Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Inpatient Forensic Mental Health Unit

A fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our forward-thinking and dynamic inpatient team at the North London Forensic Service (NLFS).

Are you:

• A newly Qualified (or soon to be) Occupational Therapist who is passionate about high quality care?
• Or, an experienced Band 5 OT looking to develop existing skills in a diverse but supportive area?
• Driven, flexible and highly motivated individual who can adapt to a unique environment (secure mental health unit).

The role:

• Providing OT assessment and intervention to patients detained under The Mental Health Act, 1983 (amended 2007), many of whom suffer from a severe and enduring mental illness and have a history of offending behaviour.

• Based on a forensic medium or low secure inpatient ward, working with a designated male, adult caseload of patients.

OT role in forensic services?

• OT’s have a fundamental role in the assessment and rehabilitation of service users within the forensic service from the point of admission to discharge.
• The absence of an OT impacts all stages of the care pathway and results in unmet patient needs and disruption to the patient experience, and care pathway.
• OTs often identify any physical health OT needs relating to patients’ well-being or sensory needs, which other disciplines may not observe and so at risk of not receiving relevant treatment / support.

Main duties of the job

More information about the role…

• Working alongside a robust multi-disciplinary team.
• Liaising with internal and external services to support and prepare for discharge from hospital.
• The OT role focusses on functional daily living skills, establishing structured routines and managing specific mental health and risk issues.
• Working with a Technical Instructor to deliver 1:1 session and a group programme to meet individual needs.
• The role will include the assessment, treatment and evaluation of clinical interventions, carrying out functional assessments and contributing to multidisciplinary team care planning and risk assessment verbally and through written documentation.

The OT team:

• Robust and comprehensive supervision structure, both formally and informally to ensure staff are fully supported.

• You will be working within a large, supportive, diverse and experienced team of OTs including Band 8, 7, 6, 5 and Band 4 TIs.
• Each OT is allocated to a specific case load / ward with Technical Instructor / Assistant provision.
• The team has a wealth of experience and opportunities to share to aid learning and development.
• We offer a thorough and varied induction programme, which includes preceptorship, training opportunities in house and externally for ongoing learning and career development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

***Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.***