Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Job Summary

We are excited to advertise two exciting Occupational Therapy opportunities within South Warwickshire CMHT. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team, bringing your Occupational Therapy skills, ideas and creativity to a service focused on recovery, independence and improving the lives of the people we support.

The post holder will work within the South Warwickshire Community Mental Health Service, with our two main bases at Stratford Health Care and Leamington Spa. You will work flexibly across the South Warwickshire area, responding to the needs of the service and the people we support. This provides an excellent opportunity to work across a varied community environment and develop a broad range of clinical experience.

You will have responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of high-quality Occupational Therapy to individuals, their families and carers through a range of evidence-based interventions. You will undertake specialist assessments and provide interventions designed to maximise recovery, independence and wellbeing, particularly when working with people with complex presentations and changing needs. You will also contribute your specialist OT knowledge to the wider multidisciplinary team and support colleagues through advice, supervision and shared learning.

Main duties of the job

We are excited to offer two Occupational Therapist opportunities within South Warwickshire CMHT, providing an excellent opportunity to join a supportive multidisciplinary team and make a real difference to the lives of people experiencing mental health difficulties. You will provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and evidence-based interventions, supporting people to maximise recovery, independence and wellbeing through meaningful activity, self-care, productivity and leisure. You will work collaboratively with service users, families, carers and the wider MDT, contributing your specialist OT knowledge to care planning, reviews and service development

Carry out comprehensive specialist assessments for clients with complex presentations, including behaviours that challenge, sensory integration, engagement, Interpret clinical and non-clinical information, using clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans. Such clients may be in their own home, community, in hospital or attending clinics or other out-patient setting.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of their own professional practice, including the effective management of their caseload and delivery of high-quality direct clinical care. They will work within the relevant professional code of conduct, scope of practice and legal and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that care is delivered safely, ethically and in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. The post holder will obtain and appropriately record informed consent from service users at each contact, where required, in line with Trust policy.

The post holder will:

