The Horsham based community Dementia and Older Persons Mental Health Service (DOPMHS), are looking for a full time band 6 OT to join their friendly multi-disciplinary team. The team office is based at New Park House, adjacent to the beautiful Horsham Park and a few minutes' walk from the town centre

The team support people living with dementia (and their carers) who have complexpresentations, such as high levels of distress, significant mood disturbance, concurrent hallucinations/ psychosis or paranoia or behaviours such as physical/ verbal aggression and agitation. The team also supports older adults with a range of mental health diagnosis.

The successful OT will be an integral member of the MDT and alongside lead practitioner duties, will have protected time to perform OT specific assessment and interventions including group work. They will be supported by their colleagues within the DOPMHS team as well as by the wider OT community where they will have regular OT led professional/ clinical supervision and will be invited to attend practice development groups and have access to other CPD opportunities.

If you would like more information please contact Joella Tucknott, Professional Lead OT for Older Adult Service in West Sussex. Email: Joella.tucknott@spft.nhs.uk, Tel: 07388 376591.

Main duties of the job

The Horsham based community Dementia and Older Persons Mental Health Service (DOPMHS), are looking for a full time band 6 OT to join their friendly multi-disciplinary team. The team office is based at New Park House, adjacent to the beautiful Horsham Park and a few minutes' walk from the town centre.

The team support people living with dementia (and their carers) who have complex presentations, such as high levels of distress, significant mood disturbance, concurrent hallucinations/ psychosis or paranoia or behaviours such as physical/ verbal aggression and agitation. The team also supports older adults with a range of mental health diagnosis

The successful OT will be an integral member of the MDT and alongside lead practitioner duties, will have protected time to perform OT specific assessment and interventions including group work. They will be supported by their colleagues within the DOPMHS team as well as by the wider OT community where they will have regular OT led professional/ clinical supervision and will be invited to attend practice development groups and have access to other CPD opportunities.

About us

What you can expect in return

As a mental health trust Sussex Partnership places a huge focus on the wellbeing of our staff, as well as ensuring our reward packages reflect the immensely important work they do.

As a Mental Health OT in our team we can offer you:

• Access to full psychological and wellbeing support, via our internal wellbeing team
• Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
• Free parking on-site
• Access to a host of discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
• A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC
• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays

Job description Job responsibilities

We are seeking to recruit a passionate, knowledgeable and dynamic Occupational Therapist to join our Dementia and Older Persons Mental Health Team based in Horsham. This community-based team supports people over the age of 75 years who have mental health difficulties, and also supports people of any age with dementia. The OTs working in the DOPMHS teams take referrals for OT specific assessment and intervention, but also hold a small caseload of individuals for whom they are lead practitioner. You will be an important part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to MDT discussions and zoning meetings.

This role will suit individuals with a passion for supporting older adult's mental wellbeing, and who enjoy the autonomy of working in a community role. Mental health experience is desirable, but we can offer you development opportunities including group planning and facilitation skill development, experience using a range of standardised assessments, embedding occupational formulation, and training in specific intervention approaches. As your career develops we can provide you with leadership experiences, and opportunities to develop specialist skills and interests.

We are striving to establish clear OT pathways and processes in our community teams, and to effectively articulate and communicate the unique contribution of OT in this setting. We are keen to continually develop and improve, and this role would suit someone who is motivated and enthusiastic to establish a strong OT offer in the team, and also participate more widely to OT development within the older adult service in West Sussex.

You will be supported by colleagues within the team as well as by the wider West Sussex older-adult OT team, which meet regularly for practice development CPD sessions. You will also have regular professional/clinical supervision, and have access to other CPD opportunities including the Trust's AHP training offer.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Evidence of post graduate level study/training
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Practice Education training
• Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience Essential

• Experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of both group and individual work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience in a clinical area related to the post
• Leadership experience
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

354-AN-20443-A