Occupational Therapist - Prisons and Approved Premises

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our Vision

An innovative, ambitious, and sustainable county, where everyone has the opportunity to prosper, be healthy and happy.

Our Outcomes

We want everyone in Staffordshire to:

Have access to more good jobs and share the benefit of economic growth.

Live in thriving and sustainable communities

Be healthier and more independent for longer.

Our Values

Our People Strategy sets out what we all need to do to make Staffordshire County Council a great place to work, where people are supported to develop, flourish, and contribute to our ambitious plans. Our values are at the heart of the Strategy to ensure that the focus is on what is important to the organisation and the people it serves:

Ambitious We are ambitious for our communities and the people of Staffordshire.

Courageous We recognise our challenges and are prepared to make courageous decisions.

Empowering We empower and support our people by giving them the opportunity to do their jobs well.

About the Service

Adults in prisons and approved premises are entitled to receive the same access and provision of services as if they were a member of the local community. The Prisons and Approved Premises team aims to provide care and support services to adults in custodial settings across the full spectrum of need. Ensuring that adults in custodial settings have the care and support options they need to maximise their independence.

Scope:

Staffordshire has the largest prison population in England and Wales with about 5,400 prisoners. There are 7 prisons in Staffordshire; Stafford, Dovegate, Featherstone and Oakwood have adult male prisoners over the age of 21, with around 50% aged 30 to 49 years. Drake Hall has adult female prisoners over the age of 18, with only 3% aged 18-21 years old and over 50% aged 30 to 49. Swinfen Hall has adult male prisoners aged 21 to 25 with 70% aged between 20 and 24. Brinsford has young adult males aged 18 to 21.

About the Role

We now have a great opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to join the Prisons and Approved premises team as part of the Health and Care Directorate at Staffordshire County Council.

Our team support the Adult Social Care Service to deliver the statutory care and support offer that the council provides to individuals in the Prisons and Approved premises.

Occupational therapy assessment and support is an integral part of the assessment and delivery of support process adhering to the teams core principles.

Core Principles:

i. collaborate with individuals so they gain choice and control.

ii. collaborate with individuals to enable them to articulate their needs.

iii. develop and maintain positive working relations with appropriate partners e.g., in-reach health teams, prisons.

iv. co-produce a holistic understanding of need and outcomes.

v. co-produce a person-centered plan for individuals and their families.

vi. plan for future, as well as presenting needs.

vii. provide a key-working approach.

viii. broker arrangements to achieve outcomes.

ix. enable access to inclusive community activities.

x. value diversity and promote peoples skills and successes.

xi. maximise independence.

xii. provide value for money.

This position is considered as a Politically Restricted Post under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and subsequent amendments introduced by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

This post is designated as a casual car user.

Reporting Relationships

Responsible to: Adult Safeguarding Team Leader

Responsible for: NA

Key Accountabilities:

• Under the direction of the Team Leader, to provide Occupational Therapy, including assessment and service provision, to adults with care and support needs in Prisons and approved premises settings.
• To carry an active caseload and undertake assessments of adults and older people with less complex needs, which could include initial assessments, including needs of carers, in accordance with Departmental Policy and procedure. To contribute to the development and implementation of care plans.
• Identify and assess risks associated with Moving and Handling and contribute towards the implementation of recommendations to reduce risk.
• Provide Occupational Therapy intervention to adults with less complex needs including recommendations for adaptations and equipment, planning and implementation of rehabilitation programmes, and counselling and advice, as necessary.
• To provide Occupational Therapy advice on initial enquiries, supporting the first contact service.
• To build links with other agencies and other departments of the Local Authority to support service delivery.
• To review services provided as necessary in accordance with Departmental Procedure.
• To understand and participate in the implementation of quality standards and cost effectiveness of the service.
• To maintain case records and documentation in accordance with departmental procedure, policy, and practice, and prepare reports, as necessary.
• To participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• and continued professional development.
• To find and use evidence on which to base professional practice.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required.

Other Information

The Occupational therapist will require to visit Prison and approved premises locations covered by Staffordshire. The appropriate Health and Safety training will be provided.

Professional Accountabilities:

The post holder is required to contribute to the achievement of the Council objectives through:

Financial Management

Personal accountability for delivering services efficiently, effectively, within budget and to implement any approved savings and investment allocated to the service.

People Management

Engaging with People Management policies and processes

Equalities

Ensuring that all work is completed with a commitment to equality and anti-discriminatory practice, as a minimum to standards required by legislation.

Climate Change

Delivering energy conservation practices in line with the Councils climate change strategy.

Health and Safety

Ensuring a work environment that protects peoples health and safety and that promotes welfare, and which is in accordance with the Councils Health & Safety policy.

Safeguarding

Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups.

The content of this Job Description and Person Specification will be reviewed on a regular basis.

Person Specification A = Assessed at Application

I = Assessed at Interview

T = Assessed through Test

Minimum Criteria for Disability Confident Scheme *

Criteria

Measured by

Qualifications/Professional membership

• Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapy - BSc in Occupational Therapy
• Registered with Health Professions Council. (HCPC)

A/I/T

Knowledge and Experience

Of the needs of older and people with Care and support needs

Understanding of the role and function of the Local Authority in providing services to older and people with disabilities

Of Equipment and adaptations available and their application

Of other caring agencies

Of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Assessment of older and adults with care and support needs in relation to their home environment

Knowledge of the Care Act 2014

Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups.

A/I/T

Skills

Ability to pass information accurately and concisely between service users, carers, colleagues and other.

agencies.

Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.

Ability to conduct functional assessments of older and adults with care and support needs.

Car driver -This post is designated as a casual car user.

Ability to move and handle equipment necessary for assessment and provision.

Ability to conduct safe functional assessments and give physical assistance to older persons and adults with care and support needs where necessary.

A/I/T

If a disabled person meets the criteria indicated by the Disability Confident scheme symbol and provides evidence of this on their application form, they will be guaranteed an interview.

We are proud to display the Disability Confidence Symbol, which is a recognition given by Job centre plus to employers who agree to meet specific requirements regarding the recruitment, employment, retention, and career development of disabled people.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• Please refer to job description above

Desirable

• Please refer to job description above

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Staffordshire County Council

Address

Stafford

ST16 2DH

Employer's website

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Homepage.aspx (Opens in a new tab)