Occupational Therapist / Lead professional

You will manage a caseload of older clients with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs (including functional and dementia) in the community. You will provide a specialist assessment to meet the needs of individuals referred to the Older Adults Community Mental Health Team, taking into account risk and clients strengths, in order to protect their rights and promote their inclusion, independence and interests.

The service is co-located with the Westminster City Council mental health team to provide a holistic service to our client group. Additionally, we are part of the CNWL project in the implementation of Open Dialogue, an innovative person centred and recovery orientated model of crisis and continuing mental healthcare.

There is a 0.6 wte OT and 0.4 wte care coordination split, depending on service demands. You will use evidence based and recovery principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment offering a variety of therapeutic interventions.

You will participate in the duty system along with other members of the MDT, carry out initial assessments and attend all relevant clinical reviews. You will provide support and advice to clients, carers and other professionals on mental health issues relating to older people and work closely with primary care and statutory agencies.

You will supervise students on placement and junior staff in the team as appropriate. They will contribute to the learning and development of themselves and others., To act as lead professional for individuals in line with mental health transformation agenda as appropriate to CNWL Trust policy, managing a defined clinical caseload of service users with complex mental health problems living in the community.

To carry out holistic mental health assessments, assessing needs and risks of services users, carers and their families following referral to the service.

To conduct holistic and specialist occupational therapy assessments using relevant tools, treating each person as an individual and respecting their views and wishes.

Plan and implement a range of therapeutic interventions and measure the outcome of these.

To work in partnership with the primary care team, local authority, statutory and voluntary agencies to maintain the health and well being of older people with complex mental health problems.

Together with service users and carers plan appropriate interventions and support plans to meet their needs, maintaining independence and making the most of their living environment.

To participate in the duty service of the Older Adults CMHT.

To supervise band 5 occupational therapist in the OA CMHT if required.

To act as practice placement educator for OT students and to participate in the training of students from other disciplines and support staff.

To maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with HCPC guidelines and CNWL policies and procedures.

The Westminster Older Adults and Health Ageing Community Mental Health Team is a dynamic multidisciplinary service providing mental health support to older adults in Westminster with functional disorders and dementia. It is co-located with the Westminster City Council mental health team, offering a holistic approach to care. The team is also involved in the CNWL Open Dialogue project, which promotes person-centred recovery-oriented care.

The team operates using a case management, intervention-led and recovery-focused model, offering multidisciplinary assessments and interventions for service users with complex needs, as well as their families and carers. Regular multidisciplinary meetings facilitate case discussions, initial assessments, and reflective practice. A key feature of the service is the integrated older adults home treatment team, which delivers intensive support, crisis management, admission prevention, and helps ensure timely hospital discharges. The CMHT and HTT teams collaborate closely, offering a responsive and flexible service to meet the needs of service users. Coordination with older adults' inpatient services allows smooth transitions of care.

The service promotes a friendly, respectful work environment where staff receive professional development, including supervision and appraisals. Involvement of service users and carers is a core element of the service's design and delivery.