Specialist Occupational Therapist

NHS; Honiton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the United Kingdom seeks an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join their friendly team. The role involves specialist assessment and intervention for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs, managing a caseload, and supporting junior staff. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Occupational Therapy and relevant registration, with skills in communication and analytical thinking. This position offers a supportive environment, ongoing professional development, and a competitive salary between £38,682 to £46,580 per year pro rata for 18 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage a caseload of adults with complex needs.
• Expertise in evidence-based assessment and outcome measurement.
• Interest in sensory processing assessment and intervention.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessment and intervention for individuals.
• Support junior staff and students in Occupational Therapy.
• Participate in service improvement and development projects.

Skills

Experience in managing a specialist caseload

Analytical skills

Communication strategies

Understanding of occupational performance

Ability to cope in stressful situations

Education

Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy

Valid state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council

MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic skilled Occupational Therapist tojoin our friendly team of OTs who workwithin our multidisciplinary Specialist Health Community Learning Disability (LD) covering East Devon, working from our bases in Exeter and Honiton.

The post holder would be part of the Devon wide LD service which offers a dynamic and friendly approach across community settings,supporting adults with a LD and complex needs (dual diagnosis/complex distressed behaviour) who are unable to access mainstream services.

Occupational Therapy is a large and well-respected profession within theService. We have dedicated professional leadership, well established clinicalsupervision and have co-developed a 3-year Development Plan alongside our peersin the wider Trust with our Head of Profession.

Our work is integral to the LD Service SpecialistWorking Groups and evidence-based care pathways including Behaviours ofConcern, Complex Health Needs, Dementia, Trauma Informed (including mentalhealth) and Autism. Occupational Therapy contribute to MDT formulation andplanning of Positive Behaviour Support Plans, Reducing Restrictive Practice,Stopping Over Medication of People with a LD, memory clinicsand much more. We pro-actively work with the MDT contributing to care planningand risk management, and have a strong role in supporting quality of lifeoutcomes and development of capable environments for adults with a LD.

Main duties of the job

Our core business as Occupational Therapists is specialist assessmentand intervention and/or consultation and advice to promote engagement inmeaningful occupations to maximise health and wellbeing. We enable people to bean active member of their home and local community, supporting reasonableadjustments to access mainstream services.

The post holder will have experience of managing a specialist caseloadof adults with complex needs, and will have experience in utilising specialistevidence-based assessment and outcome measurement, and an interest in sensoryprocessing assessment and intervention. We welcome applicants who will bringtransferable skills and we support continuing professional development.

The post holder will provide management and clinical support to juniorOccupational Therapy staff based within the team alongside Occupational Therapystudents and apprentices. Therapists are encouraged to contribute toleadership, development and research in the Occupational Therapy service and indevelopment of the clinical model within the Learning Disability Service.

Due to the large geographical area of work suitable access to transportwill be required.

