Occupational Therapist

Job overview

The OPTIMA Mood Disorders Service is an outpatient treatment service developed in 2015 for people with bipolar affective disorder. The service aims to reduce the risk of recurrence and readmission to hospital and is currently open to Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham service users. OPTIMA is a small multi-disciplinary service and  it offers an individualised Core programme focussed on relapse prevention and recovery, and a group psycho-education programme.

An exciting vacancy has arisen for a Band 6 registered Senior Occupational Therapist to work within OPTIMA as a keyworker/specialist OT within the core programme and opportunities to co-facilitate the group programme and develop other groups/workshops as required.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic practitioner who is keen to work as part of a small team and autonomously with excellent assessment skills and opportunities to use key occupational therapy skills as well as develop group skills and be involved in research and development.

Main duties of the job

To manage a caseload of clients with affective disorders and complex needs using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. To lead psycho-education programmes for patients with bipolar disorder and to act as a key worker for patients with affective disorders. To provide leadership for students and/or junior staff, through supervision and appraisal. To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT / MDT services, holding responsibility for defined projects. To regularly supervise OT students on practice placements. To carry out MDT activities e.g. assessments and duty responsibilities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical

• To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To manage a caseload as agreed with Clinical Manager or to be a key worker for a caseload of clients with complex needs.
• With others, to lead individual and group psycho-education programmes for people with bipolar disorder.
• To work as part of the MDT within CPA and Mental Health Act frameworks.
• To work with service users to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan working within the CPA process.
• To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the client, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for service users with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
• To demonstrate and apply a broad / high level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the client’s physical and social environment.
• To assess occupational / vocational needs of a defined client group.
• To undertake risk assessments and risk management plans as appropriate.
• Provide clinical training and supervision to clients extended support network as appropriate.

Communication

• To demonstrate effective / apply a comprehensive range of communication skills with users and carers, team members, OT colleagues and external agencies
• To effectively work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to / implement core decisions with regard to service users care programmes
• To actively support and educate service users and carers regarding aspects of Occupational Therapy provision

3. Documentation

• Maintain appropriate, up-to-date, written and electronic records and activity data in accordance with Professional and Trust standards
• Participate in departmental and corporate administration through collection and completion of statistics
• Provide specialist OT / other reports as required

4. Leadership, supervision and appraisal

• To review, reflect and change own practice through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal
• To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as delegated by a senior member of staff
• To demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of dedicated projects
• To apply clinical leadership skills through the management of dedicated projects

5. Training staff and students

• To demonstrate the ability to / undertake to initiate, plan and implement the induction, training and education of students and other staff
• To regularly be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of OT students on practice placement within the Trust
• To participate in inter-professional training within the Trust

6. Professional ethics and development

• To comply with the COT code of ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local procedures and guidelines
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on complex ethical issues and to provide guidance to junior staff as necessary
• Demonstrate an ability to apply increasingly complex skills and knowledge commensurate with establishing higher level professional practice
• Demonstrate on-going personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes through maintaining and developing a professional portfolio for CPD

7. Service Development and delivery

• To actively participate in and be responsible for relevant planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within service area and corporate OT as required. A detailed monitoring and evaluation programme is planned in which the post-holder will participate.
• To actively participate in the delivery and review processes of the OT Strategy and Business Plan and local service delivery.
• To participate in local OT service development under the supervision of OT staff and the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development

8. Clinical Governance and Quality Standards

• To contribute to the Trust’s, Directorates and Team’s Clinical Governance activities and be involved in setting the quality agenda
• Demonstrate / apply an understanding and application of national guidance and legislation relating to health and social care in Mental Health service provision

9. Line Management, staff and budgets

• To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance
• Be responsible for maintaining stock, advising on resource allocation and responsibility for managing petty cash
• Co-ordinate day-to-day activities of junior staff, Technical Instructors and volunteer staff where applicable

10. Research and practice development

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate current research, apply it to practise and disseminate findings at a local level
• To engage in and develop or broaden research skills through involvement in local audit and research projects

Lived Experience:

The Trust encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges.  We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do