Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Band 6 Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our friendly and well respected Occupational Therapy service in South West London and St George's NHS Mental Health Trust.
We will consider applications from experienced OTs without community experience, who are looking to develop their skills and move into a community role
This role sits within our community service line. The Wandsworth Early Intervention Service follows the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and is a holistic, recovery focused service for adults aged 18 -65 with first episode psychosis. The focus is to enable individuals to maintain their everyday function and develop strategies to manage their experiences. You will have the exciting opportunity to follow the NICE guideline by providing initial assessments, family interventions and relapse prevention. In addition, the successful candidate would have protected time for specific Occupational Therapy work, which promotes recovery goals and progress towards a step down from Mental Health services. Having protected OT time allows for a reduced caseload of care-coordinated clients.
Developing partnerships is an integral part of dual role which includes working closely with carers, external community organisations, cognitive behavioural therapist and employment specialists.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will join our supportive and friendly group of community Occupational Therapists. We use the Model of Human Occupation as well as other assessments to review the client's environment, sensory preferences and physical disability. We offer tailored 1:1 interventions, such as GLOW, an evidence based stepped intensity intervention delivered over 16 weeks, which is fully supported by the author. We offer group programmes, such as an occupationally focused anxiety management group and an eight- week group programme to help clients develop their lives beyond mental health services.
We are working towards having a menu of high-quality interventions to develop expertise and consistency across the Community service line and proactively promote Occupational Therapy within the multidisciplinary team.
The successful candidate will be offered supervision from the Lead Occupational Therapist and from their team manager, both with the focus on developing clinical skills.
About us
We offer a number of excellent staff benefits, some of which are:
- 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 membership
Job description
Job responsibilities
- 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 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 user with complex mental health needs, demonstrating clinical professional judgement and liaise closely with team manager where relevant.
- To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.
- 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 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 promote and signpost individuals / carers towards the Recovery College and embed recovery into all interventions
Job description
Job responsibilities
- 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 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 user with complex mental health needs, demonstrating clinical professional judgement and liaise closely with team manager where relevant.
- To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.
- 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 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 promote and signpost individuals / carers towards the Recovery College and embed recovery into all interventions
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).
