Lead Occupational Therapist (1 Year Secondment Post)

Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust; Edgware; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a dedicated Occupational Therapist to join their Child and Adolescent mental health team. The role involves planning and managing occupational therapy services, leading a team, and promoting therapeutic care for young patients with mental health issues. Candidates should hold a degree in Occupational Therapy with relevant experience in a mental health setting. Strong leadership and clinical skills are essential, alongside a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is essential.
• Experience working with people with mental health problems, particularly personality disorders.
• Experience in child and adolescent psychiatry is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver an effective Occupational Therapy service.
• Manage the Occupational Therapy team and ensure professionalism.
• Provide clinical assessments and interventions in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Leadership skills

Time management

Clinical risk management

Effective communication

Education

BSc / pre-registration MSc in Occupational Therapy

Post registration MSc in Occupational Therapy or mental health

Tools

MOHO

Occupational Therapy assessments

Job description

Job overview

The post holder will work within the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Child and Adolescent mental Health Tier 4 inpatient service. They will lead in the planning, development and evaluation of the Occupational Therapy service in this specialist area. The post holder will work as part of the multi‑disciplinary CAMHS team and be an active part of the senior management team contributing to the redevelopment of the Unit’s philosophy and policies. This is a specialist post requiring the postholder to have developed a range of complex clinic skills and to be able to manage the Occupational Therapy team. They will be required to promote an understanding and awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy and actively engage in the process of continued professional development. This is an innovative post requiring an Occupational Therapist with knowledge and skills, leadership and vision that they can apply to this clinical field.

The successful candidate will be assisting the team in ensuring the provision of an exceptional standard of therapeutic care, in conjunction with the multi‑professional team, to meet the needs of those using the service.

Main duties of the job

• To plan and deliver an effective Occupational Therapy service as part of the multi‑disciplinary inpatient CAMHS team in order to promote the health and wellbeing of service users, with the primary aim of enabling participation in activities of daily life. Including assessment, group work and 1 : 1 intervention.
• To be responsible for planning and managing occupational therapy and representing the specialty within the senior management team. This will include working closely with the service manager, modern matron, consultant psychiatrist and ward manager as part of the management team.
• Providing line management for the Occupational Therapy team. Including ensuring that there are clinical and managerial supervision structures in place for all members of the team, facilitating team meetings,

Providing excellent clinical occupational therapy assessment and intervention for young people who are staying in the Beacon Centre. Utilising Occupational Therapy models of practice, including MOHO, and approaches (e.g. sensory processing) to enable the young people to actively participate in activities of daily living and work towards returning to the community.

Working for our organisation

The partnership between Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I) is going from strength to strength since it was originally established in 2021 forming the North London Mental Health Partnership.

In order to meet the needs of the new Partnership services you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Enfield and Harringay Trust and Camden and Islington Trust. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria

• HCPC registration. •BSc / pre‑registration MSc or equivalent in Occupational Therapy

Desirable criteria

• Post registration MSc in Occupational Therapy or mental health. •Leadership training or education.

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

• Relevant clinical postgraduate experience in Occupational Therapy, including experience as a senior practitioner working with people with mental health problems in particular personality disorders, behaviour that may challenge, depression, psychosis and dual diagnosis. Experience of working autonomously, being responsible for own practice and managing a varied and complex workload. Experienced lead planner and facilitator in a range of treatment sessions on a group or individual basis including : Practical based, discussion, support and psycho‑educational groups. Including experience of working with clinical staff of a variety of grades to support their development of treatment skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience in child and adolescent psychiatry. Experience in use of the Model of Human Occupation and related assessments including MOHOST.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential criteria

• Able to manage difficult situations with child or young people and their families that have complex mental health conditions. Ability to manage clinical risk and have an understanding of child safeguarding procedures. Effective personal management skills, including excellent time management and the ability to prioritise, delegate and problem solve. Effective leadership skills.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of ability to meet performance deadlines and support to ensure other meet deadlines. Effective presentation skills including use of a variety of appropriate media : power point or structured discussion / activities.