Job summary
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.
In our quest to deliver patient-focused, quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our forward thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice teams within HMP Downview.
By joining our Prisons Health Care Teams, you will have a real impact on promoting health and well-being of those in custody. As an Occupational therapist you will provide a valued and uniquely contribute to a multi-disciplined approach to care.
Our motto is 'Caring not Judging'. By working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide effective and responsive care for those who may have a history of offending and may be at risk of re-offending in the future. The opportunity of engagement in custody means we can enable people to improve their well-being, supporting better outcomes in the future.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is based within HMP Downview Mental Health team. They will be responsible for delivering Occupational Therapy for female prisoners at HMP Downview. The post-holder will be responsible for providing evidenced based OT interventions and assessments for prisoners presenting with complex mental health and neurodevelopmental needs. This role will involve delivering individual and group rehabilitative skills based work for a designated caseload. This individual will provide functional ADL and sensory assessments that contribute to team care planning, recommendations for support needs and risk assessments.
The post holder will apply outcome measures and clinical audits to evaluate effectiveness of clinical interventions and contribute to service improvement. This post holder will also support National drivers and local need, applying co-production models to involve service users in delivery of OT provision. They will be committed to reducing occupational deprivation, working alongside partner agencies to improve service user access to meaningful therapeutic activity.
Sensory Integration training is funded as part of this position. Upon completion of training the post holder will support Neurodevelopmental pathways within Downview to complete sensory assessments and provide sensory recommendations to partner agencies and clinical teams.
About us
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through:
Monthly supervision
Annual personal development plans/appraisals
Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities.
Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to:
Preceptorship Programme
Support and guidance with Re-validation
Hidden Gem and annual award ceremonies
- PG Cert in Sensory Integration training has been funded for successful applicants.
Excellent staff benefits, our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include:
Health and wellbeing services
Season ticket loans
Cycle to work scheme
Relocation package
The trust alsovalues its staff and you are entitled to become a member of MyTrustBenefits. MyTrustBenefits is an online portal for all CNWL staff, as well as their family and friends. It offers over 1400 discounts at hundreds of retailers nationwide. Save money on your weekly food shops, toiletries, cosmetics, cinema, meals out, holidays, travel and entertainment. You can also access free online courses on a variety of topics, professional and personal, ranging from business management, languages, law and teaching.
All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To contribute and provide recommendation within to multi disciplinary teams in joint care planning and risk assessments.
2. To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments, intervention and evaluation for individuals within the prison setting in order to establish and meet their occupational needs.
3. To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work approaches with prisoners.
4. To support individuals to develop skills and knowledge; and engage with community partner agencies, to facilitate successful transitions from the prison environment to the community.
5. To demonstrate excellent communication skills and form positive therapeutic relationships using warmth and empathy which enable service user empowerment.
6. To demonstrate skills and resourcefulness in communication when barriers to understanding are present, including interpreting resources.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To contribute and provide recommendation within to multi disciplinary teams in joint care planning and risk assessments.
2. To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments, intervention and evaluation for individuals within the prison setting in order to establish and meet their occupational needs.
3. To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work approaches with prisoners.
4. To support individuals to develop skills and knowledge; and engage with community partner agencies, to facilitate successful transitions from the prison environment to the community.
5. To demonstrate excellent communication skills and form positive therapeutic relationships using warmth and empathy which enable service user empowerment.
6. To demonstrate skills and resourcefulness in communication when barriers to understanding are present, including interpreting resources.
Person Specification
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as part of a multi- disciplinary team
- Experience of working with complex clients
- Experience of running a group program
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment
- Experience of supporting service improvement work
Qualification
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
- HPCP Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist
- Evidence of professional development since registration
Desirable
- Mentorship or supervisor qualification
- Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: Sensory integration, CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Expert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
- Risk assessment and management skills.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
- Excellent IT skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
- To use supervision positively and effectively.
- Proven ability to work with patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience.
- Effective time management.
- Knowledge of the needs and rights of patients.
- Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
- Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
- Problem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
- Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.
Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics
Essential
- Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service.
- Able to accept constructive feedback.
- Able to ask for support where required.
- Compassionate & non-judgmental approach
- Flexible.
Other
Essential
- To conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration.
Person Specification
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as part of a multi- disciplinary team
- Experience of working with complex clients
- Experience of running a group program
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment
- Experience of supporting service improvement work
Qualification
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
- HPCP Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist
- Evidence of professional development since registration
Desirable
- Mentorship or supervisor qualification
- Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: Sensory integration, CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Expert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
- Risk assessment and management skills.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
- Excellent IT skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
- To use supervision positively and effectively.
- Proven ability to work with patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience.
- Effective time management.
- Knowledge of the needs and rights of patients.
- Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
- Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
- Problem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
- Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.
Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics
Essential
- Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service.
- Able to accept constructive feedback.
- Able to ask for support where required.
- Compassionate & non-judgmental approach
- Flexible.
Other
Essential
- To conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration.
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).
