Job summary
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist, interested to join a team of enthusiastic and committed professionals in delivering the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia and the NHS Long Term Plan for Older Adults Mental Health services.
West London NHS Trust, Older People's Mental Health and Dementia Services (OPMHS) deliver specialist care to patients in the locality (both community and in-patients) with cognitive problems, dementia and those 70+ years old who are experiencing other mental health issues that impact upon their abilities to carry out activities of daily living.
This is a full time Band 5 community role based in the vibrant London Borough of Hounslow. The post holder will be working under the supervision of a Band 6 and 7 Occupational Therapists. They will be working closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team including Doctors, nurses, psychologists, OT and OTAs.
Main duties of the job
Assessments and Interventions are mostly carried out in the patient's home therefore the role involves travelling within the locality. Hounslow has very good public transport links so driving is not essential and travel expenses are reimbursed in a monthly basis.
If you are a HCPC registered Occupational Therapist, with or without experience, passionate in dementia and caring for older people in the community, this role may be ideal for you.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.
Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.
We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.
We'rerated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.
We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.
The regulations mandating vaccination for in-scope roles in the NHS have now been removed. The Trust does however continue to encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19. Vaccination data will be collected by our recruitment team during your on-boarding if you are happy to provide a copy of your COVID pass.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a specialist service where occupational therapy focuses on the assessment and interventions for older people with cognitive issues.
The post holder will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and the wider occupational therapy team within the service line. Patients who are referred to this service are those with cognitive impairment who are requiring dementia screening and diagnosis. The Occupational Therapists play a vital role in the comprehensive cognitive and functional assessments of these patients to inform diagnosis.
Occupational Therapy service also provide post-diagnostic supports including cognitive rehabilitation, advise on dementia design, equipment provision and advise to carers/family. They will also work alongside activity co-ordinators and psychology colleagues in facilitating group and individual therapeutic activities either in the clinic or through electronic platforms.
The over 70s patients with other mental health problems under this service will require occupational therapy to help them manage their activities of daily living independently or with minimum support and remain in the community as long as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a specialist service where occupational therapy focuses on the assessment and interventions for older people with cognitive issues.
The post holder will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and the wider occupational therapy team within the service line. Patients who are referred to this service are those with cognitive impairment who are requiring dementia screening and diagnosis. The Occupational Therapists play a vital role in the comprehensive cognitive and functional assessments of these patients to inform diagnosis.
Occupational Therapy service also provide post-diagnostic supports including cognitive rehabilitation, advise on dementia design, equipment provision and advise to carers/family. They will also work alongside activity co-ordinators and psychology colleagues in facilitating group and individual therapeutic activities either in the clinic or through electronic platforms.
The over 70s patients with other mental health problems under this service will require occupational therapy to help them manage their activities of daily living independently or with minimum support and remain in the community as long as possible.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- oBSc (Hons) or equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification
- oHCPC Registration
Desirable
- oAttendance at specialist short courses relevant to the post e.g Dementia Care, Older People's Mental health
Experience
Essential
- oPost qualified experience within Older people's services
- oWorking within NHS Older People's services
- oApplication of core OT skills and OT process
- oMultidisciplinary team working
Desirable
- oRelevant post-qualified OT experience in Mental Health
- oExperience of supervising /co-supervising students Involvement in research and clinical audit
- oExperience of supervision of students and staff
- oPost qualified experience as an OT (or equivalent role) in a health or social care or 3rd sector setting
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- oUnderstanding of Clinical and environmental risk
- oEquality and diversity
- oUnderstanding of team dynamics
- oAwareness of need to work within appropriate boundaries
- oPrinciples of clinical governance
- oGroup work theory and practice
- oEvidence of post-qualified training in Mental Health
- oRelevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management
- oOrganisational ability
- oEffective written and verbal communication skills
- oAbility to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
- oEvidence of ability in OT assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation
- oUse of standardised assessment tools and outcome measures
- oAbility to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
- oGroup work skills
- oComputer literacy
- oAbility to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Desirable
- oClinical/case supervision training
- oUse of Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- oPractice placement education training
- oResearch methodology
- oAbility to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences
- oAbility to apply (research) evidence-based practice
- oAbility to reflect and critically appraise others' performance
- oContribution to service development and the training of others
- oSupervisory skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- oAbility to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs
- oUnderstand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback
- oHigh levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation
- oCommitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
Desirable
- oMembership of a Special Interest Group e.g. COT SS Mental Health, COTSS older people
- oAble to demonstrate a strong professional identity
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- oBSc (Hons) or equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification
- oHCPC Registration
Desirable
- oAttendance at specialist short courses relevant to the post e.g Dementia Care, Older People's Mental health
Experience
Essential
- oPost qualified experience within Older people's services
- oWorking within NHS Older People's services
- oApplication of core OT skills and OT process
- oMultidisciplinary team working
Desirable
- oRelevant post-qualified OT experience in Mental Health
- oExperience of supervising /co-supervising students Involvement in research and clinical audit
- oExperience of supervision of students and staff
- oPost qualified experience as an OT (or equivalent role) in a health or social care or 3rd sector setting
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- oUnderstanding of Clinical and environmental risk
- oEquality and diversity
- oUnderstanding of team dynamics
- oAwareness of need to work within appropriate boundaries
- oPrinciples of clinical governance
- oGroup work theory and practice
- oEvidence of post-qualified training in Mental Health
- oRelevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management
- oOrganisational ability
- oEffective written and verbal communication skills
- oAbility to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
- oEvidence of ability in OT assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation
- oUse of standardised assessment tools and outcome measures
- oAbility to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
- oGroup work skills
- oComputer literacy
- oAbility to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Desirable
- oClinical/case supervision training
- oUse of Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- oPractice placement education training
- oResearch methodology
- oAbility to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences
- oAbility to apply (research) evidence-based practice
- oAbility to reflect and critically appraise others' performance
- oContribution to service development and the training of others
- oSupervisory skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- oAbility to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs
- oUnderstand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback
- oHigh levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation
- oCommitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
Desirable
- oMembership of a Special Interest Group e.g. COT SS Mental Health, COTSS older people
- oAble to demonstrate a strong professional identity
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
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).
