Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist with a strong interest in adult mental health to work on the acute ward's at St Charles MH Hospital. You would be joining a team of band 5 & band 6 Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy apprentices & activity co-ordinators led by our Band 7 Acute Lead OT's.

Occupational therapists hold a key role within the ward multidisciplinary team providing expertise to support clients on their mental health journey to discharge from the ward. This includes individual & group work, following the OT process.  The trust has strong occupational therapy professional leadership (see below).

You will need to be familiar with evidence based assessment tools e.g. MOHO, to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further on going care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.

The role requires integrated evidence based practice and skilful use of assessments & interventions in order to improve the service users’ quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.

You would need to be able to apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user’s social and physical environment.

You will be self motivated and able to work to a high standard both autonomously and as part of a team.

Main duties of the job

The main duty of the job is to provide clients and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) on the Treatment ward with an occupational therapy service and expertise; this will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.

You will be using  the Model of Human Occupation and other evidence-based assessment tools in order to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further on-going care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.

You will  be able to apply a high level of understanding  of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training on and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user's social and physical environment.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for full details.

The main responsibilities are:

To provide the multidisciplinary team (MDT) on the Treatment ward with an occupational therapy service and expertise; this will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.

Specific to assessment the Occupational Therapist (OT) will utilise MOHO and other evidence-based assessment tools in order to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further on-going care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.

To establish links with other OT’s in interfacing acute (for example HTT and community mental health hubs and specialist services) to enable effective continuation of Occupational Therapy input if required.

To manage a caseload of service users with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs; using evidence based and recovery principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment.

To provide the multidisciplinary team (MDT) on the Treatment ward with an occupational therapy service and expertise; this will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.

Specific to assessment the Occupational Therapist (OT) will utilise MOHO and other evidence-based assessment tools in order to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further on-going care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.

To establish links with other OT’s in interfacing acute (for example HTT and community mental health hubs and specialist services) to enable effective continuation of Occupational Therapy input if required.

To manage a caseload of service users with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs; using evidence based and recovery principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment.

To integrate evidence-based practice and skilful use of assessments & interventions with personal recovery principles in order to improve the service users’ quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.

To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user’s social and physical environment. This will include undertaking assessments and making recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.

To contribute to service development of Local & Trust wide OT services.

To provide leadership for junior / unqualified staff through supervision and appraisal as required and to be a resource for staff as required as one of the senior Occupational Therapists.

To act as fieldwork educator to students on practice placement.

To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user’s social and physical environment. This will include undertaking assessments and making recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.

To contribute to service development of Local & Trust wide OT services.

To provide leadership for junior / unqualified staff through supervision and appraisal as required and to be a resource for staff as required as one of the senior Occupational Therapists.