with a view to providing care within the person's home and community. The post will require you to undertake specialist assessment and interventions throughout the IST clinical pathway with your MDT colleagues, and directly with the service user, parent, and / or care provider, before discharging back to the referring clinician within the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).As the post involves travelling across South Staffordshire, applicants need to be able to travel independently and responsively, often at short notice.
About us
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.
We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.
We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The IST is part of the Specialist Learning Disability Services and receives internal referrals from CLDT colleagues. The post requires interface with several teams and services to promote shared formulation. This includes assessment and management of risks which place the individual and others at risk of serious harm; or for whom the nature or degree of risk might otherwise lead to exclusion, placement breakdown, and admission to inpatient services. On occasion this may involve planned out of hours work, with access to on-call support and supervision, if the needs of an individual require it.Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To support a shared clinical caseload of people with a learning disability and associated highly complex needs, including behaviours which are challenging. This will include caseload management and decisions on how to prioritise workload.2. To carry out specialist assessments including gathering complex information from service users, carers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. This will include the use of specialist standardised and non-standardised assessment tools, verbal and non-verbal communication skills and observation of the service user in a variety of environments. 3. To advise on the delivery of a range of specific Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions by other OTs in the Intensive Support Team. Working closely with the Occupational Therapy CLDT Clinical Lead to align these with the Community Learning Disability Team assessment tools to enable clinical and caseload audit, understanding and reporting on any unmet need, training need and service development need.4. To contribute to formulation and the production of an overall care plan using specialised Occupational Therapy intervention. Negotiate and communicate these in the most suitable manner with the service user, family, carers and other members of the IST. The post holder will embed advanced sensory integration knowledge into practice and how this can impact occupational outcomes. 5. To implement, evaluate, analyse and adjust intervention according to individual needs, which will be highly complex. The frequent use of encouragement, motivation, negotiation, reassurance and training skills as well as discussing progress with service users, families and carers will be essential.6. Undertake core functional IST clinical pathway work when required to support service demands, with the aim of avoiding inappropriate hospital admissions, and placement / family breakdown. 7. To write and disseminate expert reports according to agreed protocols in line with local and national standards. Reports should be clear, accurate and easy to read containing appropriate language for service users, their family/carers and other professionals. Provide specialist advice via written or verbal instruction to clients, carers and relatives. This may also include health education, preventative or condition specific advice. To provide verbal and written reports for a variety of clinical meetings such as MDT meetings, LAEP meetings and CTRs, safeguarding meetings, multi-agency planning meetings and other meetings as and when required, contributing the ISTs perspective to the planning and delivery of care.8. To work flexibly with Occupational Therapists within the community teams ensuring that service users receive continuity of service from the most appropriate and best placed clinician. 9. To provide valuable OT insight contributing to the development, implementation, and evaluation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plans. 10. To participate in the delivery of intensive multi-disciplinary support and contribute to multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings, providing the specialist Occupational Therapy perspective. This will include presentation, verbal reporting and negotiating to achieve agreement on delivery of care.11. Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of interventions, as part of the care planning and evaluation process.12. To be responsible for participating in the maintenance and development of quality standards, including the auditing, monitoring and reviewing of practice in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy. To take part in and lead on clinical audit/research within own area of responsibility. This may include written and electronic communication across the whole trust and co-operative working with other disciplines. The post will require knowledge of audit methods and research methodology.13. To contribute to the planned discharge of service users from the service. This will involve analysis of the clinical situation and how the case should best be dealt with in the future. Liaison and communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies will be necessary.*Please see the attached JD/PS for further details*
Job description
Job responsibilities
The IST is part of the Specialist Learning Disability Services and receives internal referrals from CLDT colleagues. The post requires interface with several teams and services to promote shared formulation. This includes assessment and management of risks which place the individual and others at risk of serious harm; or for whom the nature or degree of risk might otherwise lead to exclusion, placement breakdown, and admission to inpatient services. On occasion this may involve planned out of hours work, with access to on-call support and supervision, if the needs of an individual require it.Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To support a shared clinical caseload of people with a learning disability and associated highly complex needs, including behaviours which are challenging. This will include caseload management and decisions on how to prioritise workload.2. To carry out specialist assessments including gathering complex information from service users, carers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. This will include the use of specialist standardised and non-standardised assessment tools, verbal and non-verbal communication skills and observation of the service user in a variety of environments. 