Job summary
Would you like to join an innovative, dynamic and ambitious team committed to delivering the best possible care for our service-users? The Enhanced Rehabilitation Outreach Service (EROS) is looking for a compassionate and enthusiastic Assistant Therapy Practitioners to welcome into our team as it takes part in an exciting expansion across East and North Hertfordshire.
EROS provides rehabilitation interventions and support to individuals with complex and enduring long term severe mental illness in the community.
The service provides a dedicated, integrated multi-disciplinary team of professionals, who aim to improve quality of life, promote hope, recovery, and individual resilience, and reduce reliance on crisis and inpatient services.
At HPFT we provide an exciting and forward-thinking work environment, where staff feel valued and supported to reach their full potential. We are proud to be one of the top five recommended NHS Trusts to work for, and hold a CQC rating of Outstanding, making us one of the highest-rated Mental Health Trusts in the country. What's more, you will also be able to enjoy an extensive range of trust-wide staff benefits including:
- 27 days annual leave on entry to NHS
- One of the best pension schemes in the UK
- Flexible working options
- Car leasing scheme
- Childcare discounts
- Wellbeing events and activities
- A 24-hour staff support helpline
Main duties of the job
As a new Assistant Therapy Practitioner in the team, you will be welcomed into a safe and supportive staff team, who empower and encourage one another in being the best version of ourselves for the benefit of those we care for. One of our current ATP says 'I have been able to work closely with service users to support them to meet their rehab goals. No two days are the same. I have developed my skills in engaging service users with complex psychosis and work collaboratively with other services to deliver a variety of interventions'.
You can find out more about what our staff say about working for the EROS service by watching this short videohere.
Working to and developing professional strengths is a key part of the EROS culture. Staff have access to professional networks and there is Senior Leadership across all key disciplines to provide guidance, support and innovation across the pathways.
The service has been successful in both improving outcomes and the experience of care for individuals. It has supported people to return to the community, avoid admissions and has reduced the reliance on inpatient services and overall length of stay. It has been praised by professional bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists for its innovative approach and has been shortlisted for a number of national awards.
The service is now in a position to offer these pathways across the rest of the County.
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 4000 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 underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?
Job description
Job responsibilities
In your new role you will:
- Provide Occupational Therapy interventions to service users as part of their care plan, under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist
- Use technical and creative skills to assist in the provision of a flexible, service user centered programme of therapeutic activities for individuals or groups of service users who experience mental health difficulties
- Carry a keyworker caseload and support coordination of care during the episode of EROS rehabilitation
- Communicate with the Care Co-ordinator, GP, and any other involved professionals during the EROS episode
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Enhanced Rehabilitation Outreach service to provide a high-quality care and support to service users and carers.
For more detailed information on the position, please access the Job Description and Person Specification documents provided.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In your new role you will:
- Provide Occupational Therapy interventions to service users as part of their care plan, under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist
- Use technical and creative skills to assist in the provision of a flexible, service user centered programme of therapeutic activities for individuals or groups of service users who experience mental health difficulties
- Carry a keyworker caseload and support coordination of care during the episode of EROS rehabilitation
- Communicate with the Care Co-ordinator, GP, and any other involved professionals during the EROS episode
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Enhanced Rehabilitation Outreach service to provide a high-quality care and support to service users and carers.
For more detailed information on the position, please access the Job Description and Person Specification documents provided.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Technical /teaching qualification e.g., City & Guilds or Health & Social Care NVQ level 3 and experience /training as a Mental Health Worker.
- Knowledge of Occupational Therapy techniques and/or activities relevant to client group, acquired through training, experience within an OT/mental health setting to NVQ3 equivalent level.
- Willingness to undertake the following within 12 months of appointment o Computing skills o Group skills o Food handling
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Health and Safety Training
- Food Handling & Hygiene
- Functional assessment training
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant period working in paid or voluntary employment or community work relevant to post.
- Use of creative media /skill development within groups
- Understanding of professional conduct.
Desirable
- Health, social care and / or teaching experience
- Experience as a carer
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal, and good numeracy and literacy skills
- Observation skills
- Positive interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to teach practical skills
- Ability to work single handed with individuals / groups within a supportive environment.
- Ability to adapt communication style to meet both the needs of individuals and to meet the needs of different situations - e.g., within meetings, representing OT, contributing to CPA's.
- In discussion with OT, create and contribute to written reports using appropriate evaluation tools, assessment, and recovery language as appropriate.
- Presentation / teaching skills.
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Ability to work single handed with individuals and groups
- Group work skills
- Ability to analyse data to contribute to service development and audit.
- Knowledge of the principles of practice governance
- Health/safety and risk awareness
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Technical /teaching qualification e.g., City & Guilds or Health & Social Care NVQ level 3 and experience /training as a Mental Health Worker.
- Knowledge of Occupational Therapy techniques and/or activities relevant to client group, acquired through training, experience within an OT/mental health setting to NVQ3 equivalent level.
- Willingness to undertake the following within 12 months of appointment o Computing skills o Group skills o Food handling
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Health and Safety Training
- Food Handling & Hygiene
- Functional assessment training
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant period working in paid or voluntary employment or community work relevant to post.
- Use of creative media /skill development within groups
- Understanding of professional conduct.
Desirable
- Health, social care and / or teaching experience
- Experience as a carer
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal, and good numeracy and literacy skills
- Observation skills
- Positive interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to teach practical skills
- Ability to work single handed with individuals / groups within a supportive environment.
- Ability to adapt communication style to meet both the needs of individuals and to meet the needs of different situations - e.g., within meetings, representing OT, contributing to CPA's.
- In discussion with OT, create and contribute to written reports using appropriate evaluation tools, assessment, and recovery language as appropriate.
- Presentation / teaching skills.
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Ability to work single handed with individuals and groups
- Group work skills
- Ability to analyse data to contribute to service development and audit.
- Knowledge of the principles of practice governance
- Health/safety and risk awareness
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.
