Occupational Therapist

Job overview

This role is your opportunity to be part of the new community rehabilitation team which is part of the newly Developed complex psychosis pathway which has been developed to provide a whole system approach to Mental Health Rehabilitation and Assertive Community Treatment in Leeds.

The pathway which includes Newsam Ward 5 (Level 2 Rehab & relocating to Parkside Lodge), Asket Croft and Asket House inpatient settings, (Level 1 Rehab), the Community Rehabilitation Team and Assertive Outreach Team. The pathway also includes Rehabilitation practitioners embedded within the Community Hubs providing early rehabilitative and reablement interventions and enabling transitions for service users between Community Services and more intensive Assertive Outreach and Community Rehabilitation Support. These are clinical delivery services.

The pathway includes an out of area /Trust case management role and mental health placement reviewer for people with complex psychosis who are placed in Level 2 rehabilitation Independent Hospitals outside of the Trust or in funded residential placements.

In addition, Leeds Recovery College, Arts and Minds and the Volunteers Service are included within the pathway, providing innovative networks supporting social inclusion and a recovery ethos, while continuing to serve the citywide populations of Leeds, LYPFT and care services directorates.

Main duties of the job

The pathway provides treatment, intervention and vocational opportunities for people and their families living with complex needs, associated with psychosis and with significant reductions in quality of life, described within NICE guidance as “severe and treatment resistant symptoms”. Many people also experience other serious and cooccurring conditions that severely affect activities of daily living, social functioning, physical health, welfare, and limit vocational opportunities. The pathway provides a strong recovery ethos, with flexibility for differing levels of need and longer term support where necessary, and in the least restrictive environment possible. The pathway aims to provide a whole person approach working together with individuals and their families on agreed goals that improve mental and physical health, welfare, social inclusion and psychological wellbeing that maximises independence and quality of life.

As part of our Occupational Therapy offer we are looking to recruit a Band 5 OT with an interest of working with individuals within community and/or rehabilitation settings who are interested in supporting individuals to live meaningful lives in the community. The role will support managing a case load and co-producing care plans to meet an individual’s recovery goals and evaluating the effectiveness of these.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will contribute to MDT assessments and discussions and contribute to ensuring that we remain service-user focussed, working safely and effectively in collaboration with the other agencies that may be involved with their care. Liaison with other involved professionals will be an important part of the role as well as supporting the wider MDT.

There will also be the opportunity to connect with other occupational therapists across the service line. You will have access to profession specific supervision, line management supervision and reflective practice. We will also support in continuing professional development.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that our services are reflective of the communities we serve and champion diversity and inclusion. As part of a wider strategy to improve healthcare career opportunities for all, we would particularly welcome applicants from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. We are committed to implementing the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standards and welcome staff members from all racial backgrounds who commit to these standards.

The role will involve working closely with the Band 6 OT, supporting new ways of working in the community for people with complex mental health and intensive rehabilitation needs. The job will focus on identifying, assessing, planning and carrying out interventions related to a service users rehabilitation needs. There is no care co-ordination within this role.

The post holder will work alongside the wider MDT team to assess individuals and identify occupational need, barriers to discharge, community support needs and identifying interventions and care plans which can support the transition of service users stepping down to a less restrictive environment. They will have a good working knowledge of the principles of recovery and will practice clinically in a way that encourages therapeutic optimism and hope with service users, and work collaboratively to promote independence. The service has a strong commitment to co-production and work closely with co-production colleagues in engaging service users in the development of the service.

Due to the nature of the service user group there is a need for high levels of multi-agency working to ensure effective communication and maintaining high levels of care being delivered to service users on their recovery journey, and liaison with supported housing and other NHS and third sector organisations is something that the successful candidate will be required to undertake on a regular basis.

We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.

For informal enquiries please contact:

Yebin Park - 07980 958244 / Yebin.park1@nhs.net

Carol Dove - 07980956305 / carol.dove@nhs.net

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.