An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 6 occupational therapist to work full time in the Richmond Community Older Peoples Service across the Memory Assessment Service and the Recovery Support Team. This is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team that assesses all referrals for old age adults with mental health needs and resident in the borough of Richmond.

We are looking for a self-motivated and flexible occupational therapist, with mental health experience and excellent interpersonal skills, to join our well-established multidisciplinary team, which is committed to providing the highest quality of service to older people in Richmond.

You will work to provide a high-quality occupational therapy service for your clients and carers, both within the Memory Assessment Service and the Recovery Support Team, targeting and prioritising people with severe mental health problems, people with mild-moderate dementia.

You will assess clients with complex needs, and use evidence based/client centred principles to plan, implement and evaluate interventions in conjunction with the MDT, working closely and collaborating effectively with all agencies involved in the care of our clients.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an enthusiastic, positive, motivated, and highly committed individual with good communication skills, who can work with us to support the work of this vibrant team. We encourage applicants who are keen to develop their skills in assessment, monitoring and caseload management and who enjoy working autonomously but with the support of the team. You will work with a Recovery Model and be fully involved in MDT discussions.

The postholder will work closely with the team of doctors and be able to act autonomously to identify and raise concerns including urgent/emergency situations and escalating to the Team Manager or Consultant as appropriate.

They will assess clients with complex needs, and use evidence based/client centred principles to plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

Demonstrate the skills to professionally communicate complex information to users and carers regarding bio-psychosocial problems in an empathetic and supportive way.

To liaise with professionals/ agencies and ensure the patient receives continuity of care/ service through clear and timely communication with all involved in their care.

To support with the team's duty triage system, screening referrals and doing urgent assessments to assist in information gathering in accordance with the team's needs and to record these on the patient records.

To attend MDT meetings as required for service.

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

• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.
• To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
• To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff
• To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.
• To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.
• To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.
• To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome.
• To independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs.
• To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situation, referring to senior staff when necessary.
• To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
• To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.

Person Specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

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 multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
• Experience of individual and groupwork
• Experience of writing specialist occupational therapy reports
• 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
• Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of a service user.

Knowledge and Skills - Communication

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 promote & maintain the profile of OT within an MDT & the wider organisation

Knowledge and Skills - Personal and People Development

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities
• Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to role model positive professional behaviour

Desirable

• Ability to deliver presentations

Knowledge and Skills - Health, Safety & Security

Essential

• 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.

Knowledge and Skills - Service Improvement

Essential

• Ability to adapt own practice & style of working
• Ability to express constructive views & ideas in relation to improving service effectiveness

Desirable

• Audit skills

Knowledge and Skills - Quality

Essential

• Applied knowledge of confidentiality & consent issues
• Applied knowledge of current national legislation, policies & guidelines relevant to clinical area
• Good personal management skills in order to manage a clinical caseload & varied workload
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Ability to work effectively within a team and understanding of the importance of collaborative working in the delivery of good quality services

Knowledge and Skills - Equality and Diversity

Essential

• Ability to apply equal opportunities & anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the service users' customs, values & spiritual beliefs
• Ability to recognise & report behaviour that undermines equality & diversity
• Ability to promote a culture of recovery & social inclusion

Employer details

Employer name

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Livingston House

2-6 Queen's Road

Teddington

TW11 0LB

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

294-MHCA-5839227-JB