Community Occupational Therapist

The post holder will hold a case load and work as an occupational therapist across Haringey community services, to provide assessment, plan and implement interventions, evaluate treatment and ensure safe discharge. The post holder will provide both specialist occupational therapy assessments and offer a strengths based, recovery focused approach with the aim of enhancing daily living skills, and engagement in meaningful and purposeful activities for service users across the community. The occupational therapist will work across services providing specific time limited interventions with clear goals established with the service user and in conjunction with the supporting clinical team.
The post holder will work with service users who have complex and substantial needs, often working with persons with dual diagnosis and coexisting conditions including physical health needs. Having a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, 1983 (amended 2007) will be required as the post holder will support service users return to or adjust to new accommodation in the community following admission to hospital and with the aim of preventing hospital admissions.
The post holder will work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams and relevant outside agencies, as well as with a Band 6 occupational therapist to provide a quality service, which is responsive to client's occupational needs., + To carry a case load for which you have clinical responsibility, supported by band 6 OT, Team lead and multi-disciplinary teams.
+ Using an evidenced based approach assess client's needs, establish aims and objectives, and plan Occupational Therapy treatment programme in consultation with members of the multi-disciplinary teams, involving the client in decisions regarding appropriate interventions.
+ To carry out a range of standardised/non-standardised assessments, e.g MOHOST and other MOHO assessments, Sensory Profile , in accordance with OT Pathway to provide a baseline for OT with clear treatment objectives
+ To provide both specific individual assessment and treatment when indicated, involving motivating and adapting sessions and approach to allow full occupational participation
+ To plan, run and evaluate treatment sessions using graded activities to achieve treatment aims.
+ To maintain a flexible approach to treatment sessions, modifying activities, according to the fluctuating clinical presentation of the service user.
+ To attend multi-disciplinary clinical meetings, to support and share information regarding professional practice with other disciplines and work in collaboration to provide a coordinated package of care and in compliance with the care programme approach as necessary
+ To actively contribute to the risk assessment process

