Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to work in the HMP Aylesbury complex needs OPD service. The postholder will be working alongside an established B7 OT and OT team to lead, develop and deliver the OT service on offer to the clients.
The service is part of theNorth London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT).To support and enhance the professional care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care.To provide occupational therapy and assessment according to needs of the client. To offer advice and consultation on clients' OT care and well-being to non-OT colleagues. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.To contribute as a member of the Pathways Service to the development of effective and appropriate services for people who are screened into the Pathways complex needs service
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be working, in a prison that is part of the Category-C prison estate with offenders presenting with a range of sentence types who present with complex needs. This includes: complex trauma, neuro-developmental issues, attachment complications, emotional dysregulation and interpersonal problems. Thus specialist skills, 'forensic awareness' is required of all staff working in Pathways, this including vigilance at all times on issues of safety and security, the capacity to de-escalate risk of violence, and the ability and capacity to deliver clinical input in locked, sometimes volatile, and sometimes distressing circumstances.
About us
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
- We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
- With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
- We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
Why NLFT?
- We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
- We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
- NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
- Excellent internal staff network
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To be responsible for the day to day operational management of the therapy programme, ensuring the service is appropriately focused on priorities, integrated with the multi-disciplinary teams and responsive to client needs.
2. To regularly review the service, evaluating if it is responsive to need, achieves positive outcomes, is cost effective and is of value to those who use the service.
3. To assist managers of the service to plan future treatment options within the Pathways Team.
4. To work collaboratively with multi agency managers across the prison estate and the LPP to plan the continuity of services and work as a unified team for the benefit of inmates.
5. To work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the establishment to support the overall pathways of residents into the community where appropriate.
6. To work collaboratively with officers in the team and be responsive to the demands placed on prison staff to ensure and collaborate approach to service delivery.
7. To take a lead role for service developments within Occupational Therapy and the Pathways Team.
8. To provide joint professional leadership, supervision and guidance for staff in the team, keeping up to date regarding professional developments and guidance from the College of Occupational Therapists and cascading this information, integrating it into departmental practice.
9. To advise the appropriate managers on the day-to-day running needs of the service highlighting any unmet needs in service provision.
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To be responsible for the day to day operational management of the therapy programme, ensuring the service is appropriately focused on priorities, integrated with the multi-disciplinary teams and responsive to client needs.
2. To regularly review the service, evaluating if it is responsive to need, achieves positive outcomes, is cost effective and is of value to those who use the service.
3. To assist managers of the service to plan future treatment options within the Pathways Team.
4. To work collaboratively with multi agency managers across the prison estate and the LPP to plan the continuity of services and work as a unified team for the benefit of inmates.
5. To work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the establishment to support the overall pathways of residents into the community where appropriate.
6. To work collaboratively with officers in the team and be responsive to the demands placed on prison staff to ensure and collaborate approach to service delivery.
7. To take a lead role for service developments within Occupational Therapy and the Pathways Team.
8. To provide joint professional leadership, supervision and guidance for staff in the team, keeping up to date regarding professional developments and guidance from the College of Occupational Therapists and cascading this information, integrating it into departmental practice.
9. To advise the appropriate managers on the day-to-day running needs of the service highlighting any unmet needs in service provision.
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oMinimum 4 years Relevant clinical postgraduate experience in Occupational Therapy, including a minimum of 2 years experience as a senior practitioner working with people with mental health problems in particular personality disorders, challenging behaviour, depression, psychosis and dual diagnosis
Desirable
- oPostgraduate training to achieve clinical expertise and specialism at Masters level or equivalent oE.g. MSc in Occupational therapy.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- oUp to date knowledge of developments in OT, secure care, prison therapy, to inform clinical decisions, and best practice for self and for the service. oKnowledge and understanding of current government initiatives and policies that affect staff working in the field. oTo include Specialist Knowledge of: oClinical conditions and their functional implications within Forensic and Adult mental health, including personality disorders, depression, anxiety and psychosis, substance misuse, Dual Diagnosis and PTSD oThe Mental Health Act and its significance for service users and impact on clinical practice oRisk issues and risk management techniques with this client group oO.T. models of practice oThe evidence base for O.T. interventions with this client group used to inform best practice oTheory and models of supervision oResearch and its application to forensic mental health oAudit and its implication to mental health services oClinical Governance and National Service Framework for Mental Health and their impact on the clinical environment and practice oNICE guidelines relevant to mental health practice oCurrent