Occupational Therapist

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work within both the forensic inpatient learning disability unit and our newly formed community Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (FIND) Community Team. Oak ward within the Shaftesbury clinic has 12 low secure beds for men with intellectual disabilities and autism. The OT team on Oak is comprised of a further half time B6, an 8a sensory specialist Lead OT, a part time clinical exercise therapist, and 2.6 activity support workers. The Oak ward team has a well-resourced multidisciplinary team including input from a speech and language therapist, arts psychotherapy, psychology and a positive behaviour specialist. This Oak OT team are situated within the broader inpatient therapies team, a sizeable occupational therapy team offering cross ward interventions to patients across the service. The postholder will offer both ward-based and community assessment and interventions as well as working within cross service
groups. They will work closely with the OT lead to offer support and guidance to the technical instructors and activity workers on the team.
Within the newly formed FIND team the postholder will be working alongside the MDT to offer OT assessment, formulation and provision of occupation based interventions to the team's caseload. The team will hold a small caseload for service users who require intensive levels of support., · To provide Occupational therapy input to the Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (FIND) Community Team and Oak low secure unit for men with intellectual disabilities and comorbid mental health problems.
+ To manage a defined caseload of patients with multiple and complex needs, using evidence based /person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in a community forensic and inpatient forensic service
+ To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
+ To maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records and produce specialist reports for case conferences.
+ To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal.
+ To represent occupational therapy within the multi-disciplinary team.
+ To provide group and 1:1 interventions.
+ To promote recovery and social inclusion.
+ To undertake regular audit and R&D activities.
+ To undertake the supervision of OT students on fieldwork placements.
· To develop and facilitate inpatient and community-based groups and individual interventions based on occupational needs.
· To identify appropriate opportunities to support community integration and participation for this service user group.
· To adapt interventions to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities., · To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user's social and physical environment.
· To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that these are taken into consideration when planning interventions.
· To promote equality of outcome for patients that reflect 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 and support a clinical caseload of patients with complex mental health needs through the forensic care pathway.
· To identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.
· To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situations, referring to senior staff when necessary.
· To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.
· To plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable patients 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 contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols
At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.
As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:
+ BME (Evolve) Staff Network
+ Christian Staff Network
+ DiverseAbility
+ Deaf Staff Network
+ Mental Health Staff Forum
+ Women's Staff Network
+ LGBTQIA+
We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.
Please note:
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3^rd party e-recruitment system
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust

Band 6
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.
We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' however we aim to be 'outstanding'.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".
When you join us, you'll be part of something special - an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.
As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working., We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.