Job summary
An exciting opportunities have arisen for passionate Occupational Therapists, to apply for permanent full-time Band 7 post within our Westminster Community Perinatal team.
CNWL's Perinatal Mental Health Services provides support for pregnant & postnatal women experiencing mental health /emotional difficulties in the boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Hillingdon and Westminster, providing community and inpatient care.
An integrated model of care is provided between maternity, primary and secondary care services. The clinicians are experienced specialists offering mental health assessment and treatment for women/parents in the context of the community to support them to remain in their own home with their families encouraging the formation of lasting positive bonds.
As the Occupational Therapist working within the team you will offer a unique understanding of occupational performance, physical and mental health, mother/infant co-occupations and child development in the context of maternal mental health. A range of individual and group interventions to enable women with perinatal mental health problems to overcome the barriers that prevent them from participating in self-care, productive, leisure and mothering occupations will be offered.
Main duties of the job
This position is open to applicants who have significant experience in working in mental health including approx 2 years in a community mental health setting.
The applicant must have excellent clinical skills with a special interest to work in maternal mental health, providing assessment using tools drawn from the Model of Human Occupation and specialist perinatal interventions. We aim to improve occupational performance within the parenting role which supports and promotes improved mental and physical health for mothers, babies and their families.
There will be expectation of supporting the team to meet targets while participating in service developments tasks, as well as contributing to delivering generic assessments and supporting the role of duty. Thorough assessment of risk, the formulation of safe and effective risk management plans and documentation with the ability to communicate these clearly and concisely is essential. Experience of participating in formal child protection procedures and of being involved in inter agency work with families is desired.
Appropriate training, support and regular supervision will be provided by MDT and the Occupational Therapy Lead.
About us
Each team comprises of a highly skilled and dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including professionals such as psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, parent-infant psychotherapists and nursery nurses.
We have an excellent network of Occupational Therapists working across other perinatal sites within the Trust who meet on a regular basis to share working and learning experiences as well as plenty of opportunities to link in with OTs within the wider trust and take part in CPD trainings.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The services offered will be provided in line with the principles and ethos of recovery and social inclusion. The Band 7 Senior Occupational Therapist will contribute their specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting this approach and will ensure that all interventions amplify an individuals self- management skills.
- To manage a caseload of women in the perinatal period with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs, providing interventions which support and promote improved mental and physical health for mothers, babies and their families.
- To work in conjunction with the Lead OTs in the service to support the development and evaluation of evidence-based OT within the perinatal service.
- To work in conjunction with senior staff in the MDT to support the development of services
- Actively liaise with the MDT and external services such as primary care, maternity services, health visiting teams, adult and children social care, perinatal community teams and other mental health services.
- To carry out generic assessments and contribute to the duty rota within the team, providing specialist knowledge, care and risk management.
- To provide occupational therapy clinical expertise while engaging and contributing to professional meetings such as CPA, multi-agency case reviews, birth planning, child protection meetings and any other meetings related to the care and treatment of the women and their babies.
- To provide training and education to occupational therapists and other professionals with regard to how occupation may assist the recovery of service users
- To be responsible for supervising and providing clinical support for junior staff while considering professional development opportunities
- To act as an educator to students on practice placement.
- To contribute to the development and facilitation of Recovery & Wellbeing College courses within the perinatal setting.
- To contribute to Occupational Therapy research and development (R&D), audit activities and projects within the perinatal service, implementing the Trusts Occupational Therapy R&D Strategy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The services offered will be provided in line with the principles and ethos of recovery and social inclusion. The Band 7 Senior Occupational Therapist will contribute their specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting this approach and will ensure that all interventions amplify an individuals self- management skills.
- To manage a caseload of women in the perinatal period with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs, providing interventions which support and promote improved mental and physical health for mothers, babies and their families.
- To work in conjunction with the Lead OTs in the service to support the development and evaluation of evidence-based OT within the perinatal service.
- To work in conjunction with senior staff in the MDT to support the development of services
- Actively liaise with the MDT and external services such as primary care, maternity services, health visiting teams, adult and children social care, perinatal community teams and other mental health services.
- To carry out generic assessments and contribute to the duty rota within the team, providing specialist knowledge, care and risk management.
- To provide occupational therapy clinical expertise while engaging and contributing to professional meetings such as CPA, multi-agency case reviews, birth planning, child protection meetings and any other meetings related to the care and treatment of the women and their babies.
- To provide training and education to occupational therapists and other professionals with regard to how occupation may assist the recovery of service users
- To be responsible for supervising and providing clinical support for junior staff while considering professional development opportunities
- To act as an educator to students on practice placement.