developments/initiatives effecting O.T. practice oDirectorate and Trust wide strategic plans relating to area of service oTrust policies for staff recruitment and management oExperience in Forensic and secure care occupational therapy. oExperience of working autonomously, being responsible for own practice and managing a varied workload. oExperienced lead planner and facilitator in a range of treatment sessions on a group or individual basis including: Practical based, discussion, support and psycho-educational groups. Including experience of working with clinical staff of a variety of grades to support their development of treatment skills. oExperience in the use of the Model of Human Occupation, MOHOST and other standardised assessments. oExpertise in carrying out functional assessments. oExperience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. oExperience of planning, monitoring and evaluating therapy programmes to ensure the most effective use of clinical priorities. oExperience in producing and maintaining client-centered treatment plans and instructing others in the same. oExperience of assessing and managing risk issues within OT and Mental Health and contributing to multidisciplinary teams risk assessments, care plans and the discharge process. oExperience of supervision and appraisal of junior staff. oExperience of leading educational sessions for staff and students, including clinical and managerial topics. oExperience of relating to people from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds. oExperience of being part of a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
- oExperience working with prisoners with complex needs. oExperience working in a therapy team in a prison setting. oExperience in dealing directly with finance and human resources to ensure management of the service is in line with Trust policies and procedures. oExperience of managing a staffing and non-staffing budget and ensuring the effective use of resources. oExperience of implementing service improvements. oExperience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. oExperience of negotiating and managing change. oExperience of initiating an audit. oExperience in the recruitment and selection of staff including: owriting adverts oshort listing oarranging interview panels oexit interviews owriting references oExperience of co-ordinating and monitoring an on service training programme for therapy staff. oExperience of chairing and co-ordinating meetings, including agenda setting. oExperience of developing guidelines and policies. oExperience of representing Occupational Therapy in wider range of working parties, committees, project groups and strategy groups - Clinical Governance etc. oExperience of investigating serious and untoward incidents, formulating recommendations and plan relating of these.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oEffective verbal communication skills to include - presentation of information to clinical meetings, management teams and chairing meetings. oEffective personal management skills, including excellent time management and the ability to prioritise, delegate and problem solve. oEffective leadership skills. oSelf-motivated and confident in working independently in a clinical and managerial capacity. oEffective written communication skills to include oclinical records and reports oreports for senior management teams oAbility to read, understand and process information quickly. oAble to establish working relationships with supervised staff and colleagues across the service. oAbility to identify clinical needs of client group and apply this knowledge in service planning and development. oAbility to apply and utilise the knowledge base for forensic mental health in service delivery. oAbility to provide clear clinical reasoning for interventions across the service. oAbility to incorporate risk assessment into service delivery. oDemonstrates professional approach and appropriate boundary keeping with staff and patients and able to instruct others on professional standards of communication. oEffective supervision skills, which include workload monitoring, clinical advice, managerial advice, personal development and performance appraisal. oAble to formally and informally teach and advice staff and students in the service on aspects of mental health and occupational therapy practice. oAbility to promote the role of OT within the multidisciplinary teams. oAble to critically appraise literature and research and use to inform own practice and service development.
Desirable
- oEvidence of project management skills. oEvidence of ability to meet performance deadlines and support to ensure other meet deadlines. oAwareness of the performance targets for a prison therapy service. oEffective presentation skills including use of a variety of appropriate media: power point or structured discussion/activities. oEffective IT skills. oTeam dynamics and team building skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- oCommitment to work as a proactive team member o"can do attitude" oAbility to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands. oEmpathy for people with mental health problems and passionate about service user involvement oAware of own limitations and needs and ability to seeks advice and support appropriately oAbility to promote self and the service oProfessional manner
Desirable
- oAbility to promote positive image of OT oExperience with service user involvement oExperience with external network involvement
Other
Essential
- oPassionate about service delivery for offenders with emerging personality disorders. oProactive use of continuous professional development opportunities. oService user-centered approach. oHighly motivated and able to motivate others. oAble to sustain demands of fulfilling role working with a challenging client group in a pressurised environment.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oMinimum 4 years Relevant clinical postgraduate experience in Occupational Therapy, including a minimum of 2 years experience as a senior practitioner working with people with mental health problems in particular personality disorders, challenging behaviour, depression, psychosis and dual diagnosis
Desirable
