Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary

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.

Job responsibilities

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.