Occupational therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work closely with the OT and Therapy Lead, the Lead OT for community services and community teams to establish occupational therapy specific roles across the community mental health services in Barnet. The post holder will hold a case load and work as an occupational therapist across a Barnet community core hub, to provide assessment, plan and implement interventions, evaluate treatment and ensure safe discharge. In particular the post holder will embed rehabilitation principles within the core hub. The post holder will provide both specialist occupational therapy assessments and offer a strengths based, recovery focused approach with the aim of enhancing daily living skills, and engagement in meaningful and purposeful activities for service users across the community. The occupational therapist will work across services providing specific time limited interventions with clear goals established with the service user and in conjunction with the supporting clinical team.The post holder will work with service users who have complex and substantial needs, often working with persons with dual diagnosis and coexisting conditions including physical health needs. Having a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, 1983 (amended 2007) will be required as the post holder will support service users return to or adjust to new accommodation in the community following admission to hospital and with the aim of preventing hospital admissions.

The post holder will work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams and relevant outside agencies, as well as with a band 5 occupational therapist to provide a quality service, which is responsive to clients occupational needs.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES To carry a full case load for which you have clinical responsibility. Using an evidenced based approach assess clients needs, establish aims and objectives, and plan Occupational Therapy treatment programme inconsultation with members of the multi-disciplinary teams, involving the client in decisions regarding appropriate interventions. To carry out a range of standardised/non-standardised assessments, e.g.MOHOST, AMPS in accordance with OT Pathway to provide a baseline for OT with clear treatment objectives To provide both specific individual assessment and treatment when indicated, involving motivating and adapting sessions and approach to allow full occupational participation. To provide rehabilitation interventions which embed recovery principles. To adapt activities and assessment to facilitate persons with Cognitivedifficulties, Language difficulties, social skills deficits and Challengingbehaviour, to work with interpreters where required To work with teams to assess suitability of accommodation and housing need to give OT feedback to MDT and other agencies as appropriate. To plan, run and evaluate treatment sessions using graded activities to achieve treatment aims. To maintain a flexible approach to treatment sessions, modifying activities, according to the fluctuating clinical presentation of the service user. To attend multi-disciplinary clinical meetings, to support and share information regarding professional practice with other disciplines and work in collaboration to provide a coordinated package of care. To actively contribute to the risk assessment process:o To consider all aspects of risk when considering treatments and advisethe team accordingly.o To complete and maintain risk assessment documentation as required.o To assess the therapy environments in relation to risk when planningand running treatment sessions.o To ensure appropriate staffing is available to run treatment sessionssafely.o To advise other team members on the management of risk.o To obtain agreement from the team, OT lead before engaging clients inany activity that may require therapeutic risk taking. To be aware of current legislation regarding safeguarding, and to have athorough understanding of the Unit and Trusts policies in relation to them. Liaise with external agencies and BEH trust services to support individuals in transition back to work, education or other structured activity. To carry out home visits, work with people in their accommodation and carry out session in a variety of community settings

OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES /POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT To design and implement the operational policy and other relevant procedures and protocols, with support from team and OT and Therapy lead. To have regular meetings with the department lead to consider leadership roles and to input into the developing and maintaining a positive working culture. To actively be involved in developing, reviewing or implementing protocol and policy

- To promote a rehabilitation approach within the core community team.- To be actively involved in service development and quality improvement, including inputting to service wide projects, identifying quality improvement within OT service and taking lead on system changes. To identify and develop relevant groups, if required, for the service user needs, developing protocols for such groups based on the best evidence as appropriate To ensure that service users perspectives are gained and listened to in service improvement To work closely with peer support workers, adopting an empowering and strengths based approach to team working.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Dip. COT or BSc OT
• Registered with HCPC

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications in related areas e.g. AMPS, CBT, DBT, sensory qualification/training

Experience /knowledge

Essential

• Post graduate experience of working with people with mental health conditions relevant to specialty of post
• Experience of group and individual occupational therapy interventions
• Experience of working in an MDT

Desirable

• Experience of using standardised assessments, e.g. MOHOST

skills and abilities

Essential

• Working knowledge of the occupational therapy process
• Ability to apply and develop core OT skills

Desirable

• Experience of using MOHO assessments i.e. MOHOST, ACIS
• oExperience in Recovery principles, e.g. Recovery Star

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Empathy for people with mental health problems

Desirable

• Experience with service user involvement
• Experience with external network involvement

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

306 North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Redhill Clinic

The Redhill Clinic, 64 Station Road

Edgware

HA8 7AB

Employer's website

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