Job summary
This is a really exciting opportunity for an experienced band 5 or existing band 6 to join the Occupational Therapy team on Aquarius ward, a general adolescent mental health inpatient unit.
The Occupational therapy team consists of this role band 6, a part time band 5 and an activity worker.
The band 6 post has recently been increased to full time giving an exciting opportunity for the new post holder to develop and expand the current Occupational Therapy provision.
The band 6 will lead the Occupational therapy team in providing a comprehensive Occupational therapy assessment and group and individual interventions to the young people on the unit. The post holder will also provide Occupational therapy consultation and support to the wider multi-disciplinary team, families, schools, and networks.
Although sensory training is not essential to this post, an understanding of sensory processing including assessment techniques and interventions such as the Alert programme, sensory spiders and ladders and the creation of sensory diets would be beneficial.
Experience working in child and adolescent mental health or with children and young people in other settings is also desirable but not essential.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a specialist Occupational Therapy service to service users within Aquarius ward providing interventions underpinned by the Model of Human Occupation and the principles of Recovery.
- To manage a defined caseload of patients with multiple and complex needs, using evidence based /person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in an in-patient adolescent setting.
- To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
- To maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records and produce specialist reports for case conferences.
- To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal.
- To represent occupational therapy within the multi-disciplinary team.
- To provide group and 1:1 interventions.
- To promote recovery and social inclusion.
- To maintain standards of OT practice as directed by the Director of Therapies.
- To undertake regular audit and R&D activities.
- To undertake the supervision of OT students on fieldwork placements.
- To provide 'Disability Champion' duties leading the multi-disciplinary team in Disability Equality matters within Specialist Services as required.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
About our locations:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.
- To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
- To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.
- To independently manage a clinical caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, taking on the role of keyworker and/or vocational lead where relevant.
- To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including Model of Human Occupation tools.
- To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situation, referring to senior staff when necessary.
- To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
- To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome. To use psychological interventions in conjunctions to occupation-focussed interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT, MBT etc)
- To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff.
- To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.
- To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
- To fully adhere to defined OT care pathways or protocols
- To work flexible hours according to the requirements of the post
Communication
- To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies.
- To communicate with people in a manner consistent with their culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
- To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, attending meetings and contributing to decisions with regard to the care and treatment of service users.
- To work in partnership with Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities, voluntary and other relevant agencies to promote a seamless service.
- To educate service users and carers on occupational therapy interventions, for example, the use of equipment.
- To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.
- To take responsibility for communicating the Occupational Therapy view on clients within designated care reviews and other forums.
Documentation
- To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
- To provide specialist occupational therapy reports on a regular basis in line with professional guidance and relevant clinical pathways.
- To ensure service users have access to care plans in line with local policies.
- To input relevant statistical information ensuring that Key Performance Indicators targets are met.
- To carry out and manage risk inline with Trust policy
- To be responsible for the accurate inputting of activity data for designated areas.
Professional ethics
- To comply with the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust procedures.
- To demonstrate continuing fitness to practice through maintaining registration with HPC and compliance with their standards.
- To respect the values, individuality, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
Leadership, supervision & development reviews
- To deputise for unit manager responsibilities in their absence (Day Unit).
- To act as a Disability Champion providing leadership and expertise in Disability Equality matters for the eating disorders day service multi-disciplinary team and other designated areas as required.
- To provide effective line management, supervision and development review for junior staff.
- To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance reviews.
Training staff & students
- To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within or external to the Trust.
- To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapy students on practice placement within the Trust on a regular basis.
- To undertake the role of preceptor when required.
- To provide training as delegated within the Eating Disorders Service, Occupational Therapy Service at a local or national level.
Service development & delivery
- To participate in the planning and delivery of service developments in your area, leading on designated projects, with senior support.
- To contribute to relevant professional and service development meetings.
- To actively engage user involvement in service development.
- To act as a deputy for the Lead Occupational Therapist in delegated matters ensuring the smooth and effective management and professional leadership of the OT service in his/her absence
Professional development
- To undertake learning activities in line with personal development plan.
- To apply acquired specialist skills and knowledge in clinical practice in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practice at senior level.
- To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD recording and reflecting on learning outcomes.
Clinical governance, quality, standards
- To contribute to the clinical governance and quality agenda including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
- To demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and apply in clinical practice.
- To fully implement all OT care pathways and protocols
Line management, staff, budgets, dept
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
- To be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resources to carry out the job, including the management of petty cash.
- To coordinate the day to day activities of junior staff where applicable.
- To participate in general administrative and co-ordination tasks as required for the smooth running of the service.
Research & practice development
- To promote and apply best evidence to service delivery.
- To undertake audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or service area, disseminating findings at local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualific
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registration to practice in the UK
- Training in the theory and application of the model of human occupation within the first 4 months of appointment
Desirable
- Practice placement educators' course within one year of appointment
- Apple registration
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of supervising junior staff
- Experience of individual and groupwork
- Experience of writing specialist occupational therapy reports
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of participating in service development projects
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
- Successful completion of preceptorship
- Experience of being a practice placement educator
- Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of a service user.
- Experience in using the Remotivation model with service users
- Experience of working with service users with significant motivational challenges
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 .
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 .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address
Springfield University Hospital
Tooting
SW17 7DJ