Lead Occupational Therapist Acute Mental Health Service

Job responsibilities

We are looking for someone who has the experience, skills and desire to give the best possible care to people with complex needs and has the confidence to support other staff. The successful candidates will:

• Be HCPC registered as an Occupational Therapist with experience as a qualified OT at band 6/7 level
• Demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
• Demonstrate an interest and participation in evidence based practice and professional development.
• Likes working in an environment of change and the opportunities that brings for improvement and has ideas and skills to contribute to our OT offer
• Motivated and skilled to develop services and others.

Our offer to you:

• Receive monthly supervision from the Head OT
• Great development opportunity with supportive and friendly team.
• A bespoke 1:1 induction by Head OT tailored to your specific needs.
• Flexible working
• Chance to lead on projects, link to networks, and research and development opportunities

Key Responsibilities

Central and North West London NHS Trust is committed to providing safe, effective services and providing patients and families with a positive experience.

1. Clinical

1.1 To provide highly specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments for service users to establish and meet their occupational needs

1.2 To apply highly specialist clinical knowledge and skills to undertake and evaluate evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which support service users in their recovery

1.3 To provide occupational therapy for a caseload of service users with enduring and complex mental health needs who require specialist assessment and intervention in line with Trust policies

1.4 Promote the empowerment and education of service users in relation to their health, incorporating health promotion, relapse prevention and social inclusion principles

1.5 Promote and apply equal opportunities policies and legislation and anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the cultural and spiritual customs and values of service users and carers at all times

• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service users social and physical environment that supports them to maintain recovery
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims and objectives and outcome measures, in line with evidence based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.
• To determine the impact of mental and physical health conditions on service users functional ability and undertake/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment /aids and adaptations.
• To be aware of and compliant with medication issues in line with the CNWL OT Medication Management Guidelines( Feb 2015)
• For practitioners to be aware of and sensitive to the safeguarding needs of children and adults in their work, and knowledgeable both about potential indicators of abuse or neglect and about what to do if they have concerns about an adults welfare.

1. Management And Leadership

2.1 To operationally manage the Occupational Therapy provision within Park Royal Centre for Mental Health under Brent borough.

2.2 To lead on the strategic development of the Occupational therapy service within Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, in partnership with the Borough Head Occupational Therapist.

2.3 To lead in the management, supervision, training and recruitment of Occupational Therapy staff. This will include managing and addressing of performance within the probationary, capability and sickness absence management guidelines and policies

2.4 To assume responsibility for ensuring that all OT staff are capable practitioners, are compliant with all statutory and mandatory training and participate in annual appraisals.

2.5 To manage financial resources for the service; and respond to the request for, and delivery of, service efficiencies.

2.6 To be responsive to clinical priorities and bed flow issues; taking decisions which will inform the priorities of the OT clinical team and the timeliness of appropriate assessments and interventions.

2.7 To work in partnership with senior managers in the MDT including the Matron, ward managers, service manager, consultant psychiatrists to support the management and development of services within Park Royal centre for Mental Health..

2.8 To work in conjunction with the Trust Head OT for CNWL and other Lead OTs in the trust to support the development of and promote OT within the acute service

2.9 To work in conjunction with the Head OT for Brent in the development of OT within the borough and to deputise as required

2.10 To work in conjunction with other teams and mental health services in Brent and Jameson.

2.11 To ensure staff adhere to Health and Safety guidelines and maintain safe environments and working practices

2.12 To lead on investigations e.g. complaints, SUIs, RCAs etc. as directed by the Senior Management Team.

3 Communication

3.1 To establish and maintain effective communication networks with service users, carers and other health workers and agencies in order to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach to care.

3.2 To promote the role of OT within the service; negotiating and agreeing priorities with the Head Occupational therapist and Service/Unit Manager.

3.3 To develop and maintain effective professional communication structures

3.4 To participate in OT, multi-disciplinary, clinical and operational management meetings e.g. Bed Management as required

3.5 To advise / consult with OT/other professionals providing clinicalexpertise

3.6 To develop effective working networks and partnerships with community agencies to support service users occupational and vocational participating in their environments of choice

3.7 To ensure timely response to emails and requests for information.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
• Practice Placement Educator's Course
• Mental health specific workshops and short courses

Desirable

• Post graduate training specific to clinical specialty
• Management & Leadership Diploma.
• RCA Training.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Paid/unpaid relevant to job.

Essential

• Significant post qualification experience working in mental health services.
• Experience in participating in audit / research projects.
• Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments
• Experience of supervising and appraising staff / unqualified staff; recruitment and workforce planning.
• Experience of effective partnership working, with external providers, in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users
• Experience in completing Risk Assessment Tools.
• Experience in partnership working with external agencies
• Experience in leading and/or developing a service/component of a service
• Experience in managing resources e.g. financial, stock, equipment etc.

Desirable

• Experience in Inpatient mental health
• Experience in managing complex HR issues with staff e.g. the management of performance / long term sickness.
• Experience in budget management
• Experience with MOHO assessment tools
• Experience in Inpatient mental health
• Experience in completing Root Cause Analysis investigations

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

Essential

• Individual and group work assessment and intervention skills.
• Ability to deal with sensitivities and complexities, using interpersonal skills
• Effective leadership skills through the management of designated projects, audits and research
• Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes.
• Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e -mail, fax, telephone etc
• Ability to prioritise workload, delegate effectively and to support junior staff to do so.
• Ability to ensure the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies which facilitates a service user's recovery
• Ability to maintain effective partnership working with resources both internal and external to the Trust
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Presentation skills
• Knowledge of personal recovery principles and their application to service delivery
• Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice
• Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames
• Ability to deputise in the absence of the Head OT
• Ability to regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD
• Ability to identify and effectively manage performance of self and others.
• Ability to promote a culture of sound OT practice amongst staff.
• Ability to determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on a service user's functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
• Ability to recognise and articulate own values and principles , understanding how these may different from those of others
• The post holder must have the ability to understand and implement National Policies, Equal Opportunities and the Code of Ethics at level appropriate to the job.

Desirable

• R&D experience at post graduate level
• Delivery of formal presentations and teaching sessions
• Chairing of senior meetings
• Car driver or use of motorised transport
• Membership of BAOT and Specialist Sections.

ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Essential

• Committed to working as part of an MDT.
• Able to work flexibly
• Able to utilise supervision effectively
• Demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
• Demonstrates an enthusiasm for the post
• Ability to work independently and is self motivated.

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).