Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Would you like to work in an innovative trauma informed team, where there is a strong focus on staff development and delivering high quality care?

We are looking for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our well-established, diverse team and  supportive Acute Mental Health Team based in Harrow, Northwick Park Hospital. The location base is easily accessible from Northwick Park Hospital and Harrow on the Hill tube stations and is well connected to other local transport services. We want you to bring your unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to our OT team as diversity makes us stronger. You will have the opportunity to specialise your skills in a number of areas, including :

• Sensory integration for service users with complex emotional needs and neuro-diverse needs;
• Regular Trauma Informed Approaches training and team formulation

Main duties of the job

This post is a pure occupational therapy role role with some generic responsibilities. This role is ideal for newly qualified occupational therapist or anyone looking to gain experience in an acute mental health setting, working alongside a supportive and experienced team . You will develop skills in OT specific assessments, sensory assessments and interventions, trauma informed approaches, individual and group work and have the opportunity to learn from a varied of skills within our MDT, including nursing, social work, psychology and the medical team.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work as a ward based Occupational Therapist to provide the multidisciplinary team (MDT)  on the treatment ward with an occupational therapy service and expertise; this will include:

• individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the  Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics
• To establish links with other OT’s in interfacing acute and community mental health teams to enable effective continuation of Occupational Therapy input if required.
• To manage a caseload of service users with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs; using evidence based, trauma informed  and recovery principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment.
• To integrate evidence based practice and skilful use of assessments & interventions with personal recovery principles in order to improve the service users’ quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user’s social and physical environment. This will include undertaking assessments and making recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
• Where applicable to undertake the Preceptorship process as outlined by RCOT guidelines and CNWL Trust  policy.