Job summary
The role
Are you keen to consider a wide diversity of fields concerning gender and sexuality, whilst providing high quality person-centred health care?
We are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our highly skilled MDT based at The Laurels Gender Identity Clinic, in Exeter.
We support Trans and non-binary adults to receive treatment tailored to their unique experiences of gender incongruence, offering specialist gender assessments and treatment plans, specific gender focused psychological therapy, speech and language therapy, specialist medical consultations, and surgical referrals.
This is a truly specialist area, offering unique care to a diverse and important population of clients. The work is interesting, rewarding, and can genuinely affect peoples lives for the better.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is growing as we establish ourselves us as one of the leading providers of mental health services in the country.
Working as part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, you will make a difference to peoples lives from the moment you start.
Main duties of the job
The Occupational Therapist will be part of an MDT that offers a primary point of contact for the service user and provides regular appointments with the people attending the service. The post holder will support the service user through their transitioning and they will liaise with doctors and/or psychologists to arrange appointments with them at key stages of their treatment. The post holder will be expected to provide opportunities to explore feelings and concerns raised by the person transitioning including expectations of hormone therapy and surgery and the impact transitioning may have on a persons life and relationships. Contact may be face to face, by telephone, tele communications (such as Attend Anywhere) or by email as agreed.
The post holder will develop specialist OT interventions and liaise with OT peers in other GICs in the UK to participate in this evolving field of specialist healthcare. They will provide specialist interventions with individuals or in groups to support service-users to overcome barriers that maybe preventing them from living as independently as possible. The OT will offer support to service users with issues around work, education, sports and leisure activities, socialising, as well as assisting them to build the life skills necessary to manage the stresses of daily living whilst they are undergoing medical interventions on their gender treatment pathway
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
All service users entering treatment within the Specialist Gender Identity Clinic are allocated a specialist clinician, for the entire duration of that patients episode of care with the service. The Occupational Therapist will be part of an MDT that offers a primary point of contact for the service user and provides regular appointments with the people attending the service. The post holder will support the service user through their transitioning and they will liaise with doctors and/or psychologists to arrange appointments with them at key stages of their treatment. They will offer support with all aspects of transitioning and will signpost service users onto other services that may be helpful. The post holder will be expected to provide opportunities to explore feelings and concerns raised by the person transitioning including expectations of hormone therapy and surgery and the impact transitioning may have on a persons life and relationships. Contact may be face to face, by telephone, tele communications (such as Attend Anywhere) or by email as agreed.
The post holder will also work as a senior member of the team and liaise with a wide range of both statutory and non-statutory agencies to ensure a high standard of care. The post holder will develop specialist OT interventions and liaise with OT peers in other GICs in the UK to participate in this evolving field of specialist healthcare. They will provide specialist interventions with individuals or in groups to support service-users to overcome barriers that maybe preventing them from living as independently as possible. The OT will offer support to service users with issues around work, education, sports and leisure activities, socialising, as well as assisting them to build the life skills necessary to manage the stresses of daily living whilst they are undergoing medical interventions on their gender treatment pathway.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
All service users entering treatment within the Specialist Gender Identity Clinic are allocated a specialist clinician, for the entire duration of that patients episode of care with the service. The Occupational Therapist will be part of an MDT that offers a primary point of contact for the service user and provides regular appointments with the people attending the service. The post holder will support the service user through their transitioning and they will liaise with doctors and/or psychologists to arrange appointments with them at key stages of their treatment. They will offer support with all aspects of transitioning and will signpost service users onto other services that may be helpful. The post holder will be expected to provide opportunities to explore feelings and concerns raised by the person transitioning including expectations of hormone therapy and surgery and the impact transitioning may have on a persons life and relationships. Contact may be face to face, by telephone, tele communications (such as Attend Anywhere) or by email as agreed.
The post holder will also work as a senior member of the team and liaise with a wide range of both statutory and non-statutory agencies to ensure a high standard of care. The post holder will develop specialist OT interventions and liaise with OT peers in other GICs in the UK to participate in this evolving field of specialist healthcare. They will provide specialist interventions with individuals or in groups to support service-users to overcome barriers that maybe preventing them from living as independently as possible. The OT will offer support to service users with issues around work, education, sports and leisure activities, socialising, as well as assisting them to build the life skills necessary to manage the stresses of daily living whilst they are undergoing medical interventions on their gender treatment pathway.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional qualification BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT and hold current HCPC registration with no restrictions.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development. Training in gender and sexual diversity.
- Training to level 2 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
- Mentorship training.
Desirable
- Post registration training in relevant field.
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of the Mental Health Capacity Act requirements and the factors that may influence that.
- A broad knowledge of working with common mental health problems including mild to moderate depression which may be associated with Gender Incongruence.
- Knowledge and skills of risk assessment.
- Managing a caseload of clients with a range of problems.
- Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of mental health practice.
- Experience of working with issues of difference, diversity and social inequality.
- Experience of receiving and providing clinical supervision.
- Experience of supervising students
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
Desirable
- Knowledge of other brief psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of the patients experiencing gender and sexual diversity, a sense of incongruence, or dysphoria.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to this patient group.
- Knowledge of relevant Royal College of Psychiatrists professional and clinical guidelines for working with gender and sexual diversity and gender dysphoria and World Professional Association of Transgender Health Standards of Care and the interventions available to people who experience gender dysphoria in the UK and the NHS England national service specification for Gender Services.
- Experience of delivering training.
- Experience of working with gender and sexual diversity.
- Experience of working in a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional qualification BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT and hold current HCPC registration with no restrictions.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development. Training in gender and sexual diversity.
- Training to level 2 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
- Mentorship training.
Desirable
- Post registration training in relevant field.
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of the Mental Health Capacity Act requirements and the factors that may influence that.
- A broad knowledge of working with common mental health problems including mild to moderate depression which may be associated with Gender Incongruence.
- Knowledge and skills of risk assessment.
- Managing a caseload of clients with a range of problems.
- Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of mental health practice.
- Experience of working with issues of difference, diversity and social inequality.
- Experience of receiving and providing clinical supervision.
- Experience of supervising students
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
Desirable
- Knowledge of other brief psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of the patients experiencing gender and sexual diversity, a sense of incongruence, or dysphoria.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to this patient group.
- Knowledge of relevant Royal College of Psychiatrists professional and clinical guidelines for working with gender and sexual diversity and gender dysphoria and World Professional Association of Transgender Health Standards of Care and the interventions available to people who experience gender dysphoria in the UK and the NHS England national service specification for Gender Services.
- Experience of delivering training.
- Experience of working with gender and sexual diversity.
- Experience of working in a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
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).
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.
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).
