Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

To be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating client-centred individual and/or group interventions using appropriate specialist assessments and approaches, including specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and patient related outcome measures (PROMS).

To assess people referred to MAIS for Mental Health treatment and Intervention.

To assess social, spiritual, and cultural needs of individual clients to enable access to personalised choices of community opportunities, so that health and wellbeing are maximised.

To assess clients as required within their home environment to ensure treatment/intervention goals are appropriate.

To contribute to multi professional reviews as required and to be proactive in advising on client engagement, giving professional advice about suitable therapeutic groups, support and interventions, including sign posting to other agencies.

To ensure appropriate use of outcome measures for clinical activities to measure qualitative and quantitative data. This will support reflective practice with emphasis in improving service delivery and client experience. These wlll reflect the CMHF, use of Patient reported outcome measures and person centered goal/care plans.

To assess for and prescribe minor adaptations and daily living equipment for daily living requirements, referring to appropriate agencies where necessary. Refer to appropriate agencies for major adaptations to home environment as required.

To risk assess and ensure adherence to health and safety procedures when using therapeutic materials and equipment, within the context of positive risk taking, to maximise independence and quality of life.

To utilise and develop own knowledge base of the principles and practice of occupational therapy and other relevant national and local policies and procedures, applying knowledge and directives as appropriate and in keeping with organisational policies and developments.

To initiate, plan and provide induction, training and education of staff and others as appropriate.

To ensure that written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Livewell Southwest standards.

To provide and receive regular and qualitative practice supervision and appraisal both as a supervisor and supervisee.

To have a clear understanding of the Mental Health Act and be able to provide direct knowledge of a given client as appropriate or as required.

Leadership/ Management:

To work closely with the Practice and Occupational Therapy Lead and colleagues to provide a positive, compassionate, and effective culture that enables the delivery of a high-quality therapeutic service.

To take a key role in the recruitment and induction of new staff where appropriate.

To be responsible for the effective use of physical resources and suppliers including stock and petty cash under the guidance of the Practice Lead..

To deputise for the Practice Lead as required or delegated.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Able to undertake Breakaway Training
• Good organisational and motivational skills
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients/their families and other service providers, including dissemination and interpretation of often complex and sometimes distressing information, generating potentially high expressed emotional states.
• Able to build effective working relationships.
• Able to work autonomously in community settings/locations with relevant partners and service providers.
• Evidence of analytical and problem-solving skills relating to client presentation, the wider circumstances and needs led interventions required.
• Adaptable, flexible, and innovative
• Able to work alone using initiative whilst working within the occupational therapy code of practice and professional guidelines.
• Able to work autonomously &as part of a team, delegating when necessary
• Able to work in unpleasant and unpredictable environmental conditions, when necessary, for example when carrying out home assessments.
• Committed to client-centred, non-discriminating & non judgemental practice.
• Competence in a range of clinical assessment skills
• Evidence of effective management and leadership skills
• Able to identify and manage own stress.
• Competent in keyboard and computer skills, to include use of client electronic records, virtual meetings & client related online research

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 3 years clinical experience as a registered occupational therapist working within a mental health setting
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Clear understanding of the role of occupational therapy within mental health
• Experience of planning and organising therapeutic group work and adapting content/formats as required.
• Experience of receiving and providing practice supervision
• Evidence of a genuine passion for mental health work
• Line Management with experience in managing, supporting, and developing junior staff including admin, support staff and junior practitioners.
• Involvement in service development in line with audits, changes in policy and national/organisational directives
• Demonstrable experience in developing treatment interventions, both group and individual in response to clients changing needs
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