- To contribute to the development and facilitation of Recovery & Wellbeing College courses within the perinatal setting.
- To contribute to Occupational Therapy research and development (R&D), audit activities and projects within the perinatal service, implementing the Trusts Occupational Therapy R&D Strategy.
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
- Practice Placement Educator's Course
- Mental health specific workshops and short courses
- Membership of OT professional body and / or special interest group
Desirable
- Post graduate training specific to perinatal and infant mental health
- Qualifications/training in specialist skills eg. therapeutic/psychological interventions
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Paid/unpaid relevant to job.
Essential
- Experience working in mental health including in a community mental health setting.
- Recent experience of working with families and in safeguarding children practice, participating in formal child protection procedures and being involved in inter agency work with families
- Taking a lead on audit, research and service development projects
- Planning and delivering training in response to identified needs
- Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments.
- Experience of supervising students and junior staff
- Experience in managing resources
- Experience of effective partnership working, with external providers, in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users
- Experience in completing Risk Assessment Tools.
- Experience in partnership working with external agencies.
Desirable
- Experience of working with women in the perinatal period
- Experience in leadership
ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Essential
- Committed to working as part of an MDT.
- Able to work flexibly.
- Able to utilise supervision effectively.
- Demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
- Demonstrates an enthusiasm for the post.
- Ability to work independently and is self motivated.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
Essential
- Broad / high level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models relevant to the perinatal period
- Sound / detailed knowledge of legislation relevant to perinatal mental health
- Knowledge and interest of local and national initiatives related to area of expertise.
- Individual and group work assessment and intervention skills.
- Effective leadership skills through management of designated projects, audits and research
- Ability to deal with sensitivities and complexities, using interpersonal skills
- Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes.
- Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, fax, telephone etc.
- Knowledge of personal recovery principles and their application to service delivery
- Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
- Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames.
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD.
- Ability to ensure the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies, ensuring the safety of the mother and infant
- Ability to identify and effectively manage performance of self and others
- Ability to maintain effective partnership working with resources both internal and external to the Trust
- Ability to promote a culture of sound OT practice amongst staff.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
- Ability to determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on a service user's functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
- Ability to recognise and articulate own values and principles , understanding how these may different from those of others
Desirable
- Delivery of formal presentations and teaching sessions
- Chairing senior meetings
- R & D training
- Car driver or use of motorised transport
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
- Practice Placement Educator's Course
- Mental health specific workshops and short courses
- Membership of OT professional body and / or special interest group
Desirable
- Post graduate training specific to perinatal and infant mental health
- Qualifications/training in specialist skills eg. therapeutic/psychological interventions
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Paid/unpaid relevant to job.
Essential
- Experience working in mental health including in a community mental health setting.
- Recent experience of working with families and in safeguarding children practice, participating in formal child protection procedures and being involved in inter agency work with families
- Taking a lead on audit, research and service development projects
- Planning and delivering training in response to identified needs
- Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments.
- Experience of supervising students and junior staff
- Experience in managing resources
- Experience of effective partnership working, with external providers, in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users
- Experience in completing Risk Assessment Tools.
- Experience in partnership working with external agencies.
Desirable
- Experience of working with women in the perinatal period
- Experience in leadership
ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Essential
- Committed to working as part of an MDT.
- Able to work flexibly.
- Able to utilise supervision effectively.
- Demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
- Demonstrates an enthusiasm for the post.
- Ability to work independently and is self motivated.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
Essential
- Broad / high level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models relevant to the perinatal period
- Sound / detailed knowledge of legislation relevant to perinatal mental health
- Knowledge and interest of local and national initiatives related to area of expertise.
- Individual and group work assessment and intervention skills.
- Effective leadership skills through management of designated projects, audits and research
- Ability to deal with sensitivities and complexities, using interpersonal skills
- Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes.
- Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, fax, telephone etc.
- Knowledge of personal recovery principles and their application to service delivery
- Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
- Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames.
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD.
- Ability to ensure the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies, ensuring the safety of the mother and infant
- Ability to identify and effectively manage performance of self and others
- Ability to maintain effective partnership working with resources both internal and external to the Trust
- Ability to promote a culture of sound OT practice amongst staff.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
- Ability to determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on a service user's functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
- Ability to recognise and articulate own values and principles , understanding how these may different from those of others
Desirable
- Delivery of formal presentations and teaching sessions
- Chairing senior meetings
- R & D training
- Car driver or use of motorised transport
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).
