Advanced Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time, Advanced Occupational Therapist to work in Trusting Hands Gateshead, an integrated Children and Young People's mental health service working within Gateshead Children's Social Care.

This Occupational Therapist requires an in-depth knowledge and experience of adolescent mental health, child developmental and ongoing attachment and trauma issues for children and young people.

The successful candidate will be experienced in undertaking occupational therapy assessments with young people in complex situations who experience a wide range of emotional, social, and mental health difficulties. You will be a source of clinical expertise and provide information/advice on occupational engagement to other professionals, external agencies and carers using a young person's occupational profile to further understand their holistic needs.

You will be required to work creatively to support the development of individualised occupational goals to support young people to reach their full potential in education, home, in the community, and during transitions.

As this is an emerging role in this team, you will take a lead in the development and evaluation of the OT pathway within this system.

Training in sensory integration is essential. Further training in therapeutic approaches for working with this group of young people, such as sensory and attachment,Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, or systemic practice is desirable.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will:

Be a key member of the Trusting Hands integrated Trauma Informed Care service.

Be responsible for the occupational therapy contribution to a multiprofessional understanding of the holistic needs of the child.

Develop an understanding of a young person's occupational performance needs in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure, and the impact of this on their ability to explore and engage in meaningful and valued activity.

Develop an in-depth understanding of a young person's sensory needs, using this to support the young person and the system to develop adaptive strategies and environmental modifications.

Attend planning meetings, write reports, liaise with external agencies as required, and contribute to risk management and placement plans.

Establish close working relationships with education, virtual school and community partner agencies to promote engagement in meaningful and valued activity.

Work within the system to understand the impact of the environment and support with occupational adaptation and environmental modification.

Develop and scaffold the delivery of bespoke intervention packages.

Develop and deliver training packages related to this specialist area.

Work with the wider MDT to embed processes within the system to improve service delivery.

Be involved research, innovation and evaluation of Occupational Therapy in this specialist area.

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

The role will involve understanding the needs of young people in the local authority who may be considered high risk to themselves, to others or are highly vulnerable. This includes children in care (residential, foster or connected care), care leavers and those in contact with the youth justice service. As part of a wider team, the successful candidate will support consultations, assessments and formulation with professionals and carers working with children and young people to support the principles of the Integrated Care Framework outlined below.
1. Every Interaction Matters: There is a focus first on building and supporting positive collaborative relationships.
2. Children and Young People and relationships they experience are at the centre of all care they receive through genuine co-production.
3. Those spending most time with young people are the primary facilitators of change.
4. Positively influencing the day-to-day care is the basis of any intervention and primary focus of support.
5. All behaviour is understandable in context; there is a focus on developing an understanding of each CYP's behaviour and needs based on their story.