Job Description:
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist looking for a career in one
of the UK's most respected mental health and learning disability trusts?
Would you like to be part of a dedicated team committed to making a
difference to peoples lives to enjoy a better future?
An exciting opportunity
to join the team initially at the Additional Support Unit (ASU) in Exeter for
Adults with a Learning Disability and then at the new Regional Learning
Disability and Autism Unit in Dawlish from mid-2025 for a 12 month secondment / fixed term.
The job offers a challenging yet rewarding
environment with opportunities to consistently learn.
The ASU Ward provides high quality care and
treatment for people who have learning disabilities and complex mental health
needs. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the
assessment and treatment of adults with a learning disability on the unit.
We are committed to the ongoing training and
development of all our staff and offer a range of opportunities for career
progression.
The new regional service based in Dawlish will
offer inpatient support to both adults with a learning disability and autistic
adults. The building and environment will be state of the art and the service
aims to become a centre of excellence.
Main duties of the job
- To provide and receive complex, sensitive information and be aware of and respond to barriers to understanding
- Good negotiation skills to manage conflict in a range of situations within clinical specialism and teams
- Key relationships with Lead OT, Occupational Therapy team, Clinical team managers and a variety of colleagues and professionals within this and other organisations, Service users, carers and families and agencies supporting the service user
- Support effective communications within the OT team where complexities of cases and/or relationships require this.
- Attendance at meetings to represent Occupational Therapy within the Additional Support Unit and others as delegated by the Lead OT.
- Attendance, participation and organisation at regional special interest groups e.g. Sensory Integration, Positive Behaviour Support, Trauma Informed Care and VdTMoCA
- Assess to understand and interpret a range of complex clinical conditions and diagnosis including causes of distressed behaviour.
- Analyse and interpret service development issues within the teams.
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of OT working with Learning Disability, Neurodiversity and Sensory Integration within inpatient settings.
- Reflect on own practice.
- Ability to describe where and how OT interventions need to be prioritised.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Planning and Organisational Skills
- Plan and organise complex client activities which require formulation and adjustment
- Practice effective time management to respond to competing priorities, balancing a clinical caseload and other responsibilities such as deputising for the Lead OT
- Work in conjunction with the Lead OT and team managers to plan and manage a sustainable, effective OT workforce and effective service delivery
- Organise meetings and groups to support clinical work and continuing professional development for the OT team
- Manage relevant research projects
- Promote the contribution of Occupational Therapy within teams
- To develop, deliver and evaluate training packages to a range of audiences
- To manage projects to support development of occupational therapy and wider service needs as identified.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
To manage and effectively prioritise clinical work in assessing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating highly specialist OT treatment programmes as part of overall care in meeting the needs of people with complex distressed behaviour, additional mental health issues, sensory or physical impairments and profound and complex needs
- Apply highly specialist knowledge and skills to develop specialised programmes of clinical intervention to meet the needs of those with challenging/distressed behaviour and highly complex needs as part of an overall team approach
- Ensure own practice meets the standards set out by the Health Care Professions Council
- Ensure all records are completed according to DPT policy and protocols
- To advise the Lead OT and/or Head of Profession (OT) on OT service pressures and clinical risks
- Ensure clinical effectiveness
- Up to date with clinical practice and research through attendance at appropriate courses, special interest groups, use of evidence base
- Support complex clients and staff teams during transitions Assess and review levels of risk as part of the assessment process enabling individuals with complex distressed behaviour and additional mental health issues to engage in purposeful and meaningful activities and occupation
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation
- Contribute to policies and procedures for specialist area
- Awareness of development needs of the OT team and create development opportunities according to clinical and business priorities and professional standards
- Create and promote OT care pathways and equality of OT provision within the teams
- Ensure use of evidence base and best practice by Occupational Therapists
- Support OT staff to use relevant theoretical frameworks for clinical practice - Model of Human Occupation, Sensory Integration, VdTMoCA, Trauma Informed Care approaches etc.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- To manage OT budget as needed
- To manage equity of OT resources throughout DPT and develop list of resources
- To be responsible for the most effective, safe and efficient use of OT resources within teams
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- Clinical supervision of OT staff within teams and OT students
- Organise and oversee OT peer supervision
- Delegated responsibility for coordinating OT student education placements within locality (this can be taken on by Band 6 OT also)
- Mentoring staff as relevant
- Contribute to PDR appraisal for self and supervisees
Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain high standards of record keeping and ensure through clinical supervision that high standards are kept by supervised OT staff
- To comply with DPT policy in regards to data handling, confidentiality, information sharing and data protection and ensure through clinical supervision that high standards are kept by OT staff
- To produce highly specialised OT reports as required using evidence base
Responsibility for Research and Development
- Undertake research in specialist area/link with other staff to develop skills in this area
- Design and use audit methods to inform OT clinical practice and support governance
- To support OT staff to develop robust outcome measures
- To lead on development of OT clinical practice in specialist area e.g. Active Support, Positive Behaviour Support Sensory Integration assessment and intervention and VdTMoCA s etc
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant specialised experience working with people who have a diagnosis of Learning Disability and Neurodiversity who have complex Mental Health Needs and additional sensory/health needs
- Experience in the application of Occupational Therapy models to service users with complex needs
- Significant experience of supervising and managing Occupational Therapy staff
- Ability to manage a complex caseload and competing priorities
Desirable
- Further knowledge gained by specialist courses relevant to inpatient Learning Disability, Neurodiversity and Mental Health.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- Evidence of continued professional development
- European computer driving licence/similar qualification or level of experience
- Clinical practice educator for student placements
- Registered to practice by HCPC
- Sensory Integration Post Grad Certificate
Desirable
- Membership/Participation in regional/national specialist interest groups
- Excellent presentation skills
- Post graduate qualification in leadership
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Contact information:
Service Manager
Carol Gray
carol.gray15@nhs.net
07971693602
