Occupational Therapist

JOB TITLE: Occupational Therapist HOURS AND DURATION: 38.5 hours (full-time) PAY: DBS LEVEL: Enhanced DBS with both Barred List Checked MANAGERIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO: Registered Manager PROFESIONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO: Consultant Occupational Therapist The Elms/Oak Villas The Elms provides support for young people of 16yrs+ moving into adulthood. The Elms offers evidence-based, trauma informed health and social care for young people, allowing transition into adulthood within a homely environment specifically designed to meet their developmental needs and to offer emotional, relational and environmental security and safety. Summary of role: The postholder represents a specialist clinical resource with whom other team members can consult on the complex and very idiosyncratic impact that mental health problems, adverse childhood experiences and trauma can have on young peoples occupational performance and advises the team with regard to the relationship between mental health, trauma and occupation. The postholder will champion social inclusion, education and employment issues, and will be a key contributor to meeting the teams objectives concerning promoting young peoples greater social inclusion, independent living skills, health promotion, recovery goals and quality of life. The postholder will use their deep understanding of the relationship between occupation and mental health, adverse childhood experiences and trauma to provide occupational therapy in order to maintain, restore or create a match beneficial to the young person, their abilities, and the demands of their occupations in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure and the demands of the environment. (adapted from Creek 2003). The postholder will be confident delivering a range of group and/or individual/community interventions drawn from relevant frames of reference and models of practice, demonstrating creative confident clinical reasoning skills. They will prioritise occupational assessment, formulation planning and delivery of interventions for young people whose complex needs have a marked impact on their occupational functioning and performance. This position requires achieving an appropriate balance between the provision of occupational therapy and taking on shared roles that contribute to the cohesive efficient functioning of the team. As an emerging leader and skilful communicator, the postholder will liaise and negotiate with a variety of professionals both internal and external. They will be able to use evidence to support and develop their practice. The postholder will or be willing to provide regular fieldwork opportunities for occupational therapy undergraduates and contribute to the learning of other team members and support staff. They will have responsibilities for mentoring and/or developing support staff and delegating work to add to the effectiveness and efficiency of the team. The postholder will be expected to contribute, chair OT Best Practice Forums, OT service development in their team and wider organisation. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Communication and Relationship skills To maintain confidentiality of information regarding children, young people, families and individual staff at all times. Provide, receive, formulate and evaluate complex or sensitive information. To work within and promote collaborative and partnership working, with both colleagues and young people as a member of the multidisciplinary team. To promote and maintain effective confident communication and positive working relationships throughout the placement and wider services, both internal and external to the service. To promote and maintain effective communication and positive therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families. To act as an advocate for children young people and families when necessary. To attend and participate in regular placement meetings. To liaise with and report issues, concerns or untoward incidents to the nurse in charge, deputy / registered placement Manager and Consultant Occupational Therapist. Ability to actively develop relationships with key members of 3rd sector, volunteer, social and leisure organisations thus enabling young people and colleagues make best use of local resources to achieve greater social inclusion for our young people. Is able to work autonomously as a sole OT within the team, can challenge assertively without aggression, can accept criticism constructively, has good interpersonal skills. Has a positive view of how to effect and implement change, can communicate effectively with colleagues and young people. Knowledge, Training and Professional Experience Have HCPC registration and ensure Standards of proficiency are adhered to, and keep a written record of continuing professional development activity. Work autonomously but in compliance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) code of ethics and professional conduct (RCOT 2021), national legal frameworks, and local clinical governance policy. Act as fieldwork educator for occupational therapy students. Identify own personal and professional needs through the local personal development review and clinical supervision process. To ensure that personal mandatory and statutory training requirements are met in accordance with national and organisational policy and guidelines. In collaboration with the young person, plan, formulate, implement and modify where necessary, a wide range of individual and/or group/community interventions to promote young peoples occupational performance, enhance ability to fulfil meaningful life roles, develop independent daily living skills, address occupational risk factors (e.g. occupational deprivation, imbalance, alienation) and promote inclusion and enable young people to connect with their local communities. Ability to evaluate the outcomes of interventions and ensure occupational therapy interventions/plans are effective and acceptable to the young person and, if appropriate, their carers/families. Absolute commitment to the involvement of young people in all aspects of care; adheres to underlying principles of co-production. Has at least 2 years experience of working in a mental health setting (community, inpatient CAHMS). Has knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation. Can describe and demonstrate a range of appropriate skills including assessment of risk. Can provide a range of appropriate occupational based assessments founded on evidence based frames of reference and models of practice. Can demonstrate the ability of therapeutic participation and can describe the importance of therapeutic boundaries. Demonstrates a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice, cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of current Equality & Diversity initiatives/policy relevant to young people. Demonstrate ability to utilising and implementing trauma informed practice/approaches within occupational therapy interventions. Analytical and Judgement Skills To contribute to the analysis and decision making in relation to young peoples environmental and occupational risks in complex situations. To support assessment, formulation and intervention for young people with complex needs, to enable effective transition to adulthood. Demonstrate the capacity to utilise confident clinical reasoning skills relating to young people asking for support and guidance when required. To embrace mental health promotion and trauma informed initiatives and encourage a positive attitude to mental health difficulties at all times. Planning and Organisational Skills To participate in the provision of an effective learning environment for students as required. Manage own work load/diary and conduct new assessments as required, working in conjunction with a whole team approach ethos. In conjunction and collaboration with young people devise effective OT intervention plans. Delegate appropriate tasks to support staff and keyworkers as required. Work effectively across 2 sites (2.7 miles between sites). Plan, devise and facilitate individual/group/community interventions. Plan and organise regular OT awareness sessions for the team to embed the value and concepts of OT. Plan and participate in OT service development projects and initiatives. Physical Skills Demonstrate and maintain skills in basic life support. To be trained in and utilise techniques and strategies for the safe physical management of children and young people (as required). Ability to use IT equipment effectively. The operational hours of the OT service are typically 9-5, Monday-Friday. Though flexible hours will be considered. Documentation Ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Professional and organisational standards, and that sensitive information is held securely. Provide timely professional reports demonstrating an experienced and informed analysis of assessment, formulation, plans for interventions, progress, and recommendations and/or advice for other workers.