Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist who is curious and creative, looking for new learning opportunities and ways to implement this into practice?

We have a Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist vacancy at The Chichester Centre - based on Juniper Ward ( a 15 bed Men's Low Secure Unit ) and offering cross ward assessment and OT intervention.

The Chichester Centre is a 3 ward low secure and forensic service, located within walking distance of Chichester City Centre. It is surrounded by beautiful parkland and we have strong links with Chichester Community Development Trust who manages this land and with whom we have successfully developed a number of volunteer opportunities for service users.

Forensic mental healthcare is unique and fascinating which provides both challenge and opportunity in abundance.

The Chichester Centre is a Low secure mental health hospital where we specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who may have had contact with the criminal justice system.

Service users regularly experience stigma for mental health and / or offending history and our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

With a focus on rehabilitation, risk assessment, vocation and education, you will play a pivotal role in supporting service users to enhance their health and wellbeing, develop valuable life skills and prepare for the next steps in their recovery.

You will:

• Offer a variety of group and 1:1 intervention to enable accurate risk assessment and development and maintenance of service users' skills
• Have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues within SPFT forensic healthcare services, and the provider collaborative as well as external agencies.
• Develop opportunities for risk assessed engagement in a variety of vocational, educational and recreational activities ( both ward based and in the community ) - enabling greater opportunities for positive experiences of social inclusion.
• As per Occupational Therapy Pathway - complete a range of standardised assessments . You will represent Occupational Therapy in Clinical Reviews and ward service development and be part of service review in standardised documentation such as HCR20s
• To identify specific area to specialise in ( ie: Sensory Modulation ) and to represent the Team in service development and attendance in steering groups.

This role is part time (30 hours), typically across Monday - Friday. Flexible working requests will be considered.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work as a Senior Occupational Therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate complex clinical caseloads

Promote evidence based practice in Occupational Therapy and the relevant mental health service/ learning disability service.

Provide a specialised range of clinical interventions and demonstrate knowledge of models of practice.

Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.

Provide clinical assessment, formulation, intervention, review and where appropriate CPA including care co-ordination for service users, their families and carers.

Contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.

Have a basic working knowledge of the medication prescribed for the persons in their care. To include usual dosage, common side effects and the need for any special monitoring. Any reported or observed side effects must be brought to the attention of the prescriber.

Supervise the work of more junior qualified staff and Occupational Therapy Techician and provide support and guidance.

Ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist occupational therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.

To adhere to Trust risk management policies and procedures.

To champion occupational and recovery approaches within the service area.

Be aware of and able to use de-escalation techniques and physical breakaway

Communication: Ensure effective communication with all parts of the service, other agencies and people who use services and their carers.

Ensure representation in strategic meetings and raise awareness of the contribution of occupational therapy.

Develop and maintain effective communication structures, facilitating two-way communication on professional and Trust issues.

Provide advice to team members, clients, carers and the wider network.

Liaise regularly with the clinical specialist occupational therapist on professional and service issues.

Communicate effectively with clients and their carers and ensure that communication difficulties are addressed sensitively

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.