Occupational Therapist - Community Learning Disabilities
Job overview
The service is looking for a highly motivated individual to work alongside the CNWL Learning Disability Community Health Team and assume the role of the BAND 5 Occupational Therapist locally within the Brent Learning Disability Community Health Team.
We believe that the best health care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams working well together and in partnership with other teams and services to provide seamless care. Occupational Therapists work as part of a team, and you will contribute to the team's success by drawing support from more experienced staff and other health professionals and ensuring adherence to the standards that the people using our services deserve.
Main duties of the job
Occupational Therapist Band 5 will work alongside the Band 7 OT to provide assessment and intervention for Brent's population with Learning Disabilities and contribute to service development and other projects. Ad hoc support for the Kingswood inpatient learning disability wards may also be needed.This will be discussed with the Service manager when required.
Working for our organisation- flexible working
- 28 days annual leave or more, depending on years of experience
- development opportunity
- CPD
- Professioanal supervison
- Induction for new staff
- To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence-based occupational therapy assessments for service users in the community to establish and meet their occupational needs.
- To explore vocational needs, offer advice and support to access community employment services related to an individual's vocational needs.
- To select and use validated standardised and non-standardised assessment tools routinely and in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments. To assess the needs of people with complex needs, including additional physical disabilities, mental ill-health, challenging behaviour and sensory processing problems.
- To apply clinical knowledge and skills to carry out evidence-based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches.
- To plan, implement, deliver training to staff and carers, and review individually tailored intervention programmes using individual and group work approaches. To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and reflect 'occupational goals'.
- To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims, objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence-based practice and with service users, carers and other professionals.
- Under the guidance of a band 7 OT, establish links with the CNWL Recovery College and support the development of an LD spoke for the learning disabilities service.
- To apply a level of understanding of the effects of learning disability and autism, and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user's social and physical environment.
- To determine the impact of mental, physical and sensory conditions on service users' functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations about providing interventions, equipment/aids and adaptations.
- To be aware of medication issues in line with the CNWL OT Medication Management guidelines.
- To follow local protocol and obtain recommended equipment and/or liaise with local equipment providers to ensure appropriate provision.
- To work in partnership with other agencies and offer supervision and guidance to external agencies as required.
- To identify carers' needs in line with national requirements.
- To support service users in relation to their physical health, employment, housing and welfare benefits issues; referring to specialist provider services as necessary. To provide OT consultation to other professionals within the team.
- To complete key performance indicators.
- To facilitate effective links with community resources so that a socially inclusive focus towards treatment and discharge planning is maintained
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- BSc Hons/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Membership of professional body
- Evidence of relevant Continuous Professional Development
- Field work educators course
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to travel between sites and visits in a timely and efficient fashion.
- Able to work efficiently in the community
Experience
Essential criteria- Relevant previous experience as a pre-reg OT
- Previous experience of working in the community / mental health services/ health care setting, as a student, health care assistant or support worker.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural context
- Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
- Experience of individual and groupwork
- clinical experience relevant to learning disabilities, community or mental health
- Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of service user
Skills
Essential criteria- Proficient standard of written communication skills – able to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English.
- Maintaining accurate, timely, and concise clinical records both electronic and handwritten which adhere to the CNWL policies
- Able to produce high quality reports
- Able to talk to people about sensitive issues in a supportive manner but also challenge others assertively where necessary
- Ability to advocate for the rights and needs of patients
- Knowledge and experience of standardized and non-standardized occupational therapy assessments
- Ability to assess complex mental health & well being needs/conditions & develop, monitor and review care plans to facilitate an individual’s recovery
- Makaton Training
- Awareness of different communication strategies for working with individuals with learning disabilities
- Experience of using powerpoint Presentation skills
- Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.