The postholder will lead the Occupational therapy team in providing a comprehensive Occupational therapy assessment and group and individual interventions to the young people on the unit. The post holder will also provide Occupational therapy consultation and support to the wider multi-disciplinary team, families, schools, and networks. Although sensory training is not essential to this post, an understanding of sensory processing including assessment techniques and interventions such as the Alert programme, sensory spiders and ladders and the creation of sensory diets would be beneficial but training and support can be offered to develop these skills. Experience working in child and adolescent mental health or with children and young people in other settings including outside of work, is also desirable but not essential.

• To provide a specialist Occupational Therapy service to service users within Aquarius ward providing interventions underpinned by the Model of Human Occupation and the principles of Recovery.
• 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 an in-patient adolescent setting.
• 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 maintain standards of OT practice as directed by the Head of Therapies.
• To undertake regular audit and R&D activities.
• To undertake the supervision of OT students on fieldwork placements.
• To provide 'Disability Champion' duties leading the multi-disciplinary team in Disability Equality matters within Specialist Services as required., 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 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
• To evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions and quality of clinical decisions in conjunction with patients/carers, other professionals etc.
Communication
• To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues, school staff and other agencies.
• 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 with regard to the care and treatment of patients.
• To work in partnership with, LA, schools, voluntary and other relevant agencies to promote a seamless service.
• To educate patients and carers on occupational therapy interventions, for example, the use of equipment.
• To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.
Documentation
• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data 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 patients have access to care plans in line with local policies.
Professional ethics
• To comply with the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust procedures.
• To demonstrate continuing fitness to practice through maintaining registration with HPC and compliance with their standards.
• To respect the values, individuality, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
Leadership, supervision & development reviews
• To provide effective guidance, supervision and development review for junior staff.
• To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and KSF development review.
• To supervise other staff as delegated
• To provide Disability Equality multi-disciplinary leadership within designated services.
• To provide 'Disability Champion' duties for multi-disciplinary teams within Specialist Services as required.
• To provide support, expert advice and consultancy in relation to issues concerning the target service user group and or clinical area of expertise, to occupational therapists, other team members, relevant health professionals, and other agencies as appropriate.
Training staff & students
• To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within or external to the Trust.
• 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 when required.
Service development & delivery
• To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area, leading on designated projects, with senior support.
• To contribute to relevant professional and service development meetings and designated projects.
• To actively encourage user involvement in service development.
Professional development
• To undertake learning activities in line with personal development plan.
• To apply acquired specialist skills and knowledge in clinical practice in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practice at senior level.
• To produce evidence of the application of knowledge and skills as set out in the relevant KSF outline.
• To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD recording and reflecting on learning outcomes.
Clinical governance, quality, standards
• To contribute to the clinical governance and quality agenda including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
• To demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and apply in clinical practice.
Line management, staff, budgets, dept
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resources to carry out the job.
• To coordinate the day to day activities of junior staff where applicable.
• To participate in general administrative and co-ordination tasks as required for the smooth running of the service.
Research & practice development
• To promote and apply best evidence to service delivery.
• To undertake audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or service area, disseminating findings at local level.
• To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
  
  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. 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. About our locations: Springfield University Hospital, Tooting Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes. Clinical