Job summary
We are seeking to recruit a forward thinking, enthusiastic and highly motivated Assistant Manager to join the inpatient Occupational Therapy Vocational Rehabilitation Team, based in The Kingswood Centre (KWC), at Chase Farm Hospital.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work as a member of both the Forensic Vocational Rehabilitation Service and the wider Occupational therapy service. You will work closely with the Kingswood Centre Manager and the Clinical Specialist OT Lead to assist in delivering a robust vocational service. This is a clinical role with additional operational responsibilities. The KWC is the therapeutic, recreational, vocational and educational Centre at NLFS and is accessed by referred patients from all the wards within the forensic in-patient service, to develop skills in the above areas. The post will include running individual and group sessions and assisting in the coordination of patient engagement in activities and projects.
About us
The North London Forensic Service is the lead provider in the North London Forensic Collaborative (NLFC) - the largest specialist NHS mental health provider collaborative in England and represent a partnership between specialist forensic services within five NHS Trusts and two independent mental health providers.
The NLFS provides comprehensive mental health rehabilitation to an adult population within medium and low security for service users who present with complex mental health needs and a forensic / offending history.
The patients are individuals with diverse needs and presentations, often with psychotic symptoms, secondary diagnosis of personality disorder and can exhibit aggressive behaviour and poor insight. In addition, the post holder will work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Team and relevant outside agencies to provide a quality service, which is responsive to client's needs.
The forensic OT inpatient service is a large team of Band 8, 7, 6, 5 OTs and B4 Technical Instructors (TIs); with a wealth of experience and opportunities to share to aid learning and development.
The service is fortunate within the therapies team to have colleagues who are Peer Workers, Education, Training and Employment Advisors, Arts Therapists, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapists, Dietitians and robust clinical multi-disciplinary team colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as a member of both the Forensic Vocational Rehabilitation Service and the wider Occupational therapy service. The Kingswood Centre (KWC) is the therapeutic, recreational, vocational and educational Centre at NLFS and is accessed by referred patients from all the wards within the in-patient service, to develop skills in the above areas. The post will include provision and delivery of therapeutic activities and projects as well as some responsibilities for everyday operational management of the KWC. The successful candidate will have a good understanding of physical and mental health needs of an adult population and relevant therapeutic/vocational interventions within a mental health setting. You will work as a member of the team, able to make clinical judgements, prioritise and problem-solve, relating directly to the KWC Manager and the Clinical Specialist OT, Vocational Service Lead.
The post will involve the delivery of therapeutic and vocational activities/projects with the aim to improve the physical health and wellbeing of service users. The role will focus on improving vocational skills and addressing physical health needs through delivery of groups and individual sessions, with due regard to specific mental health and risk issues.
To post holder will assist in providing a comprehensive and effective operational management of the KWC and clinical interventions for the referred patients/caseload, including assessment, planning and delivery, focusing on physical health, vocational skills/training and their specific mental health and risk issues.
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
1. Good standard of education
2. IT skills and working knowledge of Microsoft office
3. NVQ 3 or equivalent experience and/or training
Desirable
4. Training in the specific activities relevant to client group, physical interventions, fitness, woodwork, catering
5. Understanding / training in mental health / physical health interventions.
6. An awareness of the role of CPD and Reflective practice in effectively working in this setting.
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential
7. Knowledge/ Awareness of: ? Mental health problems, learning disabilities and personality problems
8. Experience of: ? Working with adults in forensic mental health inpatient setting
9. Planning and running therapeutic groups and sessions.
10. An understanding of risk assessment and risk management
Desirable
11. Previous experience in physical health care setting
12. Experience of observing clients within activities in order to contribute to OT / PT assessments
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Essential
13. Effective IT skills and ability to do administrative tasks
14. Ability to plan, run and evaluate a range of therapeutic and vocational activities
15. Experience in practical therapeutic activity, including woodworking, horticulture and fitness
16. Ability to carry out assessments of service users within specialist area and design programme of activity accordingly
Desirable
17. Experience in contributing towards OT and service development
18. Ability to monitor and evaluate provision of therapeutic activities in specialist area and to modify and devise programmes accordingly.