Specialist Occupational Therapist

at  South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Clinical To complete sensory assessments and interventions, including providing individualised and client-centred care plans and interventions. To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and environmental solutions to the clients social and physical needs. To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflects their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age. To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice.
This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention. To independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs To apply advanced clinical reasoning to identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) tools in conjunction with other relevant theoretical perspectives. To exercise independent clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situations, referring to team members when necessary. To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy process.
To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome. To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff To lead on the development of therapeutic programmes and to work within clinical pathways and protocols with reference to the MoHO. To facilitate training across the Trust in sensory integration and to supervise and provide support to OTs requiring this. To advise on appropriate outcome measures and evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with service users/carers, other professionals etc.
To identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, complying with London Child Protection Procedures on the management of child protection issues and those of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, making appropriate referrals and liaising closely with colleagues within Childrens Services as required. When visiting clients alone at their homes or in the community to adhere with the Trust and Team Lone Working Policies Communication To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies to promote a seamless service. To communicate with people in a manner consistent with their culture, background, and preferred ways of communicating. To work as a member of the inter-professional team, attending meetings and contributing to decisions about the care and treatment of service users.
To develop and maintain effective professional communication structures as part of staff development needs. To demonstrate and communicate the contribution of occupational therapy within the service, negotiating priorities as required. To collaborate with other professional leads so that each profession contributes effectively to the business and priorities of the trust. To establish/maintain robust communication networks with local service user and carer groups.
To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy in clinical teams, advising priorities where appropriate, through regular liaison and collaboration with locality managers/team leaders as well as the other professional leads. Documentation To ensure own and supervisees documentation and clinical records meet the minimum requirements are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards. To provide specialist occupational therapy reports on a regular basis in line with professional guidance and relevant clinical pathways. To ensure service users have access to care plans in line with local policies.
Professional ethics To adhere with the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust procedures and promote staff compliance. To demonstrate continuing fitness to practice through maintaining registration with HCPC and compliance with their standards. To respect the values, individuality, cultural and religious diversity of service users and to develop services appropriately. Leadership, supervision & development reviews To work as a senior representative of the OT profession to determine OT practice, standards, and policy in the specialist area of expertise and to implement within the Trust.
To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and PADR. To provide support, expert advice, and consultancy in relation to issues concerning the target client group &/ or clinical area of expertise, to occupational therapists, other team members, relevant health professionals, and other agencies as appropriate. To supervise OTs requiring specialist sensory integration support in their roles To undertake professional leadership as delegated by the Head of Therapies and/or the Deputy Head of Therapies. Training staff & students To undertake a clinical teaching role in fieldwork and/or in-service training programmes.
To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within and external to the Trust, ensuring that the occupational therapy aspects are addressed. To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapy students on practice placement within the Trust. The expectation is to have a minimum of one occupational therapy student a year. To undertake the role of preceptor.
To lead on Sensory training to OTs within the Trust To be trained at Level 3 Sensory Integration Network Training with commitment to working towards being fully qualified in Ayres Sensory Integration at level 5 Service development & delivery To contribute to the planning, design, and delivery of service developments in your area, leading on designated areas of OT specialism. To provide specialist occupational therapy input to the planning, implementation and review of policies and service development to support the planning and achievement of objectives in a designated area. To contribute to relevant professional and service development meetings and represent the occupational therapy service at wider forums as required. To actively encourage user involvement in service development.
Professional development To keep abreast of and apply advanced skills and knowledge to establish professional competence and fitness to practice as a clinical specialist OT. To undertake learning activities in line with personal development plan including acquiring a repertoire of leadership and practice development skills necessary to the competent fulfilment of the clinical specialist role. To produce evidence of the application of knowledge and skills. To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD recording and reflecting on learning outcomes.
To ensure that all therapy staff observe and act in accordance with the requirements of relevant statute and professional guidance. To ensure that all relevant government legislation, policies, and codes of professional practice are reflected within policies and procedures implemented within the service line. To promote a positive image of the trust and to establish appropriate professional networks within the wider professional community. Clinical governance, quality, standards To work with the Service Senior Management Team to develop and implement the clinical governance and quality agenda for the LDA service and lead on implementation as appropriate.
To interpret, apply and advise on national guidelines and legislation. To contribute to the Trusts and service lines clinical governance and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards. Line management, staff, budgets, dept To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable attendance and that of your staff. To hold delegated financial allocation/budget.
Supervise/manage OT and students on the ward. Accountable for training of students and other healthcare professionals. Leading other healthcare professionals on application of care packages and policies related to area of specialism. To be responsible for and effectively manage designated resources both staff, financial and material.
To adhere to Health and Safety guidelines and maintain safe environments and working practices. To undertake in general administrative and co-ordination tasks as required for the smooth running of the service. Research & practice development. To promote, apply and disseminate best evidence to maximise clinical effectiveness and staff development.
To contribute to the occupational therapy evidence base. To undertake audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or service area, disseminating findings at local and Trust-wide level. To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit, and research activities relevant to OT and/or service areas to promote evidence-based practice. To assume an active role in the Practice Development Network.
To liaise with professional staff within the service line with practice development responsibilities ensuring that developments in clinical practice are coordinated, complementary and help provide a holistic comprehensive approach to care. To help set up and support structures within the service line to ensure the dissemination of clinical information to promote evidence-based practice and to implement the requirements of NICE guidelines and relevant national service frameworks

Please refer the Job description for details