Specialist Occupational Therapist – Intensive Support Team
Are you an innovative and highly motivated Occupational Therapist who wants to improve the lives and wellbeing of individuals with a Learning Disability? Then we could be the team for you!
This specialist Occupational Therapist post will enable you to use your core OT skills by promoting participation and independence in activities of daily living, whilst having the opportunity to strengthen and develop these in specialist areas such as sensory integration, positive behaviour support, trauma‑informed approaches, falls prevention, epilepsy and equipment needs.
The role sits within the Intensive Support Function of the Community Learning Disability and Health Team in Buckinghamshire. You will be joining a highly dedicated and creative Occupational Therapy service and will be encouraged and supported to undertake learning and development opportunities in both clinical and leadership fields.
Due to this being a community post access to a vehicle is essential.
Main duties of the job
The Intensive Support Team (IST) works intensively with adults (18+) with learning disabilities who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties or whose behaviours pose a challenge.
The Occupational Therapist will provide high-quality, comprehensive OT assessment and intervention for the specified service user group with complex needs.
They will work in an interdisciplinary way to assess service users' needs, devise care plans and evaluate outcomes, and carry a caseload as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
Provide clinical advice and support for service users that present with challenging behaviour and require support with their mental health.
Work directly with service users, carers, colleagues and other service providers.
Deliver training and education to other professionals, carers and families.
Continue to develop OT provision within the service and drive innovation with support from the Highly Specialist OT and Professional Lead OT.
Job responsibilities
Provide a high-quality OT service and consultation to people within the Buckinghamshire Learning Disabilities team intensive Support team.
Undertake assessments and interventions where intense and/or frequent contact is required.
Provide advice and modelling on the implementation of OT interventions in the person's current setting.
Offer hands‑on support to staff teams to improve their confidence and skill base.
Contribute to risk assessment and management plans.
Input into positive behaviour support plans and staying‑well plans for those with mental health needs.
Scaffold and support colleagues who offer flexible out‑of‑hours support to reduce the need for hospital admission.
Manage a caseload, using evidence‑based/client principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate OT interventions in clinic and community settings.
Provide specialist OT advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to a client's formulation, diagnosis and case‑management plan.
Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions using selected and graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
Help to evaluate and modify treatment to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
Ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decisions about their care.
Maintain clinical records.
Provide an effective supervision framework for OT staff and give regular supervision to allocated OT staff as per Trust policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Education & Training
* BSc/MSc/PG Diploma in Occupational Therapy
* HCPC registration
* Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages
* Completion of preceptorship and/or evidence of having met the full KSF Gateway for Band 5 OT's
* Evidence of relevant post‑graduate training
* Membership of RCOT
* SI/BBAT training
* Broad base of clinical experience
Previous Experience
* Post‑registration experience in a relevant clinical setting
* Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
* Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or other appropriate tools
* Experience of other specialist OT assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels
* Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others
* Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and direct involvement of implementation of subsequent changes to practice
* Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
Communication Skills
* Strong communication skills, written and verbal, and the ability to persuade and negotiate with peers and senior colleagues
* Proven track record of working within a multidisciplinary team and an understanding of team dynamics
* Knowledge and application of key policy, health legislation and guidelines which impact on OT and mental health/LD practice
* Ability to provide and receive sensitive and difficult information regarding service user care and social situation
* Knowledge of and effective use of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
* High level of ability to grade and adapt practical skills
* Evidence of delivery of training and professional development sessions
* Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
Analytical Skills
* Ability to apply broad knowledge of current best practice in OT and mental health
* A high level of problem solving/clinical judgement skills and the ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
* Ability to respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users
* Highly developed observational skills
* Highly developed ability to evaluate group interventions and outcomes
* Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others
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.
Salary and Contract
£39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata
Permanent
Full‑time
Job location: Midshires Business Park, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury, HP19 8HL
Reference number: 367-LD&F-101211
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