Occupational Therapist

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist who is curious and creative, looking for new learning opportunities and ways toimplementthis into practice?, With a focus on rehabilitation, risk assessment, vocation and education, you will play a pivotal role in supporting service users to enhance their health and wellbeing, develop valuable life skills and prepare for the next steps in their recovery. You will:

• Offer a variety of group and 1:1 intervention to enable accurate risk assessment and development and maintenance of service users' skills
• Have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues within SPFT forensic healthcare services, and the provider collaborative as well as external agencies.
• Develop opportunities for risk assessed engagement in a variety of vocational, educational and recreational activities ( both ward based and in the community ) - enabling greater opportunities for positive experiences of social inclusion.
• As per Occupational Therapy Pathway - complete a range of standardised assessments . You will represent Occupational Therapy in Clinical Reviews and ward service development and be part of service review in standardised documentation such as HCR20s
• To identify specific area to specialise in ( ie: Sensory Modulation ) and to represent the Team in service development and attendance in steering groups.
This role is part time (30 hours), typically across Monday - Friday. Flexible working requests will be considered.

Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Previous experience of working in Forensic Healthcare Service is desirable as are relevant qualifications that may support with the delivery of vocation and education interventions. There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice and training and development opportunities, including attendance to communities of practice.

We have a Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist vacancy at The Chichester Centre - based on Juniper Ward ( a 15 bed Men's Low Secure Unit ) and offering cross ward assessment and OT intervention. The Chichester Centre is a 3 ward low secure and forensic service, located within walking distance of Chichester City Centre. It is surrounded by beautiful parkland and we have strong links with Chichester Community Development Trust who manages this land and with whom we have successfully developed a number of volunteer opportunities for service users. Forensic mental healthcare is unique and fascinating which provides both challenge and opportunity in abundance. The Chichester Centre is a Low secure mental health hospital where we specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who may have had contact with the criminal justice system. Service users regularly experience stigma for mental health and / or offending history and our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills., The immediate Team consists of a Clinical Specialist OT, two Band 6 OTs and Band 5 OT rotation post, 3 Occupational Therapy Technicians and 2 Peer Support Specialists. We also have strong links with other Occupational Therapists within the Forensic Services. There are 3 specialist wards, each with a strong multi-disciplinary team. The Therapy Working steering group is also looking at developing opportunities for greater co-facilitation of group work and the successful applicant would be encouraged to identify areas of interest within AHP Training to develop the Occupational Therapy programme. Whilst based on Juniper, the post holder would be expected to also offer cross ward sessions.