Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a half time Band 6 Memory Assessment Nurse to work within the Sutton Memory Assessment Service for local people showing early and more advanced symptoms of memory impairment including those under 65. This service is an enhancement of the existing Sutton Older People's Mental health service. The service offers both clinic and home based appointments and plays an active role in supporting families/carers through individual sessions and psycho-education programmes.

The service is based at Cheam Resource Centre in North Cheam.

It operates the service times of 9-5 Monday to Friday.

We are looking to recruit an half time Band 6 Occupational Therapist to work within the service to offer specialist Occupational Therapy functional assessments for patients who are undergoing assessment for diagnosis of a possible dementia or for those who have been diagnosed with a dementia. This input will assist in the formulation of the diagnosis through the assessment of functional skills, review of the patient's home environment and provision of small aides and adaptations as required. The role will require a good knowledge of local services as it will include liaison with and sign posting to patients and their carers as well as developing strong links with other statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Main duties of the job

The applicant will ideally have previous experience of working with Older People in a community setting and experience of working with people with dementia. The applicant will have excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise work, excellent communication skills, be able to work autonomously and confidently, demonstrate a keen interest in dementia, be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the wider service and demonstrate motivation in the work setting and be passionate about high quality care delivery for the users of our service. The applicant will be able to respond sensitively and compassionately and offer support.

The service provides Occupational Therapy student placements and so the post holder will share Placement Educator responsibility, as well as enable shadowing opportunities for other trainees who visit the wider service.

You would be thoroughly inducted in the team and well supported by the Memory Assessment team and the wider OP CMHT as a whole.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• The post holder will provide a specialist OT service to referring clinicians and clinical teams within the Memory Assessment Service.

• The post holder will ensure that all necessary patient assessments are recorded and documented to include specialist OT reports as required.

• The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that any referrals for identified needs for adaptations are made, unless this exceeds the remit of the role following which any referred to the necessary team for implementation as the service are not commissioned for OT adapted equipment.

• The post holder will play a significant role in team discussions relating to clinical work giving an OT perspective to support the outcome and plan for the service user.

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• Identify appropriate follow up care post assessment and ensure referrals are made to support this.

• Take part in the Sutton OP service duty rota.

• The post holder will promote and initiate any actions to safeguard vulnerable adults.

• The post holder will be required to teach other OT students and junior staff, both in formal and informal settings. Teaching will also be provided to pre-registration students.

• The post holder will be responsible for specific clinical projects and undertake all necessary work to complete these, including Champion role, liaising and/or negotiating with other staff.

• The post holder will be expected to participate fully in quality assurance initiatives, with particular emphasis on a patient first approach when required.

• The post holder will promote choice and hopefulness and ensure a recovery orientated approach.

• The post holder will participate in audit/ research projects associated with the work of the service when required.

Person Specification

Qualitification

Essential

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
• Registration to practice in the UK
• Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
• Training in the theory and application of the model of human occupation within the first 4 months of appointment

Desirable

• Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment
• Apple registration

Experience

Essential

• Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
• Experience of working with people with dementia and other conditions affecting cognition.
• Experience of working with older people with mental health problems
• Experience of participating in a service development project

Desirable

• Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
• Experience of supervising junior staff
• Successful completion of preceptorship
• Experience of being a practice placement educator

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
• Basic word processing and IT skills
• Proficient standard of written communication skills
• Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
• Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.

Desirable

• Audit skills
• Working knowledge of model of human occupation tools

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

294-MHCA-5321324-JB-A