The Symbol Team is a specialist service for children who are looked after in the care system, or who have been adopted. The team specialises in helping children with the mental health conditions associated with the trauma of abuse, neglect and of being separated from their birth families. The team is multi-disciplinary and provides psychiatric and psychological assessment and therapeutic intervention. We are looking to develop the team further by providing occupational therapy assessment and intervention to help young people settle in care, engage in education and social activities.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will manage a caseload of clients with complex needs, using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. The post holder will provide leadership for junior staff and students, through supervision and appraisal.

They will participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT / MDT services, holding responsibility for co-ordinating the therapeutic programme and defined projects and carry out MDT activities as identified.

About us

Symbol has an MDT with psychiatry, psychology, nursing, child psychotherapy, and family therapy. The team is clinic based but since the start of the pandemic clinicians have engaged in a mix of home based/clinic based working and this will continue for the time being.

There is a strong commitment in the team towards the needs of looked after children and a recognition of the serious trauma that they have suffered.

Job description Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills

Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading and supporting junior staff and wider care team to implement the delivery of quality care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

To work with service users to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan working within the CPA process.

To work as part of the MDT within CPA, child protection and Mental Health Act frameworks.

To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the client, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

To work with carers and undertake carers assessments as appropriate.

To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for service users with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the clients physical and social environment.

To be responsible for managing a complex caseload of clients as agreed with the Head OT / ward manager where appropriate.

To assess occupational / vocational needs of a defined client group.

To undertake risk assessments and risk management plans as appropriate.

Provide clinical training and supervision as appropriate.

Communication

Contributing to an effective communication process with appropriate and accurate information to patients, carers, family, friends and colleagues. Engaging and listening carefully and actively, and responding using appropriate language and accessible communication methods and skills. Developing communication skills to enable and support difficult conversations, acknowledging cultural differences and professional boundaries.

To effectively work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and implement core decisions with regard to service users care programmes.

To actively support and educate service users and carers regarding aspects of Occupational Therapy provision.

Maintaining timely and accurate service user written/electronic records in line with Trust policy. Use care plans, pathway documents and Information System progress notes appropriately and in a timely manner.

Reporting, without delay, any safety or security concerns to maintain the safety of service users, carers, staff and others in line with Trust policy.

Maintaining confidential information in accordance with Trust Policies.

Leadership, supervision and appraisal

To review, reflect and change own practice through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as delegated by a senior member of staff/

To regularly be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of OT students on practice placement within the Trust.

To demonstrate the ability to initiate, plan and implement the induction, training and education of students and other staff.

To demonstrate clinical leadership skills through the management of dedicated projects.

Supporting the team manager to investigate incidents and complaints: compile reports and disseminate this information to senior management.

Attending and participating in regular personal development, ensuring compliance with all mandatory training requirements. Maintaining a work development portfolio and complying with all requirements for revalidation.

Professional ethics and development

To comply with the COT code of ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local procedures and guidelines.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on complex ethical issues and to provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.

Demonstrate an ability to apply increasingly complex skills and knowledge commensurate with establishing higher level professional practice.

Demonstrate on-going personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes through maintaining and developing a professional portfolio for CPD.

Protecting service users, self and others by maintaining a clean and healthy environment in accordance with health and safety and infection control policies. Ensuring safe working practices and working environment including monitoring and maintaining cleanliness of the service area and report, without delay, all hazards - real and potential. Leading audit and compliance activities and reports.

Leading, attending and participating in team meetings and contributing ideas to multi-professional team discussions.

Person Specification Qualification & Registration Essential

• Qualified O.T. with clinical registration with HCPC
• registration training in Mental Health

Desirable

• Other relevant professional development.
• Additional, recognised therapeutic qualification

Experience Essential

• 2-3 years post registration experience as an OT.
• Working with mental health service users (pre or post qualification), preferably young people with mental health difficulties
• Working in groups / Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work
• Advising and supporting / supervising junior staff and students

Desirable

• Experience of working with Children Looked After
• Experience of working with people with challenging behaviours

Skills Essential

• Broad / High level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models
• Applied / Extensive knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management
• Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions and outcome measures, relevant to client group
• Understanding and skills in the importance of service user involvement

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

334-CHI-4375640-JB