Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a personable and motivated Occupational Therapy Assistance Therapy Practitioner, to join our adult community mental health team within Chestnut and an organisation rated outstanding by the CQC.
The successful applicant will work as part of a supportive and dedicated multidisciplinary team, helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of individuals suffering from mental health difficulties.
You will be supervised by a qualified Occupational Therapist and link in with the wider Occupational Therapy team with great peer networks, offering support and a variety of learning and professional development opportunities.
This included the exciting possibility of applying for one of our Occupational Therapy apprentice places to further your career as a qualified occupational Therapist.
This post is a full time contract role and will initially be funded for a year but there is scope to remain with the organisation after this time if that is desirable.
The service operates Monday - Friday 9am-5pm & the post will input into primary & secondary care. Part time & flexible working applicants will be considered.
Please Note: Being a car driver is an essential element of this job role.
Main duties of the job
- You will need to have appropriate skills and experience in mental health; including team and 1-1 work.
- You will also need to have a passion for helping people to engage in meaningful occupations. Experience of running or co-facilitating groups would be advantageous.
- You will carry our specific Occupational Therapy assessments as guided by an Occupational Therapist.
- You will promote a culture of engagement in meaningful occupation within the service in order to enhance quality of life.
- You will work effectively as a member of a team in providing therapeutic activities using a person centered and occupationally based approach.
- You will provide timely feedback to the MDT information regarding the service users wellbeing and occupational performance.
- You will receive regular supervision and support from the members of the Occupational Therapy team and will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing development.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is by choice, independence and equality.
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- You will work as part of the occupational therapy team in community mental health services. Working alone or with other multi-disciplinary team staff members under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, the post holder will be expected to:
- Provide occupational therapy interventions under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist such as support to access community i.e. shops, cafes or community groups, support to use public transport and assistance to develop daily living skills such as cooking sessions.
- You will use technical and creative skills to assist in the provision of a flexible, service user centered programme of therapeutic activities for individuals who experience mental health difficulties.
- You will plan and facilitate occupationally based groups guided by an Occupational Therapist.
For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- You will work as part of the occupational therapy team in community mental health services. Working alone or with other multi-disciplinary team staff members under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, the post holder will be expected to:
- Provide occupational therapy interventions under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist such as support to access community i.e. shops, cafes or community groups, support to use public transport and assistance to develop daily living skills such as cooking sessions.
- You will use technical and creative skills to assist in the provision of a flexible, service user centered programme of therapeutic activities for individuals who experience mental health difficulties.
- You will plan and facilitate occupationally based groups guided by an Occupational Therapist.
For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Knowledge of Occupational Therapy role within setting.
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
- A Levels and/or Health and Social Care NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
- Degree in relevant subject.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems
- Experience of leading groups and 1:1 intervention
- Experience of service user and carer involvement in the development of services.
- Knowledge of Recovery principles
- Functional Assessment Training
Desirable
- Experience of working in an OT related setting
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential
- Strong communication skills written and verbal.
- Knowledge of and ability to use a range of communication skills to overcome barriers to engagement.
- Ability to work effectively in a team
- Knowledge of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
- Ability to teach practical skills.
Desirable
- Able to speak other languages.
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Good problem solving and clinical judgement skills.
- Ability to understand and respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users.
- Good Observational skills
- Knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation Assessment tools.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Knowledge of Occupational Therapy role within setting.
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
- A Levels and/or Health and Social Care NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
- Degree in relevant subject.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems
- Experience of leading groups and 1:1 intervention
- Experience of service user and carer involvement in the development of services.
- Knowledge of Recovery principles
- Functional Assessment Training
Desirable
- Experience of working in an OT related setting
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential
- Strong communication skills written and verbal.
- Knowledge of and ability to use a range of communication skills to overcome barriers to engagement.
- Ability to work effectively in a team
- Knowledge of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
- Ability to teach practical skills.
Desirable
- Able to speak other languages.
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Good problem solving and clinical judgement skills.
- Ability to understand and respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users.
- Good Observational skills
- Knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation Assessment 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).
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Holly Lodge, 45 Church Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN8 0DR
45 Church Lane
Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, HERTS
EN8 0DR
Employer's website
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