3. To advise on the delivery of a range of specific Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions by other OTs in the Intensive Support Team. Working closely with the Occupational Therapy CLDT Clinical Lead to align these with the Community Learning Disability Team assessment tools to enable clinical and caseload audit, understanding and reporting on any unmet need, training need and service development need.4. To contribute to formulation and the production of an overall care plan using specialised Occupational Therapy intervention. Negotiate and communicate these in the most suitable manner with the service user, family, carers and other members of the IST. The post holder will embed advanced sensory integration knowledge into practice and how this can impact occupational outcomes. 5. To implement, evaluate, analyse and adjust intervention according to individual needs, which will be highly complex. The frequent use of encouragement, motivation, negotiation, reassurance and training skills as well as discussing progress with service users, families and carers will be essential.6. Undertake core functional IST clinical pathway work when required to support service demands, with the aim of avoiding inappropriate hospital admissions, and placement / family breakdown. 7. To write and disseminate expert reports according to agreed protocols in line with local and national standards. Reports should be clear, accurate and easy to read containing appropriate language for service users, their family/carers and other professionals. Provide specialist advice via written or verbal instruction to clients, carers and relatives. This may also include health education, preventative or condition specific advice. To provide verbal and written reports for a variety of clinical meetings such as MDT meetings, LAEP meetings and CTRs, safeguarding meetings, multi-agency planning meetings and other meetings as and when required, contributing the ISTs perspective to the planning and delivery of care.8. To work flexibly with Occupational Therapists within the community teams ensuring that service users receive continuity of service from the most appropriate and best placed clinician. 9. To provide valuable OT insight contributing to the development, implementation, and evaluation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plans. 10. To participate in the delivery of intensive multi-disciplinary support and contribute to multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings, providing the specialist Occupational Therapy perspective. This will include presentation, verbal reporting and negotiating to achieve agreement on delivery of care.11. Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of interventions, as part of the care planning and evaluation process.12. To be responsible for participating in the maintenance and development of quality standards, including the auditing, monitoring and reviewing of practice in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy. To take part in and lead on clinical audit/research within own area of responsibility. This may include written and electronic communication across the whole trust and co-operative working with other disciplines. The post will require knowledge of audit methods and research methodology.13. To contribute to the planned discharge of service users from the service. This will involve analysis of the clinical situation and how the case should best be dealt with in the future. Liaison and communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies will be necessary.*Please see the attached JD/PS for further details*
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC registration.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sensory Integration/equivalent.
- Practice Placement Educator.
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a clinician in a specialist learning disability service working with service users with very complex needs including behaviour which may be described as challenging.
- Experience of delivering a modern and effective evidence-based OT service within learning disability services.
- Experience of managing and prioritising a clinical caseload.
- At least 2 years qualified experience working within learning disability services.
- Experience of supervising staff.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the effects of current local, regional and national guidance on occupational therapy service delivery within this speciality.
- Ability to form clear clinical assessment/intervention plans through clinical reasoning in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team which are communicated to service users, carers, family and team.
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team and contribute to Occupational Therapy specific interventions and generic practice as appropriate.
- Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support approaches, assessment processes and how OT can effectively contribute.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post.
- Knowledge and experience of Occupational Therapy models, interventions, specialist assessments, and outcome measures.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC registration.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sensory Integration/equivalent.
- Practice Placement Educator.
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a clinician in a specialist learning disability service working with service users with very complex needs including behaviour which may be described as challenging.
- Experience of delivering a modern and effective evidence-based OT service within learning disability services.
- Experience of managing and prioritising a clinical caseload.
- At least 2 years qualified experience working within learning disability services.
- Experience of supervising staff.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the effects of current local, regional and national guidance on occupational therapy service delivery within this speciality.
- Ability to form clear clinical assessment/intervention plans through clinical reasoning in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team which are communicated to service users, carers, family and team.
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team and contribute to Occupational Therapy specific interventions and generic practice as appropriate.
- Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support approaches, assessment processes and how OT can effectively contribute.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post.
- Knowledge and experience of Occupational Therapy models, interventions, specialist assessments, and outcome measures.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