Working for our organisation
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
Our vision
Our vision is embedded within our clinical strategy. We want to help people live, love, do.
+ Live - A safe and secure place to call home
+ Love - Re-building relationships which may have broken down during a period of illness
+ Do - Help people to find a meaningful activity - that may be getting back into employment or further education
Our values
+ Compassion
+ Respect
+ Being Positive
+ Working together
NHS VALUES, Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust is committed to treating all of our staff and patients with dignity and respect. You are responsible for behaving in a way that is consistent with these aims. This includes not discriminating unfairly in any area of your work and not harassing or otherwise intimidating other members of staff., 1. To carry a case load for which you have clinical responsibility, supported by band 6 OT, Team lead and multi-disciplinary teams.
2. Using an evidenced based approach assess client's needs, establish aims and objectives, and plan Occupational Therapy treatment programme in consultation with members of the multi-disciplinary teams, involving the client in decisions regarding appropriate interventions.
3. To carry out a range of standardised/non-standardised assessments, e.g MOHOST and other MOHO assessments, Sensory Profile , in accordance with OT Pathway to provide a baseline for OT with clear treatment objectives
4. To provide both specific individual assessment and treatment when indicated, involving motivating and adapting sessions and approach to allow full occupational participation.
5. To adapt activities and assessment to facilitate persons with Cognitive difficulties, Language difficulties, Social skills deficits and Challenging behaviour, to work with interpreters where required
6. To be work with teams to assess suitability of accommodation and housing need to give OT feedback to MDT and other agencies as appropriate including assessing and writing reports on Activities of Daily Living
7. To plan, run and evaluate treatment sessions using graded activities to achieve treatment aims.
8. To maintain a flexible approach to treatment sessions, modifying activities, according to the fluctuating clinical presentation of the service user.
9. To attend multi-disciplinary clinical meetings, to support and share information regarding professional practice with other disciplines and work in collaboration to provide a coordinated package of care and in compliance with the care programme approach as necessary
10. To actively contribute to the risk assessment process
11. To be aware of current legislation regarding the safeguarding, and to have a thorough understanding of the Unit and Trust's policies in relation to them.
12. To ensure that relevant records, reports and treatment statistics are kept up to date and to a competent standard in line with professional guidelines, Trust policy, performance requirements and established service systems.
13. To maintain adequate electronic clinical records and to write specific occupational therapy reports as necessary.
14. To be involved in service wide initiatives and developments as delegated by the Principle OT.
15. Liaise with external agencies and BEH trust services to support individuals in transition back to work, education or other meaningful and purposeful occupations.
16. To regularly carry out home visits and work with clients in the community and at their accommodation.
MANAGERIAL AND DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To work with senior staff; service and OT and Therapy Lead, to input to the design and evaluate appropriate systems for referral, case load management and review.
2. To supervise students as required and assist in the induction of new team members as delegated by service leads.
3. To encourage good staff communication and participation in staff meetings, teaching sessions and multi-disciplinary meetings and take turns in presenting.
4. To work in alignment with the operational policy and other relevant procedures and protocols.
5. To participate in audit as required within the OT and community services.
6. To maintain regular statistical information for timely submission as required by the service and Trust.
7. To be actively involved in service development and quality improvement
8. Be responsible for following Trust procedure on petty cash.
9. To manage the duties and responsibilities associated with a clinical caseload within required time constraints.
10. To be considerate to and work within principles of sustainability - giving consideration to financial, social and environmental impacts of service delivery.
COMMUNICATION:
1. To work with clients using in a professional manner communicating clearly role of occupational therapy, and using an empathetic approach that support clients to engage in a therapeutic process
2. To professionally manage and communicate sensitive or contentious information adhering to associated policies and protocols
3. Liaising with appropriate staff and organisations to plan and carry out activities with service users
4. Using appropriate methods and channels of communication when dealing with complex staff issues or work planning/scheduling
5. To be able to identify appropriate community services and build effective working relationships with a range of community organisations and be able to work therapeutically with clients in public spaces.
1. Effective written communication skills to includes reports, assessments, supervision notes and service updates
2. Effective verbal communication skills to include interactions with patients, MDT, families/carers, interpreters, supervisees, a wide variety of agencies and organisations.
8. To use appropriate language and terminology based on whether communication is routine, complex or sensitive in nature.
PATIENT/CUSTOMER CARE (IF APPLICABLE) (BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT)
1. Detailed in clinical and managerial responsibilities above
1. Use a person centred, strengths based approach that is sensitive to client need
2. To ensure that assessment and interventions are planned and agreed with service users
3. To ensure the client is considered within the context of their social and community network
4. Demonstrates knowledge of Mental Health conditions
5. Demonstrates knowledge of the mental health sections
6. Demonstrate a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and patients
8. To ensure that communication and interventions are culturally sensitive and appropriate
PEOPLE (HR) MANAGEMENT
1. Detailed in clinical and managerial responsibilities above
1. Demonstrate a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and patients
2. To act as a fieldwork educator, where appropriate taking students, taking regular clinical placements under the guidance of the department lead. This role includes providing weekly supervision, setting learning objectives, monitoring performance and completing formal placement reports
3. To link with the college to arrange visits and any performance issues
4. To link with the department and wider MDT to negotiate student timetable, explain student learning needs and gain feedback regarding performance.
6. To demonstrate a commitment to working within an diverse and inclusive organization
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
1. Detailed in clinical and managerial responsibilities above
2. To pursue own continuous professional development and to record this through a CPD portfolio
3. To be involve in available research opportunities with support from clinical and academic teams.
4. To be a reflective practitioner, evaluating the effectiveness of own work and learning from experience including proactive use of supervision and appraisal process
5. To regularly update own clinical knowledge through training, clinical discussion and literature review
6. To enhance own understanding of the evidence base for the OT interventions
7. To maintain regular statistical information for timely submission as required by the trust
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
1. To implement the operational policy and other relevant procedures and protocols for the department
2. To identify and develop relevant groups, if required, for the service user needs, developing protocols for such groups based on the best evidence as appropriate
3. To actively be involved in developing, reviewing or implementing protocol and policy
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
1. To actively be involved in service developments and changes
2. To be involved in department, service and trust quality improvement as appropriate
3. To ensure that service users perspectives are gained and listened to in service improvement
4. To be involved in available research opportunities within the services
5. To have regular meetings with the department lead to consider leadership roles and to input into the developing and maintaining a positive working culture.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1. To be responsible for maintaining resources required for interventions and running of service
1. To ensure resources are used and recycled in line with sustainability principles
2. To consider use and type of resources in line with sustainability principles
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
1. Working knowledge of the occupational therapy process including OT assessment tools i.e. MOHOST, ACIS.
2. To ensure safe use and storage or equipment and materials.
3. To participate in audit as required with the service.
4. To demonstrate and understand the appropriate use of security systems as required i.e alarms, keys, access
5. To have relevant IT skills to complete reports and assessments and document clinical notes.

1. Specialist skills and ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills for maintaining safe and therapeutic environments are required of all staff working in urgent care, which includes vigilance at all times on issues of safety and security, the capability to de-escalate the risk of violence, and the ability and capacity to deliver clinical care in locked, and sometimes distressing circumstances.
2. Ability to sustain demands of working with a challenging and emotive client group
3. To be able to offer training and teaching to other staff, students and outside agencies appropriate to clinical development, to present and represent the OT department to the wider service and to raise the profile of the OT through formal and informal education.
4. To be aware of limitations of own clinical knowledge and seek advice as necessary.

Thank you for your interest for the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT), it is an exciting time to join us and being part of our journey to improve mental health care across North London and deliver excellent services to our local people. We will achieve this through the North London Way, as we:
+ Collaborate at every level by living our Values to create the right conditions for us all to work together.
+ Develop our new Trust culture, to help make our new Trust a great place to work and to receive great care.
+ Empower our teams to lead the planned improvements in our services, by skilling them and giving them the tools to make the changes.
+ Focus on delivering excellence at every level to improve our performance and ensure consistently high-quality care across all our services.
+ Ensure that research, Quality Improvement, and technology lead the way and are embedded in our services.
+ Take a trauma informed approach to everything we do
We proactively welcome diversity in our workforce and pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer. We aim to recruit from our local communities and provide opportunities to all including apprenticeships, veterans, care leavers and more.
The North London Way to deliver, Better Mental Health, Better Lives, Better Communities.
Our trust website is: https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk