Specialist Occupational Therapist (Learning Disabilities Service)

NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH&C's "compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels", the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community., · To be an active member of the integrated multi-disciplinary community team for people with learning disabilities.
· To be responsible for a caseload of clients with complex needs, using evidence based/person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
· To provide clinical supervision and clinical leadership to other Occupational Therapy staff as required.
· To be part of the planning, development and evaluation of Specialist Occupational Therapy services across the county to help ensure the consistency of high quality and efficient clinical services.
· To deliver services in line with the appropriate clinical pathways/specification requirements.
· To provide practice placements for Occupational Therapy students, as required, Clinical
1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the post holder's work, including the management of people under the post holder's professional care.
2. Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments of people with a learning disability, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills deficits, enabling the individual in areas of self- maintenance, productivity and leisure.
3. Using skills in both verbal and non-verbal communication, undertake specialist assessments, with individuals whose presentation is complicated by factors associated with learning disability e.g. sensory processing difficulties, challenging behaviours, physical disability and mental health issues.
4. To promote awareness of the Specialist Occupational Therapy role and care pathways within Learning Disabilities Services, the Trust, other professionals and with people with learning disabilities and their carers.
5. To hold a time limited caseload of people with learning disabilities who require services in line with the appropriate Specialist Occupational Therapy pathways.
6. To formulate and execute individualised Occupational Therapy management and treatment/intervention plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills.
7. To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and the overall team care plan for the individual.
8. To disseminate person centred advice effectively to people with learning disabilities and to their carers (paid or unpaid) and staff (qualified/unqualified) and in their chosen and appropriate format
9. To act as a Care Programme Approach Coordinator, where appropriate, for people with complex healthcare needs who require ongoing monitoring and support due to the complexity and unpredictability of their health needs.
10. To research and recommend the prescription of appropriate equipment.
11. To inform General Practitioners of Occupational Therapy recommendations
12. To undertake, record and review thorough client centred risk assessments.
13. To ensure timely and appropriate referral to other specialists.
14. To contribute to the provision of a seamless service between acute and community services.
15. To work with parents who have a learning disability including the participation in Child Protection meetings, complying with all relevant guidelines and legislation.
16. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework where people lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
17. To apply a good level of understanding of the effect of disability, and provide training and expert advice to individual patients, family and paid carers, and multi-disciplinary team colleagues on Occupational Therapy.
18. To contribute and participate in person-centred meetings, chairing and/or taking formal minutes as necessary.
19. To promote access to mainstream services, supporting other professionals understanding of learning disabilities and reasonable adjustments.
20. To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to department and Trust manual handling policies, and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others.
21. To be able to communicate with people who do not use speech, using alternative forms of communication.
22. To establish good communication networks with people who use the service, carers and other health workers and agencies
Professional
23. To deputise for the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy at appropriate meetings as requested by the Lead.
24. Adhere to the Trust supervision policy and participate in regular clinical supervision.
25. To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisal for Occupational Therapy staff within the team, in order to manage their performance and ensure they provide the highest quality of service.
26. Accept responsibility for the delivery of the service, to organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of time.
27. To maintain waiting lists in accordance with the services procedures and actively work to reduce these through innovative changes to service delivery and appropriate challenge.
28. To assist in the development of clinical standards, policies, procedures and further service developments
29. To inform the Professional Lead of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact in relation to the need for service development. To work to resolve these issues with relevant others
30. To participate in Clinical Governance, Research and Development and Audit activities as required by line manager and Head of Service.
31. To educate and train Occupational Therapy students
32. To monitor equipment/resource levels in own service area and request new equipment/resources as appropriate.
33. To assist in keeping assessment, treatment and information materials and equipment up-to-date, safe (following infection control procedures) and in good order, informing the Professional Lead of needs and opportunities identified.
34. To be aware of and adhere to services policies, procedures and system to be used.
35. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with professional and NCHC/NCC standards, and these are reviewed regularly as part of the clinical supervision sessions.
Equal Opportunities - We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. Additionally, people with disabilities that fall under the Disability Confident Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). All sites are Smoke Free.
Immigration Status - Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against Skilled Worker visas. If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before making an application.
Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.
Redeployment - Please note that in the first instance priority for this vacancy will be given to NCH&C staff who are on the Trusts Redeployment Register.
DBS - If this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and you are not a current employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust or being recruited as an Apprentice then the cost of the DBS check will be automatically removed from your first month's salary. However if you are registered with the update service this may not be required.

Due to internal promotion an exciting opportunity has become available within the North Learning Disability Service.
This is a part time post (between 22.5 and 30 hours a week depending on your preference). You will be required to work on Fridays.
You will be supported by an experienced band 6 OT, and work with a band 5 OT and Therapy Assistant Practitioner (TAP). You will be part of an experienced wider MDT, including health and social care colleagues, and managed by the Health Team Manager.
The team use electronic notes which allows some remote working from home.
The team is located at the Simpson Centre, which has plenty of free car parking.