Please contact Ali Leonard [e-mail] any further information about the post , you are welcome to arrangea visit prior to applying.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Provide the first point of contact and advice for Occupational Therapy for adults with a learning disability and additional mental health issues and complex distressed behaviour in the team.
• Relay complex, sensitive information to people with learning disabilities and their carers with empathy and in a way that they can understand.
• Contribute to and lead (as agreed) meetings and represent Occupational Therapy or the team when required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with team colleagues and with relevant community partners.
• Keep written and electronic records according to Trust policy.
• Provide professional advice and consultancy to the clinical team lead, multidisciplinary team members, carers and other services.
• Understand the diverse communication skills of people with learning disabilities and use Total Communication strategies to promote the best possible communication with them.
• Maintain professional links and share skills with other Occupational Therapists in Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Liaise, where appropriate, with other Occupational Therapists in the locality by participating in staff meetings, discussions and planning.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options.
• Skills for assessing and interpreting client conditions, appropriate diagnosis and therapy.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance.
• Ability to understand causes of distressed behaviour and adapt responses appropriately.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Plan, prioritise and organise own workload as well as the workload of any staff supervised by the post holder, reviewing and updating care plans.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and delivery of service development projects and policies for adults with learning disabilities.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Assess, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate specialist Occupational Therapy intervention as part of an overall team care plan.
• Manage own caseload of clients referred to the team - prioritising referrals and applying highly specialist skills and knowledge in meeting the needs of people with complex distressed behaviour, additional mental health issues, sensory or physical impairments and profound and complex needs.
• Use activities and client centred approaches to achieve therapeutic goals, considering the holistic needs of the individual and relevant environmental factors.
• Assess and review levels of risk as part of the assessment process enabling individuals with complex distressed behaviour and additional mental health issues to engage in purposeful and meaningful activities and occupation, wherever possible accessing community facilities.
• Communicate with clients and carers appropriate to the individuals level of communication, emotional needs and mental state, responding appropriately in difficult and stressful situations.
• Joint work with colleagues, as well as other relevant partner agencies, in a flexible, co-operative way as part of an overall treatment/care plan, supporting mainstream health services to make reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Clearly and succinctly represent the role of Occupational Therapy and share skills and knowledge with a range of other agencies (e.g. health and social care colleagues, specialist workers in learning disabilities and Occupational Therapy colleagues in Adult Community Services, hospital teams and mental health services) to enable access to mainstream services wherever relevant.
• Plan and lead training specific to the Occupational Therapists specialist role within this field.
• Liaise and work closely with carers, relevant agencies and colleagues to promote occupational performance of individuals referred, providing on-going consultancy, mentoring and advice to meet the clients needs.
• Support complex clients and staff teams during transitions which may include staff training as necessary.
• Contribute/lead relevant service user planning and review meetings.
• Plan and lead groups when this is deemed a suitable method of service delivery.
• Comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and practice in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council Standards, and Trust policies.
• Ensure all treatment records are completed according to Trust policy, service protocols and professional standards.
• Adhere to the principles of clinical governance. This will include participating in a range of quality standards and activities, including contributing to the Trusts and professions clinical governance initiatives.
• Undertake such duties as required to ensure maintenance of a quality Occupational Therapy service to people with learning disabilities in the locality as agreed with the clinical team and professional leads.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Contribute to service improvement and development.
• Ensure own continuing professional development is on-going and relevant to the post and is recorded according to professional and local protocols.
• Participate in research and audit activity.
• Contribute to the planning, organisation, maintenance and leadership of professional projects and interest groups.
• Keep up to date on relevant government and local policy and guidance in relation to best practice for learning disability and complex distressed behaviour.
• Represent the occupational therapy service as required.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Be responsible for ordering and maintaining equipment and consumables.
• Ensure an up to date inventory is kept of all specialist Occupational Therapy equipment held in the team.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

• Participate in regular management and clinical supervision.
• Undertake annual Performance Development Review with the Clinical Team Lead and Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist.
• Provide supervision and support to designated junior staff as agreed with clinical team lead & Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist.
• Act as an OT practice placement educator and contribute towards practice placements.
• Ensure efficient management of time and resources.
• Participate in training of self and others as relevant to the post.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• Ensure all records are up to date and compliant with Trust policies.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• Undertake surveys/audit as necessary to own work.
• Regularly undertake research and development activity.
• Participate in clinical audit.

Freedom to Act

• Clearly defined occupational policies, work is managed rather than supervised.
• Autonomous practitioner working within codes of practice/guidelines.
• Responsible for a caseload in the community.

Person Specification

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance.
• Ability to understand causes of distressed behaviour and adapt responses appropriately.

Other

• Commitment to multidisciplinary working.
• Ability to cope in stressful and demanding situations.
• The ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role.

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy
• Valid state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
• MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy
• Further postgraduate training; short specialist courses
• Post graduate training in the theory and application of Sensory Integration

Knowledge

• Demonstrate understanding of occupational performance and the role of the OT within a multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding of government law and policy with regard to services for people with learning disabilities including guidance regarding people with complex distressed behaviour (Mental Health Act; DOLS; Safeguarding etc.)
• Highly developed risk assessment knowledge / skills.
• Sound knowledge and application of OT theory specific to people with learning disabilities and in particular those with complex distressed behaviour, profound physical disability and complex needs, dual diagnosis.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Experience of using a variety of communication strategies.
• Ability to educate and inform other professionals about the role of Occupational Therapy in Learning Disabilities.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Workload management and ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Experience

• Evidence of on-going training and development in the theory and practice of Occupational Therapy.
• Experience of working with people with communication difficulties.
• Experience in managing a diverse workload including those exhibiting distress and with complex disabilities.
• Previous experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team including those within the wider support network of service users.
• Student supervision.
• Administration of standardised assessments.

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 andBarring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearpro rata (18 hours per week)