Job Summary
We are seeking to recruit a passionate, committed occupational therapist to join our well‑established and innovative community learning disability team.
As a learning disability occupational therapist, you will use your specialist skills and understanding of the relationship between the individual, their environment and their occupations to support people with complex health needs to live well with their learning disability. You will support the team's core business which includes assessing people’s mental and physical health, including attention to risk management and care planning, and working with families, paid carers and the wider systems that support people.
You will be joining a friendly, supportive and creative multi‑disciplinary team, dedicated to achieving great outcomes for adults with learning disabilities. We are a service that has clear agreed objectives linked to the latest national policies and are dedicated to delivering the highest quality care through evidence‑based care pathways. We are co‑located with our social work colleagues and work closely in partnership with them.
Main Duties
As an occupational therapist in our team you will provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for people referred to the service as well as contributing to the core tasks of the team.
Contributing to the management of a team caseload of individuals with complex needs, you will assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions, which will be delivered in a variety of community settings, including family homes, residential and supported living services, day services and community facilities.
You will have the flexibility to manage your workload in the community, however you will be expected to spend some time working from the central team base in Uckfield.
The successful candidate will have a passion for improving the lives of adults with learning disabilities, collaborating with colleagues and across services to deliver results, and be passionate about developing their own skills and those of colleagues. You will need to be able to manage your own diary with the ability to adapt and be flexible to suit the needs of the service.
About Us
We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.
Working in Sussex offers:
* Travel easily between the coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns.
* Embrace city life with great access to visit Brighton and London.
* With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure.
* Our organisation is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the Care Quality Commission.
* Staff survey results: 82% recognise that care for patients is our top priority, 70% value flexible working opportunities, 79% feel able to make suggestions to improve work within their team, and 77% see opportunities to show initiative.
Job Responsibilities
Requirements
* Registered with the HCPC as an occupational therapist.
* Comfortable working in a complex and varied role.
* Experienced within a relevant clinical area.
* Keen to develop specialist skills to support adults with learning disabilities, addressing mental health, physical health and behaviour support needs.
* Experience working with people with learning disabilities is advantageous.
* Based in Uckfield, primarily covering Eastbourne, Duns and Weald; willing to travel across East Sussex (and sometimes further) as required.
* 30% of the week may be spent remotely in agreement with your line manager.
* Job is 28 hours per week.
Main Duties
To provide occupational therapy interventions for referred clients using evidence‑based, client‑centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
* Manage an appropriate complex clinical caseload.
* Complete initial assessments on behalf of the team.
* Participate in the team triage rota.
* Act as a lead practitioner for designated clients.
To promote evidence‑based practice in occupational therapy and the relevant learning disability service.
* Contribute to the development of multi‑disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.
* Contribute to the provision of high‑quality practice placements.
We encourage a diverse workforce that reflects the population we serve. Applications from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and disabled communities are welcomed.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
* Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy.
* Registration with the HCPC as an occupational therapist.
Essential Knowledge/Experience
* Experience of multidisciplinary working.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.
Employer Details
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Bellbrook Centre, Uckfield, TN22 1QL
Website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/
Contact
Diane Chandler – Diane.chandler7@nhs.net – Professional lead for East Sussex occupational therapy
Sophie Gill – Sophie.gill8@nhs.net – Clinical Team Lead, Eastbourne, Downs and Weald CLDT
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