Job summary
This satisfying and rewarding role sits within our Community Service Line, which includes all community based mental health teams, such as our Integrated Recovery Hubs, Recovery and Support teams and Early Intervention services. These teams offer holistic care and support role for a caseload of clients with complex mental health needs. The Occupational Therapist (OT) as part of the team, provides standardised assessments using the Model of Human Occupation, individual work and group work for clients across the team, to promote recovery goals with the focus of stepping down and discharge from Mental Health Services. The post involves working closely with the MDT, in particular Recovery Support Workers and Employment Specialists. The OT will also promote working with our partners in the Involvement Team, working with external community organisations and advocating for Carers. In Merton, there is also a responsibility to provide assessments for social care, as our services are jointly provided with the Merton Local Authority.
The community Occupational Therapy team are committed to developing and supporting staff, to contribute to our evidence- based practice and to ensure the clinical effectiveness of our interventions. We offer a menu of high-quality OT interventions, which deliver consistency and clarity across the Community Service line.
Main duties of the job
The OT will work collaboratively as part of the team, demonstrating good time-management whilst working autonomously at times. As a team member, you will contribute to the MDT Risk Assessment and Care Plans, whilst adopting an occupational focus with those who have complex mental health needs.
You will join our friendly and innovative group of community Occupational Therapists to provide time limited OT assessments and interventions with an OT specific clinical caseload. The focus is on enabling individuals to develop personal recovery plans to support living well and to develop strategies to manage their experiences and difficulties.
You will be responsible for ensuring a robust system for collecting and evaluating outcome measures for Occupational Therapy interventions and represent and promote the OT Service within the team. The post holder will uphold appropriate the governance structures within the Community Service Line and professional codes of conduct. The OT will work closely with team members and colleagues, such as Recovery Support Workers and Employment Specialists and our Involvement Team, to strengthen the Recovery pathway for clients as they work towards discharge.
About us
We offer a number of excellent staff benefits and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance,we support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working, job sharing, term-time working, compressed hours and working from home.
- Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Subsidised car parking- You can park at any of our sites at a reduced rate of £20/month.
- NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Eye examinations
- Looking after your health
- Cycle to work scheme
- Car lease scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
- Free gym membersh
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide Occupational Therapy four days a week with a maximum of one day duty cover in the team.
- To manage an OT caseload of clients with complex needs, using evidence based /client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
- To take responsibility for completing standardised assessments using The Model of Human Occupation and other frameworks as agreed by the Therapy Leads.
- To offer manualised interventions, both group and individual for example, GLOW (Graduated Living Outside of the Ward) and IPEL (Increasing Participation in Everyday Life)
- To offer Sensory Profiling to clients with sensory challenges
- To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within the Community Team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
- To engage with the OT referrals process, identifying and prioritising the need for OT specific interventions.
- To provide leadership to junior staff through supervision and appraisal.
- To regularly supervise OT students on practice placement (expected standard is two students per year).
- To provide professional leadership to the Recovery Support Workers and engage in co-working pathways.
- To promote recovery and social inclusion.
- To work alongside the Involvement Team to actively promote service-user engagement and co-production.
- To work collaboratively with the Employment specialist in the team, to enhance a positive vocational outcome for clients.
- To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust OT Service
- To contribute to streamline working from admission to discharge in keeping with the principles in the Adult Services Recovery Care pathway.
- To advocate for and promote the contribution of occupational therapy as a valuable resource with helping people to manage the impact of their symptoms on their ability to cope with daily occupations.
- To act as the designated Disability Champion leading the multi-disciplinary team in Disability Equality matters within the service and other areas as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide Occupational Therapy four days a week with a maximum of one day duty cover in the team.
- To manage an OT caseload of clients with complex needs, using evidence based /client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
- To take responsibility for completing standardised assessments using The Model of Human Occupation and other frameworks as agreed by the Therapy Leads.
