Senior Occupational Therapist - Learning Disabilities Team
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Occupational therapist to join the Community Learning Disability Team.
This is a team who is forward thinking and wants the best care for people with a learning disability.
The role purpose is to provide a community based specialist occupational therapy service toadults with a learning disability in accordance with the principles set out inValuing People.
Referrals to learning disability occupational therapy teamare made when the primary reason for referral, relates to the effect of thelearning disability, upon the persons occupational performance and engagement.
The Occupational Therapy team liaise with colleagues in other healthservices to ensure fair access to mainstream health services. Theoccupational therapy team is part of a multi-disciplinary learning disabilityteam working across the city.
Main duties of the job
To manage a caseload of clients with complex needs, including those withcomplex distressed behaviour / dual diagnosis, using evidence based/clientcentred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. Thiswill include lone working for long periods of time.
To be responsible for implementing occupational therapy interventionthrough both individual and group therapy.
To work closely with other clinicians within the learning disabilitiesteam. Additionally with appropriate other persons within theindependent/voluntary sector. To be a point of contact and advice forOccupational Therapy for adults with a Learning Disability.
To be responsible for the planning, development, evaluation andmaintenance of Occupational Therapy services within the Learning Disabilitiesteam/Livewell Southwest holding additional responsibility for defined projects.
To provide leadership for junior staff and occupational therapy studentsthrough supervision and appraisal.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job responsibilities
1CLINICAL
1.1To manage autonomously,an individual caseload of clients with complex needs. This may include clientswith additional physical health needs, behaviours that challenge and mentalhealth needs.
1.2To beresponsible for assessing, planning and implementing, monitoring and evaluatingclient centred individual and/or group interventions using specialised occupationaltherapy assessments and approaches, such as environmental and sensory assessments.
1.3To developindividual programmes of care working with the client, carers and other membersof the multi-disciplinary team.
1.4To provideadvice to staff, clients and carers relating to clinical interventions, policyand service development.
1.5To activelyengage in the training of staff, families and carers.
1.6To beresponsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapystudents on practice placements within the organisation.
1.7To contributeto the recruitment, induction and training of other staff and students bothwithin or external to the organisation.
1.8To provide supervision including practice, caseload,line management and appraisals to junior staff as agreed with clinical lead.
1.9To ensure thatcontemporaneous, written and electronic records, specialist occupationaltherapy reports and activity data are maintained in accordance withprofessional and organisation standards.
1.10To liaise andcommunicate with clients, carers, other disciplines, professionals and otheragencies using appropriate and accessible methods.
1.11 To activelypromote awareness of the role of the occupational therapist within the team. Toliaise, plan, coordinate with and refer to other professional staff andagencies as appropriate, to provide an integrated service to the client.
1.12 To activelyengage in line-management, clinical, professional and peer supervision both asa supervisor and supervisee.
1.13 To assess andorder appropriate materials/equipment when necessary. Demonstrate and teach thesafe use of materials/equipment in an appropriate manner to clients and/orcarers. Maintain equipmentinventory and ensure equipment is used and stored inline with infection controlpolicies.
2ADMINISTRATION
2.1To adhere toall policies and standards of Livewell Southwest in general and of the learningdisabilities team in particular. To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics andProfessional Conduct and national policies and procedures.
2.2 To plan andprioritise own workload in accordance with point 2.1.
2.3To co-ordinate,attend and contribute to clinicalmeetings as appropriate including staff meetings.
2.4To beresponsible for the planning and implementation of policy and servicedevelopment within the occupational therapy team, leading on delegatedprojects.
2.5To beresponsible for contributing to policy development in line with Governmentdirectives including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
2.6To be aware of,and adhere to, the correct procedures for ordering, maintaining and usingmaterials and equipment.
3SELF DEVELOPMENT
3.1In line withlocal guidelines review and reflect on own practice and performance through effectiveuse of clinical, professional, peer and line management supervision andappraisal.
3.2In line withHCPC Standards of Proficiency, to demonstrate ongoing personal developmentthrough participation in internal and external development opportunities,reflecting and recording learning outcomes.
3.3To undertakeresearch and/or audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or thelearning disability service and to disseminate findings.
3.4 Tobroaden research and development skills through participation in local auditand research projects.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Knowledge of government law and policy with regards to services for people with Learning Disabilities including those with complex needs (Mental Health Act; Mental Capacity Act; Safeguarding).
* Knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches and assessments applicable to people with a learning disability and underlying causes of distressed behaviour.
* Knowledge and understanding of risk assessments.
* Evidence of specialist knowledge, e.g.
* Model of Human Occupation
* Specialist Occupational Therapy Assessments and interventions
* Knowledge and training in Breakaway techniques
* Specialist Knowledge of government law and policy with regards to services for people with Learning Disabilities including those with complex needs (Mental Health Act; Mental Capacity Act; Safeguarding).
* Understanding of group processes /dynamics.
Skills and Knowledge
* Good organisational, leadership and motivational skills.
* Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
* Ability to communicate complex information well both verbally and in writing.
* Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients and carers with reassurance.
* Ability to adapt information into an accessible format.
* Analytical and problem solving skills.
* Ability to work alone and on own initiative working within the Occupational Therapy code of practice and professional guidelines, seeking guidance when necessary.
* Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
* Ability to build effective working relationships.
* Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
* Adaptable, flexible and innovative.
* Good concentration.
* Ability to work under pressure in unpleasant and unpredictable environments when necessary.
* Commitment to person centred, non-discriminating practice.
* Ability to maintain HCPC registration including compliance with fitness to practices, including ability to recognise and manage stressful and demanding situations.
* Experience of using Total Communication Principles i.e Pictures, symbols, Makaton etc.
* Experience of audit procedures.
* Presentation and training skills.
* Membership of Professional Body and/or Specialist Interest Group
* Excellent assessment skills, including undertaking an holistic and/or eligibility assessment of a persons needs to inform decision making by the MDT.
* Ability to provide case management for people who are health funded, where identified appropriate.
* Using an SBARD format to summarise written information to share with MDT.
* Experienced in using Total Communication Principles i.e. Pictures, symbols, Makaton etc.
Qualifications
* Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
* Valid registration with the HCPC
* Evidence of on-going training/ development in the theory and practice of Occupational Therapy.
* Postgraduate training in theory and application of Sensory Integration
* Formal training in Sensory Processing
* Other post graduate training relevant to post.
Experience
* Experience of working with adults with complex needs.
* Experience of working within a community setting.
* Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner managing a caseload and working within identified priorities.
* Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
* Experience and understanding the different types of supervision.
* Experience of using a range of computer applications (including Microsoft or equivalent) and recording systems.
* Experience of change management, understanding the need and supporting changes within practice etc...
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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