Occupational Therapist - Community Mental Health Team

The successful candidate will work within the CMHT, embedding the principles of Occupational Therapy by using the philosophy of occupation within a recovery framework. The role will offer the chance for some service development opportunities as well as supervision of junior staff and students.
The role is part of an Occupational Therapy Team. The OT's are based within a multi-disciplinary team and as such some team responsibilities of a clinical nature are required., + Works without direct supervision to assess, plan, implement and evaluate Occupational Therapy interventions with autonomy in secondary care and community settings to include lone working e.g. patients own home.
+ To manage a defined caseload, using evidence based/client centred principles within the occupational model.
+ To develop expertise in identified clinical areas.
+ To provide leadership through supervision, induction, training and education of Band 5 Occupational Therapists, support staff and volunteers according to organisational policy and accepted professional standards.
+ To demonstrate a commitment to the education of Occupational Therapy students ensuring the maintenance of clinical standards through regular supervision of students on practice placement
+ To work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team and with voluntary organisations, local authority and other appropriate health and social care sectors to negotiate care provision across the primary/secondary care interface
+ To maintain clinical records in accordance with legal requirements and professional standards., + Applies specialist knowledge of Occupational Therapy across a range of procedures that are underpinned by theory, evidence based practice and continued professional development.
+ Applies clinical reasoning and problem solving skills/techniques.
+ Within an identified area, assumes professional autonomy, responsibility and accountability to implement Occupational Therapy to enable the service user to maximise function, promote independence, health and well-being.
+ Works to the remit of professional role and responsibilities within a multi-disciplinary professional and multi-agency context.
+ Prioritises workload and takes an increased responsibility for management of self and caseload
+ Identifies and assesses of occupational needs/problems
+ gathers information from a wide range of sources and analysis through observational interview and individual discussion;
+ uses standardised and non-standardised assessment tools to identify occupational and functional needs in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure;
+ accurately records assessment method and outcome, professional judgement and decisions taken;
+ from the results of the preliminary assessments and in consultation with the client, identifies the need for further assessment, appropriate intervention and/or negotiates with other services/agencies to meet additional care needs.
+ Makes judgements/decisions and formulates specific management plans for meeting needs:
+ based on the assessment results and through negotiation with the client, agrees the goals and priorities of intervention and the methods to be adopted in relation to self-care, productivity and leisure;
+ understands and applies motivational principles to gain co-operation of others.
+ Considers the range of interventions that are appropriate/feasible
+ selects, develops and initiates individual occupational therapy interventions which could be utilised taking into account the unique and specific therapeutic needs of clients and carers;
+ uses graded occupations as an essential aspect of the ongoing assessment and treatment.
+ Monitors and evaluates the ongoing effectiveness of the occupational therapy intervention plan through a reflective model demonstrating:-
+ knowledge to measure and reflect critically on practice
+ skills in relation to analysis of outcomes.
+ Applies fine motor skills to include high levels of dexterity and hand eye coordination e.g. use of fine tools relevant to cognitive/perceptual tests.
+ Demonstrates the ability to accept the standards of others without prejudice and regardless of race, religion, politics, socio-economic background and lifestyle
+ Demonstrates attitudes that ensure the expressed needs and choices of clients and carers become the focus of the care management process.
2. COMMUNICATION
o Effectively reports information regarding condition and functional performance with members of the Occupational Therapy and multidisciplinary teams, client, carers and families on an individual and/or group basis.
o Ensures that accurate and up to date records are maintained and reviewed as per professional and legal requirements.
o Demonstrates the ability to be proactive and contribute to the debate of professional issues.
o Demonstrates IT skills in order to produce reports and set up appropriate spreadsheets and databases.
3. MANAGEMENT
+ Takes a role in supervisory management including responsibilities for management of department.
+ Critically appraises the impact of Occupational Therapy in a variety of settings and makes recommendations for any changes to the Occupational Therapy service delivery through the management structure.
+ Responsible for maintaining stock, advising on resources to carry out the job, including the responsible management of petty cash and patient valuables.
4. QUALITY AND SAFETY
+ Delivers a comprehensive Occupational Therapy service using the established theories, models, frameworks and concepts of occupational therapy and the current evidence underpinning practice at all levels
o national/European - considers appropriate legislation affecting health and social care e.g. National Service Frameworks (NSF) and cultural diversity within the community.
o professional - works to the Profession's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and to the Statement of Conduct of the Occupational Therapists' Board and Standards of Practice including
o organisational- demonstrates an understanding of specific policies/protocols.
o departmental - works to specific departmental protocols and policies.
+ Contributes to the Directorate and Occupational Therapy Service Clinical Governance arrangements and quality agenda
+ Develops a credible and professional contribution to the organisation by engaging in personal development planning and continuing professional development.
+ Participates in clinical audit procedures, interprets the outcomes and relates to the practice of occupational therapy as part of the uni and inter-professional evaluative process.
+ Demonstrates the ability to effectively appraise literature and to identify research methodologies and apply statistical information and other data to inform an evidence base for practice.
+ Participates in the collection and interpretation of statistics in relation to performance reporting.
+ Shares acquired knowledge and skills with others using various teaching and presentational skills and methods e.g. PowerPoint.
+ Contributes to the development of standards and outcome measurement for good practice.
5. BIO-PSYCHOSOCIAL
+ On a daily basis, demonstrates the ability to maintain high levels of concentration, alertness and awareness in unpredictable environments and clinical settings to include lone worker situations in the community.
+ Demonstrates an ability to emotionally adapt and adopt an empathetic approach to distressing circumstances e.g. profound disability, death, bereavement and information from traumatised clients.
+ Demonstrates the abilities to deal appropriately with adverse environmental conditions (such as when undertaking home visits, e.g. cold, damp, infestation, etc.) and unavoidable hazards (e.g. aggressive behavior of patients or carers) with due regard for responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act.
MANAGING YOUR APPLICATION:
We are committed to promoting inclusion, where all staff have a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from everyone and recognise the need for our workforce to represent the diversity of the population we serve. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment where staff treat one another with dignity and respect and where diversity is celebrated. We aim to create a working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential no matter their disability, sex, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity or marriage and civil partnership status. We are keen to break down barriers in the UHB, and encourage applications from under-represented groups.
Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh. Any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
The UHB reserves the right to close this vacancy after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. Therefore, we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this post.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health
and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is "Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together". We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board's Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic
objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in
the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the
next decade and beyond.
We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:
+ We are kind and caring
+ We are respectful
+ We have trust and integrity
+ We take personal responsibility
As an organisation we strongly believe that it is vital our leaders exhibit the behaviours and values that we expect from all our staff.
We are a teaching Health Board with close links to the university sector, and together we are training the next generation of healthcare professionals, while working on research that will hopefully unlock the cures for today's illnesses
Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 1,2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12 per hour - £23,465 per annum. This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2024/25 is confirmed, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.