Principle Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Band 8a Principle Occupational Therapist: We are seeking an Occupational Therapist who is passionate about improving the lives of neurodivergent young people and adults to join our innovative Sussex-wide team. This is a specialist OT post based in the Transforming Care Autism Team (TCAT). TCAT work with autistic adults and young people from 14 years old who do not have a learning disability. Team criteria is to provide specialist assessments and consultation regarding people who are mental health in-patients or at imminent risk of requiring inpatient admission. As well as holding a specialist caseload, the post holder will be part of the MDT leadership team. The post will provide professional governance and lead development of specialist practice in the team and support neuroaffirmative practice in the wider Trust.We pride ourselves in neuroaffirmative practice as a service and actively welcome applications from neurodivergent OTs, people with other protected characteristics and people with lived experience.

For more information, please contact: Dawn Howard, Clinical Lead, Neurodevelopmental service, [email protected] on 07392 195403.

Helen Justice, OT Professional Lead LD and NDS, [email protected] on 07899 067762

Main duties of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Operate as an expert occupational therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate clinical caseload of clients with highly complex and challenging needs.
• Lead on and promote evidence-based practice in occupational therapy, neurodevelopmental and mental health services.
• Provide a highly specialised range of clinical interventions and demonstrate knowledge of professional models of practice.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
• Provide highly specialist assessment, formulation, intervention, review and where appropriate CPA including care co-ordination for service users, their families and carers.
• Lead the development of multi-disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Work as a senior representative of the profession to determine Trust wide policies and standards and ensure their successful implementation across the Trust.
• To model an ability to deal with the emotional demands of the role, with its frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances.
• Promote a positive image of the Trust and to establish appropriate professional networks to raise the profile of the occupational therapy service.