Occupational Therapy Team Lead

Job responsibilities

• To autonomously manage and deliver an effective, evidence based occupational therapy (OT) service to people living with mental health conditions, in order to maximise their independence and improve the safe management of their mental health difficulties.

• To work alongside the Allied Health Professional Lead (AHP) and therapy team leads to explore the development of the service. Including setting up pathways for care that can be evaluated on a regular basis.

• To be responsible for the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of OT care plans using a person-centred approach for service users in the community.

• To lead and develop the junior OT staff within the Community Mental Health Service using the career development framework and 4 pillars of practice. In addition to this support the development of Occupational Therapy apprentices across Navigo.

• To educate, advise and recommend appropriate person-centred activity programmes which will enhance service users quality of life and participation in meaningful activities.

• Be involved in liaising and effectively communicating with all relevant parties, including GPs and Care Agencies, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

• To promote innovative and creative ways of working with service users/carers with complex needs.

• Effectively manage the resources available to achieve the best possible care and outcomes for his/her service users

• Create a stimulating and productive working and learning environment for themselves, colleagues and students

LIST OF CORE DUTIES AND REPSONSIBILITES UNDERTAKEN ON A REGULAR BASIS:

Communication & relationship skills

• Utilise highly developed communication skills to conduct assessments of service users and communicate complex information related to their mental health needs, to service users, carers, relatives, and other professionals.

• Effectively communicate complex and/or sensitive information where there are barriers to understanding. This includes communication concerning adult protection, abuse, cognitive impairment, and other risks surrounding a service users mental health. Barriers to understanding include working with service users who could be hostile or highly emotional, who have complex needs and may be vulnerable.

• Maintain and develop effective communications and working relationships within the team and with external agencies to contribute to decisions with regard to service user care programmes where there may be differences of opinion and complex dynamics.

• Promote and implement creative ways of working with service users

• Instigate, develop and maintain a relationship with the service user and/or carer to facilitate the accurate assessment and delivery of care.

• Manage highly confidential information in respect of members of the public in accordance with local and national policy.

• Act as an identified lead professional where the main intervention is Occupational Therapy.

• Promote and develop the OT role through regular participation in meetings, presentations and feedback of OT clinical activities.

Knowledge, training and experience

• The post-holder will hold current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.

• Have specialist knowledge and training, gained through post-registration experience gained in a mental health setting, relating to mental health and apply this knowledge when delivering care to service users.

• Have skills and experience in developing and facilitating training packages to staff, students, and external agencies.

• Provide advice, training and support to other agencies around issues relating to mental health.

• Maintain and develop a Continuing Professional Development portfolio to demonstrate ongoing learning and professional competence.

• Participate and contribute to local OT forums and networks, leading and presenting at forums where required.

Analytical & judgement skills

• Make decisions about the range of options for OT interventions and care plans based on a clinical judgement of a service users need where there may be complexity.

• Conduct comprehensive OT assessments of both service users and carers in line with team operational policies.

• Analyse service users occupational performance areas and adapt interventions as required in order to maximise and maintain service users skills and function.

• Formulate detailed assessments to inform the decision making regarding service users ongoing needs.

Planning & organisational skills

Plan and coordinate OT care plans for both individuals and groups according to their identified occupational needs. Coordinate transfer or referral of clients to other teams or services where required.

Prioritise, plan and coordinate own workload and activities in line with the changing needs of the team and service. This includes planning and monitoring service user occupational needs and presentation, conducting assessments, ensuring patient records are up to date and supporting colleagues on a daily basis.

• Participate in caseload management audits and ensure relevant information is available for this to take place

• Work independently to resolve complex professional problems seeking support from senior members of staff when appropriate

Physical skills

• Be trained in RESPECT and undertake regular updates.

Responsibilities for patient/client care

Undertake OT assessments with service users using standardised and non-standardised OT assessment tools, to identify and address occupational performance and skill deficits.

Assess and review service users clinical risk management plan using the service's current risk assessment and OT risk assessment tools.

Collaborate with service users/carers to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan.

Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the service user, using graded activity and person centred principles to achieve therapeutic goals.

