Job summary
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen in the Sefton Community Learning Disabilities team for a band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the team. You will be working across the Sefton footprint in a verity of settings with adults who have a diagnosis of a Learning Disability.
The post holder will be expected to effectively manage a caseload of patient's co-morbidities as an autonomous practitioner, using evidence based/ patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions of the patient group.
The post holder will participate in planning, development and evaluation of therapy services within a designated area/team. The post holder takes a holistic approach in the assessment and treatment of service users / patients, being responsible for the provision of appropriate, high-quality care to a defined caseload which may be of a complex nature, using the appropriate model of care and evidenced based practice.
Work in partnership with other professional to enable patients / clients to be maintained in an appropriate environment. To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own practise against these. To demonstrate as appropriate skills for assessment and treatment of patients e.g., dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and other senses
Main duties of the job
To undertake a comprehensive holistic Occupational Therapy assessment, devise treatment plans individualised to patient needs, reviewing and adapting during patient journey from initial assessment through to discharge.
To gain consent through engaging patients / clients through their therapy journey, enabling them to experience choice and as part of their recovery.
To prioritise designated Occupational Therapy referrals according to need, risk and service capacity.
To plan and implement patient centred individual and/or group interventions, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals including sensory integration difficulties within ward/rehab hub setting.
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
To monitor and offer professional advice and leadership to all team members with regards to their caseloads and working practices.
To ensure that the service users care plan is developed to meet the assessed need of the individual. To monitor, via performance management, the care plans developed for service users by all sector members to ensure that they are appropriate and of a high standard.
To liaise with family members, carers, GP's and other professionals as necessary when completing the assessment and developing a care plan.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To ensure a seamless approach by liaising with other professionals as required.
To promote awareness of the role of the Profession within the MDT negotiating priorities where appropriate.
To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills established through training and experience to impart sensitive information e.g., diagnosis or symptoms to service users and their families. To offer support to other staff to do this.
To demonstrate an awareness of effective communication and barriers to communication both verbal and non-verbal, awareness of access Language Line and visual impairment team, different aids to support patient care.
To use skills established through training and experience to give and receive information, adhering to the Caldicott guidelines, to other individuals with regard to a service users care in reviews and multi-disciplinary meetings. These individuals may be external to the Trust.
To attend / contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings / Safety huddle / SAFER.
Communicate effectively and form professional relationships with patients, their relatives and visitors, staff and any other relevant contact.Documentation
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.
To ensure that all relevant information with regards to a service users care, and treatment is documented accurately and legibly into the health record. Supervise and monitor the entries made by sector members through performance management and audit. Professional Ethics
To adhere to the Trust Policy on Confidentiality04/06/25
To comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, HCPC Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics and national and local policies and procedures.
To undertake all duties with due regard to sensitive information and confidentiality in line with Trust Policy and Procedure.
At all times to be a positive ambassador for the Profession and the wider service. Leadership, Supervision & Appraisal
To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisals for support staff and students as required.
In line with local guidelines review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
To participate in clinical and management supervision.
To be responsible for the update and maintenance of a personal development portfolio.
To be fully involved in training initiatives and be able to plan and implement in specific Profession Training to other staff when required.Training Staff & Students
To contribute to the provision of teaching sessions in order to pass on knowledge and skills.To support the induction, training of students and other staff both within or external to the Trust.Service Development & Delivery
To provide reports and statistical returns to a variety of departments as requested.
Professional Development
To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
To participate in the Trusts PDP process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To ensure a seamless approach by liaising with other professionals as required.
To promote awareness of the role of the Profession within the MDT negotiating priorities where appropriate.
To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills established through training and experience to impart sensitive information e.g., diagnosis or symptoms to service users and their families. To offer support to other staff to do this.
To demonstrate an awareness of effective communication and barriers to communication both verbal and non-verbal, awareness of access Language Line and visual impairment team, different aids to support patient care.
To use skills established through training and experience to give and receive information, adhering to the Caldicott guidelines, to other individuals with regard to a service users care in reviews and multi-disciplinary meetings. These individuals may be external to the Trust.
To attend / contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings / Safety huddle / SAFER.
Communicate effectively and form professional relationships with patients, their relatives and visitors, staff and any other relevant contact.Documentation
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.
To ensure that all relevant information with regards to a service users care, and treatment is documented accurately and legibly into the health record. Supervise and monitor the entries made by sector members through performance management and audit. Professional Ethics
To adhere to the Trust Policy on Confidentiality04/06/25
To comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, HCPC Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics and national and local policies and procedures.
To undertake all duties with due regard to sensitive information and confidentiality in line with Trust Policy and Procedure.
At all times to be a positive ambassador for the Profession and the wider service. Leadership, Supervision & Appraisal
To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisals for support staff and students as required.
In line with local guidelines review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
To participate in clinical and management supervision.
To be responsible for the update and maintenance of a personal development portfolio.
To be fully involved in training initiatives and be able to plan and implement in specific Profession Training to other staff when required.Training Staff & Students
To contribute to the provision of teaching sessions in order to pass on knowledge and skills.To support the induction, training of students and other staff both within or external to the Trust.Service Development & Delivery
To provide reports and statistical returns to a variety of departments as requested.
Professional Development
To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
To participate in the Trusts PDP process.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Essential
- Occupational therapy registration
- experience in working with individuals with a Learning Disability
- Knowledge within assessments used within Occupational Therapy
- Demonstrate continuous improvement and development
- Demonstrate accountability
- Demonstrate respectfulness and enthusiasm
- Demonstrate Responsive to service users
- Demonstrate Transparency and honesty
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels with other professionals and with people who may have significant barriers to understanding.
- Demonstrates good standard of verbal and written communication skills including basis I.T. skills.
- knowledge of national and local policy / good practice guidance relating to care of people with learning disabilities.
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to plan and manage own workload
- Ability to work in an unpredictable work environment which may include people with challenging and aggressive behaviour
Desirable
- Flexible approach to hours and duties
- Keen to progress own personal development
- have the ability to travel within the area of work
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Essential
- Occupational therapy registration
- experience in working with individuals with a Learning Disability
- Knowledge within assessments used within Occupational Therapy
- Demonstrate continuous improvement and development
- Demonstrate accountability
- Demonstrate respectfulness and enthusiasm
- Demonstrate Responsive to service users
- Demonstrate Transparency and honesty
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels with other professionals and with people who may have significant barriers to understanding.
- Demonstrates good standard of verbal and written communication skills including basis I.T. skills.
- knowledge of national and local policy / good practice guidance relating to care of people with learning disabilities.
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to plan and manage own workload
- Ability to work in an unpredictable work environment which may include people with challenging and aggressive behaviour
Desirable
- Flexible approach to hours and duties
- Keen to progress own personal development
- have the ability to travel within the area of work
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).
