37.5 hours per week.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time band 6 Occupational therapist to join the Community Learning Disability Team.

This is a team who is forward thinking and wants the best care for people with a learning disability.

The role purpose is toprovide a community based specialist occupational therapy service to adults with a learning disability in accordance with the principles set out in Valuing People.

Referrals to learning disability occupational therapy team are made when the primary reason for referral, relates to the effect of the learning disability, upon the persons occupational performance and engagement.

The Occupational Therapy team liaise with colleagues in other health services to ensure fair access to mainstream health services. The occupational therapy team is part of a multi-disciplinary learning disability team working across the city.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job Share(s) Considered

Main duties of the job

To manage a caseload of clients with complex needs, including those with complex distressed behaviour / dual diagnosis, using evidence based/client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. This will include lone working for long periods of time.

To be responsible for implementing occupational therapy intervention through both individual and group therapy.

To work closely with other clinicians within the learning disabilities team. Additionally with appropriate other persons within the independent/voluntary sector. To be a point of contact and advise for Occupational Therapy for adults with a Learning Disability.

To be responsible for the planning, development, evaluation and maintenance of Occupational Therapy services within the Learning Disabilities team/Livewell Southwest holding additional responsibility for defined projects.

To provide leadership for junior staff and occupational therapy students through supervision and appraisal.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1 CLINICAL

1.1 To manage autonomously, an individual caseload of clients with complex needs. This may include clients with additional physical health needs, behaviours that challenge and mental health needs.

1.2 To be responsible for assessing, planning and implementing, monitoring and evaluating client centred individual and/or group interventions using specialised occupational therapy assessments and approaches, such as Assessment of Motor and Process Skills and sensory assessments.

1.3 To develop individual programmes of care working with the client, carers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

1.4 To provide advice to staff, clients and carers relating to clinical interventions, policy and service development.

1.5 To actively engage in the training of staff, families and carers.

1.6 To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapy students on practice placements within the organisation.

1.7 To contribute to the recruitment, induction and training of other staff and students both within or external to the organisation.

1.8 To provide supervision including practice, caseload, line management and appraisals to junior staff as agreed with clinical lead.

1.9 To ensure that contemporaneous, written and electronic records, specialist occupational therapy reports and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and organisation standards.

1.10 To liaise and communicate with clients, carers, other disciplines, professionals and other agencies using appropriate and accessible methods.

1.11 To actively promote awareness of the role of the occupational therapist within the team. To liaise, plan, coordinate with and refer to other professional staff and agencies as appropriate, to provide an integrated service to the client.

1.2 To actively engage in line-management, clinical, professional and peer supervision both as a supervisor and supervisee.

1.3 To assess and order appropriate materials/equipment when necessary. Demonstrate and teach the safe use of materials/equipment in an appropriate manner to clients and/or carers. Maintain equipment inventory and ensure equipment is used and stored inline with infection control policies.

1 ADMINISTRATION

1.1 To adhere to all policies and standards of Livewell Southwest in general and of the learning disabilities team in particular. To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national policies and procedures.

1.2 To plan and prioritise own workload in accordance with point 2.1.

1.3 To co-ordinate, attend and contribute to clinical meetings as appropriate including staff meetings.

1.4 To be responsible for the planning and implementation of policy and service development within the occupational therapy team, leading on delegated projects.

1.5 To be responsible for contributing to policy development in line with Government directives including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.

1.6 To be aware of, and adhere to, the correct procedures for ordering, maintaining and using materials and equipment.

2 SELF DEVELOPMENT

2.1 In line with local guidelines review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of clinical, professional, peer and line management supervision and appraisal.

2.2 In line with HCPC Standards of Proficiency, to demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, reflecting and recording learning outcomes.

2.3 To undertake research and/or audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or the learning disability service and to disseminate findings.

To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Valid registration with the HCPC
• Evidence of on-going training/ development in the theory and practice of Occupational Therapy.

Desirable

• Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS).
• Formal training in Sensory Processing
• Other post graduate training relevant to post.
• Food Hygiene certificate.

Experience

Essential

• At least two years post graduate experience.
• Experience of working with adults with complex needs.
• Experience of working within a community setting.
• Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner managing a caseload and working within identified priorities.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience and understanding the different types of supervision.
• Experience of using a range of computer applications (including Microsoft or equivalent) and recording systems.
• Experience of change management.

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with dementia, autism, mental health issues, behaviours that challenge and physical disabilities.
• Planning and implementing groups.
• Practice Educator training.
• APPLE Accreditation.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of government law and policy with regards to services for people with Learning Disabilities including those with complex needs (Mental Health Act Mental Capacity Act Safeguarding).
• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches and assessments applicable to people with a learning disability and underlying causes of distressed behaviour.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk assessments.

Desirable

• Evidence of specialist knowledge, e.g.
• Model of Human Occupation
• Specialist Occupational Therapy Assessments and interventions
• Knowledge and training in Breakaway techniques
• Specialist Knowledge of government law and policy with regards to services for people with Learning Disabilities including those with complex needs (Mental Health Act Mental Capacity Act Safeguarding).
• Understanding of group processes /dynamics.
• Undertaking risk assessments.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Good organisational, leadership and motivational skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate complex information well both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients and carers with reassurance.
• Ability to adapt information into an accessible format.
• Analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work alone and on own initiative working within the Occupational Therapy code of practice and professional guidelines, seeking guidance when necessary.
• Ability to travel independently across the city of Plymouth and transport equipment as necessary.
• Computer literacy.
• OtherAbility to build effective working relationships.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Adaptable, flexible and innovative.
• Good concentration.
• Ability to work under pressure in unpleasant and unpredictable environments when necessary.
• Commitment to person centred, non-discriminating practice.
• Ability to maintain HCPC registration including compliance with fitness to practices, including ability to recognise and manage stressful and demanding situations.

Desirable

• Full current driving licence or ability to travel independently across the city of Plymouth.
• Experience of using Total Communication Principles i.e Pictures, symbols, Makaton etc.
• Involvement in service development.
• Experience of audit procedures.
• Presentation and training skills.
• Membership of Professional Body and/or Specialist Interest Group

Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

Westbourne Unit

Beacon Park Road

Plymouth

PL2 2PQ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

B9832-2024-PTA-1431-2