Occupational Therapist

Elm Ward, an Assessment and Treatment Unit is a short stay, mixed sex 8 bedded unit for individuals with a Learning Disability from Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, who present with needs that would benefit an admission to this specialist Service. What you'll do Deliver specialist, occupation-focused assessment and intervention for people with a learning disability and complex needs within an inpatient setting. Use evidence-based models (including MOHO) to inform formulation, goal setting and intervention planning. Run and develop meaningful individual and group interventions that support recovery, independence and wellbeing. Work closely with a supportive multidisciplinary team, contributing to care planning, CPA reviews and risk management., To work and liaise with other statutory and non-statutory service providers involved in service user care and Treatment., To manage a caseload of clients with highly complex Occupational Therapy needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic and community settings and on home visits. To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal. To lead in the planning, development and evaluation of Occupational Therapy services, holding responsibility for defined projects where appropriate. To regularly supervise Occupational Therapy students on practice placement, following attendance at an approved Practise Educator's course. To support and act as a mentor to staff enrolled on the Occupational Therapy apprenticeship. To apply in depth knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other standardised assessment approaches relevant to the clinical setting. Following specialist assessment, to undertake case formulation in order to highlight occupational strengths and limitations and to inform the intervention plan moving forward. To work collaboratively with service users to identify OT goals as part of the overall recovery plan. To provide interventions in the manner that is consistent with Trust standards and values. To routinely provide detailed feedback to the MDT regarding observed occupational performance throughout contact, which inform ongoing assessment and therapeutic intervention. To provide highly specialist support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of occupational therapy e.g. equipment fitting, rehabilitation programmes, sensory issues, management of symptoms through activity. To maintain clinical records using the electronic patient record system. To liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant. To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance. To attend mandatory training. To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust policies To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal. To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD, recording learning outcomes through participation in internal/external development opportunities. To actively promote Occupational Therapy through the sharing of clinical expertise and experience through presenting of posters, writing of articles for professional publications, attendance at special interest groups, conferences etc. To work flexibly in line with the needs of the service, including evenings and weekends if required. Clinical Responsibility To lead on identifying individuals Occupational Therapy goals and work with colleagues to support them to work towards these. To provide highly specialist Occupational Therapy advice, intervention and support given to service users and their carers. To provide timely updates and feedback to the clinical team regarding the service users wellbeing and occupational performance. To provide detailed specialist occupational therapy reports when required, within designated clinical area. To seek out and use latest evidence-based practice to engage service users in meaningful and appropriate activities, to promote independence, recovery and well-being and demonstrating effectiveness of Occupational Therapy within these outcomes. To have a senior oversight of the occupational needs of the specific service user group and develop services accordingly. To demonstrate and apply a highly specialist level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the client's physical and social environment. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards. To undertake risk assessments within clinical area as guided by local/Trust policies. To report incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and compliments. To work effectively as a senior member of a team in providing a highly specialised occupational therapy service to the designated area. To actively participate in /lead safety huddles and de-brief sessions as appropriate. To support with purchasing of equipment and ensuring training needs around their use is identified to relevant persons and sought accordingly. Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility To review and reflect on personal practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal. To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistently reliable attendance. To oversee the Occupational Therapy rota; managing leave and sickness. To lead the day-to-day delivery of Occupational Therapy services within your area of practice including delegation of tasks to staff. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects. To lead in the coordination of induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting as appropriate.

• Able to manage a caseload of clients with highly complex Occupational Therapy needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic and community settings and on home visits.
• Detailed knowledge of evidence-based practice and its contribution to practice governance
• Extensive clinical experience and ability to demonstrate application of advanced clinical skills
• Experience of working within a Learning Disability setting
• Planning and coordination of treatment packages
Desirable criteria
• Experience of working in a relevant in-patient setting
• Participation in research projects and audit
• Leadership experience
• Evidence of facilitating therapist, assistants and student development through effective supervision, Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Post graduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities
• An in depth knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other standardised assessment approaches relevant to the clinical setting and post qualifications linked to this.
• Evidence of providing highly specialist support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of occupational therapy e.g. equipment fitting, rehabilitation programmes, sensory issues, management of symptoms through activity
Desirable criteria
• Membership of RCOT
• Fieldwork Educators Qualification
• Experience of assessing risk of physical health needs - falls, epilepsy etc
• Sensory Integration training - SI Practitioner, Clear and effective communication through written, verbal and non-verbal modes
• Broad knowledge of current best practice in OT, Learning Disabilities and mental health
• Understanding of team dynamics
• Group work skills
Desirable criteria
• Experience of AMBIT
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders, Planning and co-ordination of treatment packages
• Ability to identify and analyse problems and be proactive in their solution
• Applied knowledge of mental health legislation
• Applied knowledge and risk assessment and management
• Understanding of OT outcome measures
Desirable criteria
• Project Management/CQI
• Contributing to formulations and care planning formally and informally
• Broad knowledge of current best practice in OT and mental health
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services. The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Our Trust values are: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it! Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?, HPFT supports people with mental ill health, learning disabilities and autism across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Essex. We employ around 4,500 people who deliver these services within the community and in inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services and medium and low secure learning disabilities services. We have operated as a NHS Foundation Trust since our authorisation in August 2007.