- oPostgraduate training to achieve clinical expertise and specialism at Masters level or equivalent oE.g. MSc in Occupational therapy.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- oUp to date knowledge of developments in OT, secure care, prison therapy, to inform clinical decisions, and best practice for self and for the service. oKnowledge and understanding of current government initiatives and policies that affect staff working in the field. oTo include Specialist Knowledge of: oClinical conditions and their functional implications within Forensic and Adult mental health, including personality disorders, depression, anxiety and psychosis, substance misuse, Dual Diagnosis and PTSD oThe Mental Health Act and its significance for service users and impact on clinical practice oRisk issues and risk management techniques with this client group oO.T. models of practice oThe evidence base for O.T. interventions with this client group used to inform best practice oTheory and models of supervision oResearch and its application to forensic mental health oAudit and its implication to mental health services oClinical Governance and National Service Framework for Mental Health and their impact on the clinical environment and practice oNICE guidelines relevant to mental health practice oCurrent developments/initiatives effecting O.T. practice oDirectorate and Trust wide strategic plans relating to area of service oTrust policies for staff recruitment and management oExperience in Forensic and secure care occupational therapy. oExperience of working autonomously, being responsible for own practice and managing a varied workload. oExperienced lead planner and facilitator in a range of treatment sessions on a group or individual basis including: Practical based, discussion, support and psycho-educational groups. Including experience of working with clinical staff of a variety of grades to support their development of treatment skills. oExperience in the use of the Model of Human Occupation, MOHOST and other standardised assessments. oExpertise in carrying out functional assessments. oExperience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. oExperience of planning, monitoring and evaluating therapy programmes to ensure the most effective use of clinical priorities. oExperience in producing and maintaining client-centered treatment plans and instructing others in the same. oExperience of assessing and managing risk issues within OT and Mental Health and contributing to multidisciplinary teams risk assessments, care plans and the discharge process. oExperience of supervision and appraisal of junior staff. oExperience of leading educational sessions for staff and students, including clinical and managerial topics. oExperience of relating to people from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds. oExperience of being part of a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
- oExperience working with prisoners with complex needs. oExperience working in a therapy team in a prison setting. oExperience in dealing directly with finance and human resources to ensure management of the service is in line with Trust policies and procedures. oExperience of managing a staffing and non-staffing budget and ensuring the effective use of resources. oExperience of implementing service improvements. oExperience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. oExperience of negotiating and managing change. oExperience of initiating an audit. oExperience in the recruitment and selection of staff including: owriting adverts oshort listing oarranging interview panels oexit interviews owriting references oExperience of co-ordinating and monitoring an on service training programme for therapy staff. oExperience of chairing and co-ordinating meetings, including agenda setting. oExperience of developing guidelines and policies. oExperience of representing Occupational Therapy in wider range of working parties, committees, project groups and strategy groups - Clinical Governance etc. oExperience of investigating serious and untoward incidents, formulating recommendations and plan relating of these.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oEffective verbal communication skills to include - presentation of information to clinical meetings, management teams and chairing meetings. oEffective personal management skills, including excellent time management and the ability to prioritise, delegate and problem solve. oEffective leadership skills. oSelf-motivated and confident in working independently in a clinical and managerial capacity. oEffective written communication skills to include oclinical records and reports oreports for senior management teams oAbility to read, understand and process information quickly. oAble to establish working relationships with supervised staff and colleagues across the service. oAbility to identify clinical needs of client group and apply this knowledge in service planning and development. oAbility to apply and utilise the knowledge base for forensic mental health in service delivery. oAbility to provide clear clinical reasoning for interventions across the service. oAbility to incorporate risk assessment into service delivery. oDemonstrates professional approach and appropriate boundary keeping with staff and patients and able to instruct others on professional standards of communication. oEffective supervision skills, which include workload monitoring, clinical advice, managerial advice, personal development and performance appraisal. oAble to formally and informally teach and advice staff and students in the service on aspects of mental health and occupational therapy practice. oAbility to promote the role of OT within the multidisciplinary teams. oAble to critically appraise literature and research and use to inform own practice and service development.
Desirable
- oEvidence of project management skills. oEvidence of ability to meet performance deadlines and support to ensure other meet deadlines. oAwareness of the performance targets for a prison therapy service. oEffective presentation skills including use of a variety of appropriate media: power point or structured discussion/activities. oEffective IT skills. oTeam dynamics and team building skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- oCommitment to work as a proactive team member o"can do attitude" oAbility to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands. oEmpathy for people with mental health problems and passionate about service user involvement oAware of own limitations and needs and ability to seeks advice and support appropriately oAbility to promote self and the service oProfessional manner
Desirable
- oAbility to promote positive image of OT oExperience with service user involvement oExperience with external network involvement
Other
Essential
- oPassionate about service delivery for offenders with emerging personality disorders. oProactive use of continuous professional development opportunities. oService user-centered approach. oHighly motivated and able to motivate others. oAble to sustain demands of fulfilling role working with a challenging client group in a pressurised environment.
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).
