Job Summary
A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and innovative Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist (OT) to join the Specialist Learning Disability in-patient services based at Kingfisher Court in Hertfordshire. The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary specialist learning disability health team, supporting adults with a learning disability admitted to hospital to meet their mental health needs. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions, receive regular clinical supervision, and be encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities.
About Us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation, one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission. With over 4000 staff and a service user base of 400,000, HPFT delivers community and inpatient mental health and specialist learning disability services, including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, and medium and low secure learning disabilities services. Our values are Welcoming, Kind, Positive, Respectful and Professional.
Job Locations
* Kingfisher Court, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ
Job Details
Band: Band 7 – Salary: £50,008 to £56,908 a year (pro rata, inclusive of 5% HCAS). Contract: Permanent – Working pattern: Full‑time. Reference number: 367‑LD&F‑9946.
Key Relationships
* Service users and carers
* Occupational Therapists and OT team members, both within the service and across the Trust network
* Multi‑Disciplinary Team members (interdisciplinary)
* Other statutory and non‑statutory service providers involved in service user care and treatment
* Wider regional and national professional groups and networks
* Team and divisional managers
* Corporate departments
Duties and Responsibilities
* Manage a caseload of clients with highly complex OT needs, using evidence‑based, client‑centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic, community and home visit settings.
* Provide leadership for junior staff through supervision and appraisal.
* Lead in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services, holding responsibility for defined projects where appropriate.
* Supervise OT students on practice placement following attendance at an approved Practise Educators course.
* Mentor staff enrolled on the OT apprenticeship.
* Engage in 1:1 and peer supervision, including Sensory Integration supervision.
* Apply in‑depth knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other standardised assessment approaches relevant to the clinical setting.
* Undertake case formulation after specialist assessment, highlighting occupational strengths and limitations and informing the intervention plan.
* Collaborate with service users to identify OT goals as part of the overall recovery plan.
* Provide interventions consistent with Trust standards and values.
* Provide detailed feedback to the MDT regarding observed occupational performance throughout contact, informing ongoing assessment and therapeutic intervention.
* Provide highly specialist support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of OT (equipment fitting, rehabilitation programmes, sensory issues, activity‑based symptom management).
* Maintain clinical records using the electronic patient record system.
* Liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant.
* Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
* Attend mandatory training.
* Comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust policies.
* Review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
* Maintain a professional portfolio for CPD, recording learning outcomes through participation in internal/external development opportunities.
* Actively participate in the Trust OT Continued Professional Development and training programmes and opportunities, both as a learner and a facilitator.
* Actively promote OT through scholarly activities (presenting posters, writing articles, attending special interest groups and conferences).
* Be responsible for recruitment and retention of staff.
* Work flexibly in line with the needs of the service, including evenings and weekends if required.
Clinical Responsibility
* Lead on identifying individual OT goals and work with colleagues to support them to work towards these.
* Provide highly specialist OT advice, intervention and support to service users and their carers.
* Provide timely updates and feedback to the clinical team regarding the service user’s wellbeing and occupational performance.
* Provide detailed specialist OT reports when required, within the designated clinical area.
* Seek out and use latest evidence‑based practice to engage service users in meaningful and appropriate activities, promoting independence, recovery and well‑being and demonstrating OT effectiveness.
* Have senior oversight of the occupational needs of the specific service user group and develop services accordingly.
* Demonstrate and apply a highly specialist level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the client’s physical and social environment.
* Ensure that up‑to‑date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
* Undertake risk assessments within the clinical area as guided by local/Trust policies.
* Report incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and compliments.
* Work effectively as a senior member of a team in providing a highly specialised OT service to the designated area.
* Actively participate in /lead safety huddles and de‑brief sessions as appropriate.
* Support with purchasing of equipment and ensure training needs around their use are identified to relevant persons and sought accordingly.
Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility
* Review and reflect on personal practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
* Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistently reliable attendance.
* Oversee the OT rota, managing leave and sickness.
* Oversee risk assessments and well‑being plans for staff within the OT team.
* Lead the day‑to‑day delivery of OT services within your area of practice including delegation of tasks to staff.
* Demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
* Lead in the coordination of induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting as appropriate.
* Be responsible for ensuring the supervision of OT staff as appropriate.
* Deputise for the Band 8a OT or senior equivalent as required.
* Work effectively as a senior member of the wider LD Assessment and Treatment Unit team.
Person Specification – Previous Experience (Essential)
* Manage a caseload of clients with highly complex OT needs.
* Detailed knowledge of evidence‑based practice and its contribution to practice governance.
* Extensive clinical experience and ability to demonstrate application of advanced clinical skills.
* Evidence of facilitating therapist, assistants and student development through effective supervision.
* Experience of working within a Learning Disability setting.
* Planning and coordination of treatment packages.
* Leadership experience.
Qualifications / Education / Training (Essential)
* Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
* Registration with HCPC.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Post‑graduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities.
* An in‑depth knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other standardised assessment approaches relevant to the clinical setting and post‑qualifications linked to this.
* Evidence of providing highly specialist support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of OT (equipment fitting, rehabilitation programmes, sensory issues, activity‑based symptom management).
* Sensory Integration training – SI Practitioner.
Communications, Analytical and Other Skills – Essential
* Clear and effective communication through written, verbal and non‑verbal modes.
* Broad knowledge of current best practice in OT, Learning Disabilities and mental health.
* Understanding of team dynamics, group work skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
* Ability to identify and analyse problems and be proactive in their solution.
* Applied knowledge of mental health legislation, risk assessment and management, and OT outcome measures.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer Details
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Kingfisher Court, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ
Employer's Website
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
#J-18808-Ljbffr