It is a very exciting time to be joining Turner Ward, Low Secure Learning Disability and Autism Ward. This Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapy and Sensory Role is a unique and specialist role within this service. The role includes developing and providing a specialist occupational therapy pathway focusing on sensory assessment/ intervention/ education and awareness for inpatient forensic LDA service users. The role includes a heavy emphasis on sensory integration and so an understanding of learning disabilities is required for this post. The successful applicant would manage service users with complex needs, using evidence based, client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions with a sensory focus.

The role of the occupational therapist on Turner Ward focuses on the service user's journey, looking at discharge planning and suitable accommodation prospects from the point of admission in order to have a robust, client-centred care plan. The occupational therapist will also interface with community services to provide transitional support and ensure the most appropriate move into the community is facilitated.

We are looking for someone who will work holistically with Learning Disability and Autism service users to ensure excellent patient-centred care, aiming towards a safe discharge into the community.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will need to be proficient with verbal and written communication skills and be able to adapt these skills as appropriate to situation. The occupational therapist will independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs.

The main duties in this role would be around sensory assessment, intervention and evaluation, this will largely inform care and practice for the MDT and occupational therapy work. This would include applying a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and environmental solutions to the client's social and physical needs. The occupational therapist will also 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.

The occupational therapist will apply advanced clinical reasoning to identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) tools in conjunction with other relevant theoretical perspectives.

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.

About our locations:

Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A

Job description Job responsibilities

• To complete sensory assessments and interventions, including providing individualised and client-centred care plans and interventions.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and environmental solutions to the clients social and physical needs.
• To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflects their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
• 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 independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs
• To apply advanced clinical reasoning to identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) tools in conjunction with other relevant theoretical perspectives.
• To exercise independent clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situations, referring to team members when necessary.
• To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy process.
• 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 identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff
• To lead on the development of therapeutic programmes and to work within clinical pathways and protocols with particular reference to the MoHO.
• To advise on appropriate outcome measures and evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
• To identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, complying with London Child Protection Procedures on the management of child protection issues and those of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, making appropriate referrals and liaising closely with colleagues within Childrens Services as required.
• When visiting clients alone at their homes or in the community to adhere with the Trust and Team Lone Working Policies
• To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies to promote a seamless service.
• To communicate with people in a manner consistent with their culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
• To work as a member of the inter-professional team, attending meetings and contributing to decisions about the care and treatment of service users.
• To develop and maintain effective professional communication structures as part of staff development needs.
• To demonstrate and communicate the contribution of occupational therapy within the service, negotiating priorities as required.
• To collaborate with other professional leads so that each profession contributes effectively to the business and priorities of the trust.
• To establish/maintain robust communication networks with local service user and carer groups.
• To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy in clinical teams, advising priorities where appropriate, through regular liaison and collaboration with locality managers/team leaders as well as the other professional leads
• To undertake a clinical teaching role in fieldwork and/or in-service training programmes.
• To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within or external to the Trust, ensuring that the occupational therapy aspects are addressed.
• To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapy students on practice placement within the Trust. The expectation is to have a minimum of one occupational therapy student a year.
• To undertake the role of preceptor when required.
• To be trained at Level 3 Sensory Integration Network Training with commitment to working towards being fully qualified in Ayres Sensory Integration at level 5

Person Specification Training and Qualifications Essential

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
• Masters degree in subject relevant to clinical post or equivalence of knowledge and skills base attained through further training, short courses, relevant study.
• Registration to practice in the UK (HPC registered)
• Practice placement educators' course within one year of appointment
• Evidence of post registration training or experience relevant to learning disabilities and mental health practice

Desirable

• Evidence of further professional development related to management and leadership
• Trained at Level 3 Sensory Integration Network Training with commitment to working towards being fully qualified in Ayres Sensory Integration at level 5

Knowledge and skills Essential

• Highly developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs and with other organisations and providers, requiring influence and negotiations skills.
• Word processing, IT, and literature search skills
• Proficient standard of written communication skills
• Ability to promote & maintain the profile of OT within an MDT & the wider organisation
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, presenting ideas with clarity in a persuasive and influential style, for a variety of audiences.
• Day to day management of students, providing specialist training to healthcare professionals
• Commitment to principles of equal opportunity, fair access, and service user empowerment & ability to translate principles into practice
• Ability to apply equal opportunities & anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the service users' customs, values & spiritual beliefs

Desirable

• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapy
• Member of specialist sections

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in a senior professional role (Band 7 or above)
• Experience of multi-professional collaboration at a senior level including partnership working with other statutory and voluntary organizations.
• Experience of working in a range of mental health settings including with learning disabilities and/ or forensic mental health
• Experience of supervision and appraisal and addressing performance issues.
• Experience of working in a range of mental health settings including with learning disabilities and/ or forensic mental health
• Experience of carrying a caseload of service users with complex and diverse needs in a mental health setting

Desirable

• Experience of publishing own work
• Post-registration research activity

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

294-FASP-5107171-JB