Job overview
Hounslow Mental Health Integrated Network Team (MINT) is an integrated community and outpatient mental health team committed to providing comprehensive and high-quality mental and physical health care that addresses the needs of our diverse community. We accept referrals for service users transitioning from Children & Adolescents up to Specialist Older Adults. We are currently seeking to recruit to our multidisciplinary team and are inviting applications for the position of Occupational Therapist. This opportunity will allow you to work alongside a dedicated team of professionals focused on improving the mental and physical health of our community under the Community Mental Health Framework for adults.
You will play a key role in dissolving the barriers that can exist between mental and physical health, social care, voluntary and community social enterprise (VCSE) and local communities. You will be working in secondary care, Monday to Friday, to deliver integrated, personalised, place-based and well-coordinated care for adults. We are moving towards a ‘whole system’ of mental health care, which will provide timely access to support, care and treatment.
Main duties of the job
As a community based Occupational Therapist your duties will include but not be limited to:
§ To provide a person centred occupational therapy service to a defined caseload of service users, situated within the MINT team with occupational therapists and other multi-disciplinary team members.
§ To actively develop and implement a framework of care, which reflects a holistic approach to service user needs, and the seven pillars of clinical governance.
§ To use evidence-based principles to apply clinical skills and reasoning in occupational therapy, assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation which include individual and group orientated approaches.
§ To be a resource for the team, providing occupational therapy professional guidance, and to lead on the evaluation and continued development of occupational therapy in the MINT service.
§ To provide leadership and to take responsibility for the direct supervision of less clinically experienced staff, link and peer support workers and students, including conducting Performance Development Reviews (PDR) as appropriate.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Professional qualification (BSc (Hons) or equivalent) in Occupational Therapy
2. Registered Occupational Therapist on the HCPC register
Desirable criteria
3. Registered with Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Experience
Essential criteria
4. Achieved Band 5 OT KSF sub-set
5. Achieved full KSF outline for Band 5 OT (usually second year post qualified)
6. Relevant post-qualified OT experience in Mental Health
7. Application of core OT skills and OT process
8. Multidisciplinary team working
Desirable criteria
9. Involvement in research and clinical audit
10. Experience of supervision of students and staff
11. Substantial post qualified experience as an OT (or equivalent role) in a health or social care economy or third sector setting
Knowledge
Essential criteria
12. Mental health diagnoses/presentations
13. Ability to articulate and apply relevant experience to mental health setting
14. Research methodology
15. Core skills of OT process
16. Models of practice
17. Clinical and environmental risk
18. Equality and diversity
19. Understanding of team dynamics
20. Awareness of need to work within appropriate boundaries
21. Principles of clinical governance
22. Group work theory and practice
23. Practice placement education training
24. Evidence of post-qualified training in Mental Health
25. Relevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, risk and care assessment / management
Desirable criteria
26. Clinical/case supervision training
27. Use of Model of Human Occupation or relevant Occupational Therapy Model of Practice
Skills
Essential criteria
28. Organisational ability
29. Effective written and verbal communication skills
30. Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
31. Evidence of ability in OT assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation
32. Use of standardised assessment tools and outcome measures
33. Ability to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
34. Group work skills
35. Computer literacy
36. Contribution to service development and the training of others
37. Supervisory skills
Desirable criteria
38. Ability to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences
39. Ability to apply (research) evidence-based practice
40. Ability to reflect and critically appraise others’ performance
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
41. Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/ or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence.
42. Ability to meet deadlines
43. Commitment to equal opportunities.
44. Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self-awareness
45. Willing to use peer and group supervision creatively.