Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Autism Enhanced Support Team (AEST) at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team supporting autistic people with complex needs, including mental health difficulties, learning disabilities and behaviours of distress. You will provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention and clinical guidance across inpatient, community and residential settings.

You will use your specialist OT skills to develop person-centred, evidence-based interventions that promote wellbeing, independence, meaningful activity and quality of life.

A key focus will be supporting individuals at risk of admission, during hospital admission and where discharge is delayed, contributing to admission avoidance, complex case management, transition and discharge planning.

The role offers an opportunity to develop specialist knowledge of autism, sensory processing, mental health and complex presentations, while contributing to autism-informed practice across the wider system.

We are seeking a compassionate, clinically confident and adaptable OT who can work autonomously while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team and is committed to improving outcomes and experiences for autistic people across Birmingham and Solihull.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist, evidence-based Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for autistic people with complex needs, including co-existing mental health and/or learning disabilities.
• Undertake OT assessments of sensory processing, functional ability, emotional regulation, activities of daily living and occupational needs, developing person-centred interventions to promote wellbeing, independence and meaningful activity.
• Contribute to risk assessment, safety planning, positive risk-taking and complex case management.
• Provide specialist advice, coaching and consultation to individuals, families, carers and professionals to promote autism-informed practice.
• Support admission avoidance, transition planning and hospital discharge, working collaboratively to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.
• Provide advice on environmental adaptations, assistive technology, equipment and reasonable adjustments across a variety of settings.
• Work collaboratively within the AEST, wider MDTs and partner organisations to ensure coordinated, integrated care.
• Provide clinical guidance, supervision and teaching to junior staff and students, contributing to workforce development.
• Contribute to service development, audit, research, quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
• Work flexibly across community, inpatient and residential settings, including travel between locations as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide specialist, evidence-based Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for autistic people with complex needs, including co-existing mental health and/or learning disabilities.
• Undertake OT assessments of sensory processing, functional ability, emotional regulation, activities of daily living and occupational needs, developing person-centred interventions to promote wellbeing, independence and meaningful activity.
• Contribute to risk assessment, safety planning, positive risk-taking and complex case management.
• Provide specialist advice, coaching and consultation to individuals, families, carers and professionals to promote autism-informed practice.
• Support admission avoidance, transition planning and hospital discharge, working collaboratively to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.
• Provide advice on environmental adaptations, assistive technology, equipment and reasonable adjustments across inpatient, residential and community settings.
• Work collaboratively within the AEST, wider MDTs and partner organisations to ensure coordinated, integrated care.
• Provide clinical guidance, supervision and teaching to junior staff and students, contributing to workforce development.
• Contribute to service development, audit, research, quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
• Maintain professional standards, including HCPC registration, clinical governance, safeguarding, accurate documentation and CPD.
• Work flexibly across community, inpatient and residential settings, including travel between locations as required.

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.