Job summary
Occupational Therapist or Registered Mental Health Nurse (band 5)
Full-time (37.5hrs/week), permanent
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and ambitious Occupational Therapist or Registered Mental Health Nurse within the Mental Health Autism Team. The team is currently expanding our innovative provision with acute mental health services, to cover a defined cohort of autistic service users within Community and Recovery Mental Health Services, who are at increased risk of readmissions to inpatient mental health services or frequently utilise unplanned care.
The post spans acute and community mental health services across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The post will be based at both Hammersmith and Fulham and Lakeside Mental Health Units, and will involve outreach provision across all three boroughs.
This role is intended to provide occupational therapy or mental health nursing assessments and interventions to autistic service users inpatient mental health services or at increased risk of readmission, with the overall aim of improving the care and experience of admissions and supporting earlier, sustainable and safe discharges, and reducing the risk of readmissions. You will be an integral part of the Mental Health Autism Team in promoting safe, effective and therapeutic care for autistic adults in acute and community mental health services.
Main duties of the job
This new post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist or Registered Mental Health Nurse, looking to specialise in mental health and Autism. The successful candidate will offer a thorough, compassionate and evidence-based service to adults with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Autism within acute mental health services. The post will also involve an outreach component, offering community-based input to autistic adults at risk of readmission or who frequently utilise unplanned care.
As an integral member of the Mental Health Autism Team, the post holder will have knowledge and understanding of taking a strengths-based approach to working with autistic people, supporting the individual and teams to identify and meet unmet needs. The role offers opportunities for service development and clinical audits. Multidisciplinary joint working will be central to the development of integrated care, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders will be key.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with the relevant professional body (HCPC or NMC).
- BSc (Hons) or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Mental Health Nursing.
Desirable
- Training relevant to working with autistic people (such as sensory integration, Social Stories).
- Training in positive approaches to behaviours of concern.
- Additional training in an area relevant to the professional discipline, e.g. OT standardised assessments, Dialogue training.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in working with autistic people.
- Application of core profession-specific skills in assessments and interventions.
- Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues.
- Evidence of ability in completing assessment, treatment planning, intervention delivery and evaluation, relevant to OT or Nursing.
Desirable
- Relevant post-qualification experience in Mental Health and/or Autism and/or Learning Disabilities
- Where relevant, already working towards or achieved Band 5 KSF subset (e.g. preceptorship programme for OT).
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health difficulties and of a holistic approach to understanding an individual's presentation in the context of wider biopsychosocial aspects
- Knowledge and understanding of how mental health difficulties can impact on a person's ability to complete day-to-day activities.
- Ability to articulate and apply relevant experience to mental health setting
Desirable
- Knowledge of sensory differences/sensory integration and how this might impact on a person's experience of care.
- An understanding of trauma-informed care
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with the relevant professional body (HCPC or NMC).
- BSc (Hons) or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Mental Health Nursing.
Desirable
- Training relevant to working with autistic people (such as sensory integration, Social Stories).
- Training in positive approaches to behaviours of concern.
- Additional training in an area relevant to the professional discipline, e.g. OT standardised assessments, Dialogue training.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in working with autistic people.
- Application of core profession-specific skills in assessments and interventions.
- Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues.
- Evidence of ability in completing assessment, treatment planning, intervention delivery and evaluation, relevant to OT or Nursing.
Desirable
- Relevant post-qualification experience in Mental Health and/or Autism and/or Learning Disabilities
- Where relevant, already working towards or achieved Band 5 KSF subset (e.g. preceptorship programme for OT).
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health difficulties and of a holistic approach to understanding an individual's presentation in the context of wider biopsychosocial aspects
- Knowledge and understanding of how mental health difficulties can impact on a person's ability to complete day-to-day activities.
- Ability to articulate and apply relevant experience to mental health setting
Desirable
- Knowledge of sensory differences/sensory integration and how this might impact on a person's experience of care.
- An understanding of trauma-informed care
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).
