Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people’s and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

ORGANISATIONAL

• To ensure occupational therapy representation in Service decision-making and raise awareness of the contribution of occupational therapy.
• To develop and maintain effective communication structures, facilitating two-way communication on professional and service issues.
• To promote awareness of the role of the occupational therapist within clinical teams, negotiating priorities where appropriate.
• To ensure open and clear lines of communication between post holder and all other members of the team in order to develop and maintain good working relationships.
• To communicate with other professional agencies as necessary in accordance with team procedures.
• To attend and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
• To contribute to the maintenance and monitoring of resources and equipment used in the therapeutic setting. To ensure efficient use of room space and materials. To identify resource needs and raise orders for recurring materials as required.
• To maintain up to date knowledge and awareness of Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
• To work in accordance to agreed health and safety practices demonstrating management of identified risks.
• To work in accordance with safeguarding policy and procedure.
• To maintain confidentiality of any information received in your course of duties.
• To participate in the collection of data required for monitoring of performance activity and ensure team contributes as appropriate.
• Maintain standards of conduct to sustain public confidence in accordance with Trust policies.

Leadership

• To take responsibility for the recruitment and selection of occupational therapy staff, this could include creating job descriptions, advertising the posts, interviewing the staff and developing the inductions into the team.To participate on interview panels for staff within the multidisciplinary team.To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
• To provide managerial supervision to member of the Occupational Therapy team. This will include caseload and performance management and ensuring good clinical governance.
• To provide teaching, training and development opportunities for Occupational Therapy staff and to the wider multidisciplinary team.
• To support the continuing professional development of Occupational therapy team.
• To undertake appraisal/individual performance reviews with each member of the occupational therapy team and agree a personal development plan.
• To provide leadership and coordination for occupational therapy team.
• To promote the development of an Occupational Therapy service by participating in formal and informal learning opportunities for clients, carers, multidisciplinary team members and other related professionals and agencies.
• To participate in the development of protocols and procedures to ensure a high standard of occupational therapy practice.
• To attend, contribute to, and participate in the Local Quality Assurance Meetings and Clinical Governance Meetings.
• To participate in the audit process leading on audits within the Occupational Therapy Team, linking in with the clinical governance agenda

This role is split across the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Community Therapy Services, providing an exciting opportunity for career development, providing leadership for allied health professionals within secondary mental health settings.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service

MAIN DUTIES OF THE JOB

Clinical

• To be professionally accountable for the planning and delivery of occupational therapy across the Mental health acute services pathway, prioritising clinical need to provide an effective service
• To provide clinical leadership to Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistants through supervision, training and appraisal.
• To lead on and promote the best evidence-based practice in occupational therapy and mental health services.
• To assess the occupational needs of a defined client group and establish and evaluate appropriate treatment programmes.
• To ensure good discharge planning in partnership with clients, their families and other carers.
• To communicate effectively and appropriately with clients, their families and carers, and other involved agencies considering age, developmental stages as well as needs for confidentiality and safeguarding.
• To maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical work, ensuring security and confidentiality. To provide summaries and reports in relation to interventions undertaken.
• To provide specialist advice, consultation and training to other team members.
• To provide additional supervision to other staff by arrangement for development of skills across the multidisciplinary team.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner undertaking assessments, planning, implementation, evaluation and discharge of Service Users presenting with highly complex needs.