- To offer manualised interventions, both group and individual for example, GLOW (Graduated Living Outside of the Ward) and IPEL (Increasing Participation in Everyday Life)
- To offer Sensory Profiling to clients with sensory challenges
- To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within the Community Team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
- To engage with the OT referrals process, identifying and prioritising the need for OT specific interventions.
- To provide leadership to junior staff through supervision and appraisal.
- To regularly supervise OT students on practice placement (expected standard is two students per year).
- To provide professional leadership to the Recovery Support Workers and engage in co-working pathways.
- To promote recovery and social inclusion.
- To work alongside the Involvement Team to actively promote service-user engagement and co-production.
- To work collaboratively with the Employment specialist in the team, to enhance a positive vocational outcome for clients.
- To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust OT Service
- To contribute to streamline working from admission to discharge in keeping with the principles in the Adult Services Recovery Care pathway.
- To advocate for and promote the contribution of occupational therapy as a valuable resource with helping people to manage the impact of their symptoms on their ability to cope with daily occupations.
- To act as the designated Disability Champion leading the multi-disciplinary team in Disability Equality matters within the service and other areas as required.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registration to practice in the UK
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
- 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
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of individual and groupwork
- Experience of writing specialist occupational therapy reports
- Experience of participating in a service development project
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
- Experience of supervising junior staff
- 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.
Knowledge and Skills - Communication
Essential
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
- Basic word processing and IT skills
- Proficient standard of written communication skills
- Ability to promote & maintain the profile of OT within an MDT & the wider organisation
Knowledge and Skills - Personal and People Development
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities
- Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
- Ability to role model positive professional behaviour
Desirable
- Ability to deliver presentations
Knowledge and Skills - Health, Safety & Security
Essential
- Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
- Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.
Knowledge and Skills - Service Improvement
Essential
- Ability to adapt own practice & style of working
- Ability to express constructive views & ideas in relation to improving service effectiveness
Desirable
Knowledge and Skills - Quality
Essential
- Applied knowledge of confidentiality & consent issues
- Applied knowledge of current national legislation, policies & guidelines relevant to clinical area
- Good personal management skills in order to manage a clinical caseload & varied workload
- Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
- Ability to work effectively within a team and understanding of the importance of collaborative working in the delivery of good quality services
Knowledge and Skills - Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Ability to apply equal opportunities & anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the service users' customs, values & spiritual beliefs
- Ability to recognise & report behaviour that undermines equality & diversity
- Ability to promote a culture of recovery & social inclusion
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registration to practice in the UK
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
- 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
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of individual and groupwork
- Experience of writing specialist occupational therapy reports
- Experience of participating in a service development project
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
- Experience of supervising junior staff
- 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.
Knowledge and Skills - Communication
Essential
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
- Basic word processing and IT skills
- Proficient standard of written communication skills
- Ability to promote & maintain the profile of OT within an MDT & the wider organisation
Knowledge and Skills - Personal and People Development
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities
- Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
- Ability to role model positive professional behaviour
Desirable
- Ability to deliver presentations
Knowledge and Skills - Health, Safety & Security
Essential
- Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
- Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.
Knowledge and Skills - Service Improvement
Essential
- Ability to adapt own practice & style of working
- Ability to express constructive views & ideas in relation to improving service effectiveness
Desirable
Knowledge and Skills - Quality
Essential
- Applied knowledge of confidentiality & consent issues
- Applied knowledge of current national legislation, policies & guidelines relevant to clinical area
- Good personal management skills in order to manage a clinical caseload & varied workload
- Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
- Ability to work effectively within a team and understanding of the importance of collaborative working in the delivery of good quality services
Knowledge and Skills - Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Ability to apply equal opportunities & anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the service users' customs, values & spiritual beliefs
- Ability to recognise & report behaviour that undermines equality & diversity
- Ability to promote a culture of recovery & social inclusion
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).