Identify the needs of carers and refer for a carers assessments when appropriate and work collaboratively with other professionals/agencies to develop support and educational activities for carers.

Participate in clinical governance activities.

• Provide specialist clinical advice to service users, their carers, relatives and other professionals on needs relating their difficulties and mental health. This includes a range of health education and advice.

Responsibilities for policy & service development implementation

Adhere to all trust policies and legislation relating to the role.

Contribute to the evaluation and development of the service by participating in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area.

Be involved in the development of policies, procedures and developments that relate to the immediate work setting where required. This may involve critically exploring new ways of working where required.

Comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

• Propose improvements and changes to own work area and critically explore new ways of working where required.

• Participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area.

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

• Use equipment and resources in a careful and responsible manner.

• Respect the resources within the restraints of the team budget.

• Monitor the use of resources within the team and identify improvements to efficiency and effectiveness in relation to resource use.

9. Responsibilities for human resources

• Participate in regular supervision with the Community Therapy Team Lead.

• Provide clinical supervision for junior colleagues including Occupational Therapy Apprentices.

• Undertake the Practice Placement Educators course to become an accredited Practice Placement Educator.

• Act as a mentor for students and assist other members of the team in supervising and teaching their students.

• Assist in induction of new staff.

• Participate in PDR, identify own developmental needs. In addition, participate in PDR with junior colleagues where required.

Responsibilities for information resources

• Accurately document episodes and information relating to care in patient notes, using agreed methods of documentation. This will be done in accordance with Navigo policies, professional guidelines and data protection legislation.

• Record personally generated information as required by the team or service, as directed by the Senior Operational Manager.

• Provide oral/written clinical reports as required.

• Manage highly confidential information in respect of members of the public in accordance with local and national policy.

Ensure that the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 are met.

Responsibilities for research and development

• Participate in surveys or audits or research in relation to own work, as required by the team or service.

• Be aware of up to date relevant published research, benchmarking and innovative practice in other areas and ensure own practice is evidence based.

Freedom to act

• Deliver care for service users and carers, working within professional codes of practice, organisational policies, local protocols and national legislation.

• Have the ability to work independently, with supervision where required, to deliver care for service users/carers and resolve complex professional problems.

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate knowledge and some experience of using a range of Occupational Therapy assessment tools.
• Skills in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individual care plans and group interventions
• Group facilitation skills.
• Ability to produce concise and clearly written reports.
• Good communication, organisational and administration skills.
• Good interpersonal skills
• I.T. skills.
• Time management.
• Able to demonstrate ability to use evidence-based practice in own clinical practice.
• Presentation skills.
• Good self-management skills within cases where there may be complexity.
• Supervision skills.

Desirable

• Clinical evaluation skills.
• Competency in assessing for small aids to daily living.
• Innovation and creativity skills.
• Motivational skills.
• Initiative and problem solving skills where there may be complexity.
• Knowledge of a range of approaches used in mental health practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate maintenance of CPD and ongoing learning.
• Able to communicate effectively with a range of people in a form that is appropriate to them and the situation
• Evidence of ability to meet changes in service needs
• Evidence of ability to chair meetings/discussions and make constructive comments
• Evidence of an interest and enthusiasm for working with this client group
• Ability to transport self to a variety of locations to meet the needs of service users.

Desirable

• Full, clear driving license and use of a car.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Professional registration with Health and Care Professions Council.

Desirable

• Post-registration education in mental health practice relevant to the practice area.
• Practice Educator qualification.

Experience

Essential

• 3 years post-registration experience (with a minimum of 2 years in a mental health setting).
• Experience of managing staff and supporting students.
• Knowledge of a range of theories and models underpinning Occupational Therapy clinical practice
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Competent caseload management.
• Experience of working in a team setting and liaising with other agencies.
• Experience in understanding of current practice in mental health, risk assessment and management and use of relevant legislation such as Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Safeguarding of adults and children.
• Knowledge of safe working practices.

Desirable

• Experience of managing junior staff and students, where there may have been performance issues.
• Experience in service development and implementation.
• Experience of presenting at professional forums.
• Experience of audit and service user involvement
• Experience of taking part in recruitment and selection processes

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).