Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Previous applicants need not apply.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 6 occupational therapist to work full time in the Richmond Community Older Peoples Service across the Memory Assessment Service and the Recovery Support Team. This is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team that assesses all referrals for old age adults with mental health needs and resident in the borough of Richmond.

We are looking for a self-motivated and flexible occupational therapist, with mental health experience and excellent interpersonal skills, to join our well-established multidisciplinary team, which is committed to providing the highest quality of service to older people in Richmond.

You will work to provide a high-quality occupational therapy service for your clients and carers, both within the Memory Assessment Service and the Recovery Support Team, targeting and prioritising people with severe mental health problems, people with mild-moderate dementia.

Staff are encouraged and facilitated in their personal and continuing professional development: there is a well-established Older People OT Forum aimed at supporting evidence-based practice and providing peer support.

We encourage applicants who are keen to develop their skills in assessment, monitoring and caseload management and who enjoy working autonomously but with the support of the team. You will work with a Recovery Model and be fully involved in MDT discussions.

Main duties of the job

You will work to provide a high-quality occupational therapy service for your clients and carers, both within the Memory Assessment Service and the Recovery Support Team, targeting and prioritising people with severe mental health problems, people with mild-moderate dementia.

The postholder will work closely with the team of doctors and be able to act autonomously to identify and raise concerns including urgent/emergency situations and escalating to the Team Manager or Consultant as appropriate.

They will assess clients with complex needs, and use evidence based/client centred principles to plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

Demonstrate the skills to professionally communicate complex information to users and carers regarding bio-psychosocial problems in an empathetic and supportive way.

To liaise with professionals/ agencies and ensure the patient receives continuity of care/ service through clear and timely communication with all involved in their care.

To support with the team’s duty triage system, screening referrals and doing urgent assessments to assist in information gathering in accordance with the team’s needs and to record these on the patient records.

To attend MDT meetings as required for service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the client’s social and physical environment.
• To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
• To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff
• To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.
• To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.
• 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 plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome.
• To independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs.
• To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situation, referring to senior staff when necessary.
• To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.
• To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
• To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies.
• 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 with regard to the care and treatment of service users.
• To work in partnership with PCT, LA, voluntary and other relevant agencies to promote a seamless service.
• To educate service users and carers on occupational therapy interventions, for example, the use of equipment.
• To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.