• Undertake comprehensive specialist Occupational Therapy assessments for people presenting with complex and often changing mental health needs. This will include considering functional difficulties, behaviours that may challenge, sensory needs, risks, environmental factors and the impact of mental health on daily occupations and independence. Assessments may take place in people’s own homes, community settings, clinics, hospital environments or other appropriate locations. Use advanced clinical reasoning and professional judgement to interpret clinical and non-clinical information, identify occupational needs and formulate appropriate, person-centred treatment and intervention plans. Provide specialist Occupational Therapy advice and guidance to service users, families, carers and other professionals, contributing to holistic assessment and care planning and ensuring that OT expertise is understood and incorporated within the wider multidisciplinary approach. Develop, deliver and evaluate evidence-based Occupational Therapy interventions based on specialist knowledge, professional standards, national and local guidance and the individual needs of the person. Interventions may include individual work, meaningful activity, functional interventions, group work, sensory approaches, education for service users and carers, and interventions designed to promote recovery, independence and wellbeing. Lead and develop Occupational Therapy groups, working closely with Support Workers to plan, coordinate and deliver meaningful and engaging group activities. The post holder will use their professional expertise to ensure groups have a clear therapeutic purpose, are accessible to service users and are regularly reviewed to assess their effectiveness and outcomes. Use highly developed therapeutic and communication skills when working with people with complex needs, adapting approaches to support engagement and participation. This may include the therapeutic use of self, effective communication strategies, sensory approaches and appropriate equipment or practical interventions. Work collaboratively with service users and carers to identify meaningful, realistic and person-centred goals. The post holder will regularly review progress, evaluate interventions and use appropriate outcome measures to demonstrate the impact of Occupational Therapy. Contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, care planning and clinical reviews, ensuring that Occupational Therapy provides a clear and specialist contribution to the person’s overall treatment and recovery plan. Contribute to discharge planning, onward referrals and transitions between services, ensuring that appropriate recommendations, information and support are in place to promote continuity of care and sustained recovery. Assess and prioritise referrals, including urgent, unexpected and planned referrals, working alongside colleagues from other professional backgrounds where required. The post holder will use professional judgement to manage competing demands and adjust caseloads and allocations in response to changing clinical need and service pressures. Identify, assess and manage clinical and operational risks, taking appropriate action to reduce, mitigate and escalate risks. The post holder will contribute to positive risk management and ensure that near misses and actual incidents are reported promptly through the appropriate Trust reporting processes. Delegate appropriately and safely, assessing and recording the competency of less experienced staff, colleagues, students, Support Workers, unqualified staff and carers where tasks are delegated. The post holder will provide appropriate guidance, support and oversight to ensure delegated activities are undertaken safely and effectively. Provide clinical leadership within Occupational Therapy, sharing specialist knowledge and supporting the development of colleagues, students and other members of the wider team. This will include contributing to supervision, teaching, mentoring, workshops, shadowing opportunities, peer learning and in-service training where appropriate. Maintain and develop professional competence and continuing professional development (CPD) through reflective practice, supervision, training, workshops, courses, peer facilitation and other appropriate learning opportunities relevant to the needs of the service. Contribute to the appraisal and performance development process, acting as both an appraisee and appraiser where appropriate, and supporting colleagues to identify and achieve meaningful professional development objectives. Actively contribute to service improvement and development, identifying opportunities to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of Occupational Therapy within South Warwickshire CMHT. Participate in clinical audit, evaluation and quality improvement activity, using feedback, outcome measures and service data to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and improve the experience and outcomes of people using the service. Respond positively to feedback from service users, carers and colleagues, using this information to improve practice, strengthen the service and ensure that people remain at the centre of care. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and timely clinical records, including electronic and, where required, paper documentation, ensuring that all contacts, assessments, interventions, outcomes and relevant information are recorded in accordance with Trust requirements and professional standards. Work effectively as part of the wider multidisciplinary team, communicating clearly with colleagues and contributing to a culture of collaboration, shared responsibility and high-quality care. Support the development of the Occupational Therapy offer within South Warwickshire CMHT, bringing new ideas, creativity and evidence-based approaches to individual and group interventions. Undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the level of the post, as requested by professional or operational managers, in response to the needs of the service.
• Undertake comprehensive specialist Occupational Therapy assessments for people presenting with complex and often changing mental health needs. This will include considering functional difficulties, behaviours that may challenge, sensory needs, risks, environmental factors and the impact of mental health on daily occupations and independence. Assessments may take place in people’s own homes, community settings, clinics, hospital environments or other appropriate locations.
• Use advanced clinical reasoning and professional judgement to interpret clinical and non-clinical information, identify occupational needs and formulate appropriate, person-centred treatment and intervention plans.
• Provide specialist Occupational Therapy advice and guidance to service users, families, carers and other professionals, contributing to holistic assessment and care planning and ensuring that OT expertise is understood and incorporated within the wider multidisciplinary approach.
• Develop, deliver and evaluate evidence-based Occupational Therapy interventions based on specialist knowledge, professional standards, national and local guidance and the individual needs of the person. Interventions may include individual work, meaningful activity, functional interventions, group work, sensory approaches, education for service users and carers, and interventions designed to promote recovery, independence and wellbeing.
• Lead and develop Occupational Therapy groups, working closely with Support Workers to plan, coordinate and deliver meaningful and engaging group activities. The post holder will use their professional expertise to ensure groups have a clear therapeutic purpose, are accessible to service users and are regularly reviewed to assess their effectiveness and outcomes.
• Use highly developed therapeutic and communication skills when working with people with complex needs, adapting approaches to support engagement and participation. This may include the therapeutic use of self, effective communication strategies, sensory approaches and appropriate equipment or practical interventions.
• Work collaboratively with service users and carers to identify meaningful, realistic and person-centred goals. The post holder will regularly review progress, evaluate interventions and use appropriate outcome measures to demonstrate the impact of Occupational Therapy.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, care planning and clinical reviews, ensuring that Occupational Therapy provides a clear and specialist contribution to the person’s overall treatment and recovery plan.
• Contribute to discharge planning, onward referrals and transitions between services, ensuring that appropriate recommendations, information and support are in place to promote continuity of care and sustained recovery.
• Assess and prioritise referrals, including urgent, unexpected and planned referrals, working alongside colleagues from other professional backgrounds where required. The post holder will use professional judgement to manage competing demands and adjust caseloads and allocations in response to changing clinical need and service pressures.
• Identify, assess and manage clinical and operational risks, taking appropriate action to reduce, mitigate and escalate risks. The post holder will contribute to positive risk management and ensure that near misses and actual incidents are reported promptly through the appropriate Trust reporting processes.
• Delegate appropriately and safely, assessing and recording the competency of less experienced staff, colleagues, students, Support Workers, unqualified staff and carers where tasks are delegated. The post holder will provide appropriate guidance, support and oversight to ensure delegated activities are undertaken safely and effectively.
• Provide clinical leadership within Occupational Therapy, sharing specialist knowledge and supporting the development of colleagues, students and other members of the wider team. This will include contributing to supervision, teaching, mentoring, workshops, shadowing opportunities, peer learning and in-service training where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop professional competence and continuing professional development (CPD) through reflective practice, supervision, training, workshops, courses, peer facilitation and other appropriate learning opportunities relevant to the needs of the service.
• Contribute to the appraisal and performance development process, acting as both an appraisee and appraiser where appropriate, and supporting colleagues to identify and achieve meaningful professional development objectives.
• Actively contribute to service improvement and development, identifying opportunities to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of Occupational Therapy within South Warwickshire CMHT.
• Participate in clinical audit, evaluation and quality improvement activity, using feedback, outcome measures and service data to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and improve the experience and outcomes of people using the service.
• Respond positively to feedback from service users, carers and colleagues, using this information to improve practice, strengthen the service and ensure that people remain at the centre of care.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and timely clinical records, including electronic and, where required, paper documentation, ensuring that all contacts, assessments, interventions, outcomes and relevant information are recorded in accordance with Trust requirements and professional standards.
• Work effectively as part of the wider multidisciplinary team, communicating clearly with colleagues and contributing to a culture of collaboration, shared responsibility and high-quality care.
• Support the development of the Occupational Therapy offer within South Warwickshire CMHT, bringing new ideas, creativity and evidence-based approaches to individual and group interventions.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the level of the post, as requested by professional or operational managers, in response to the needs of the service.

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.