Main area Occupational Therapist Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 350-SC187339
Employer Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Willis House Town Prescot Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 11/03/2026 23:59
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Band 6
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
Job overview
We are looking to recruit a Specialist Occupational Therapist to join St Helens Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT), a well established multi-disciplinary team (MDT) providing support to service users within the boroughs of St Helens and Knowsley.
The CLDT is a supportive, multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities.
This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who are motivated, compassionate, and passionate about working within Learning Disability services.
Join us and become part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to effectively manage a caseload of individuals with learning disabilities, working as an autonomous practitioner, within a supportive multidisciplinary team.
Using evidence-based and person-centred approaches, they will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate occupational therapy interventions that promote engagement, independence, and recovery.
The post holder will provide leadership and supervision to junior staff and students as appropriate. They will also contribute to the planning, development, and evaluation of occupational therapy services within the service taking responsibility for defined projects that enhance quality and outcomes for service users.
A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are required unless reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act 2010.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
CLINICAL – Shared Team
Work in a professional and collaborative manner with the multi-disciplinary team.
Where required, to be involved in the multidisciplinary team duty system and undertake duty assessments as necessary.
Fulfil the care-coordinator role under ECC framework, including planning and coordinating Case Conferences/Reviews.
Ensure intervention is provided in a range of settings suitable to meet the needs of clients.
Provide information, education and support for family members, carers and other relevant professionals.
Participate and promote positive intra-agency working.
Participate in case load supervision to monitor the standards of service user care and ensure record keeping is in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
Participate in regular clinical supervision with Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, as per Trust policy.
Contribute to the development and implementation of integrated care pathways, including appropriate service user assessments/referrals and models of care.
Contribute to client related developments and therapeutic interventions carried out by the whole team e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, psycho-social interventions.
Compile and maintain effective client records and record outcome measures in conjunction with clients and in accordance with Professional and Trust policies, procedures and standards.
Participate in the induction, training or education of a variety of staff, students or volunteers attached to the team/service.
CLINICAL – Occupational Therapy Specific
Undertake occupational therapy assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits in areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.
Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, using selected and graded activity to develop the client’s skills in identified areas of deficit.
Undertake comprehensive risk assessment with clients, and record the rationale for therapeutic risk taking in the OT care plan.
Provide specialist reports to inform statutory bodies i.e. Mental Health Act Commission.
Undertake specialist assessments, and compile OT reports, on behalf of the MDT to inform interventions, diagnosis and outcomes for clients with complex needs.
Contribute to ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the occupational therapy process in line with sound evidence based practice.
Provide advice on issues related to ADL for other professionals and carers.
Work closely with OT colleagues from other clinical settings / teams, providing individual and peer group support.
MANAGERIAL / PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
Assist in the organisation and planning of OT service delivery e.g. OT recruitment panels, ensuring OT staff/service cover.
Provide professional advice as required, for performance management of OT staff e.g. competency monitoring.
Participate in Serious Untoward Incident investigations/reviews as required.
Deputise for the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, as required.
Contribute to the writing and implementation of practice guidelines, policies and procedures, and use specialist knowledge to propose service changes.
Contribute to staff participation in the formulation of new ideas/suggestions to improve service user care and service delivery.
Ensure the principles of Clinical Governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a high quality service based on agreed clinical standards.
Contribute to the strategic development of the OT services.
Manage and prioritise designated occupational therapy referrals according to need, risk and service capacity.
Provide specialist professional/clinical leadership to occupational therapists and support staff.
Liaise with and develop effective working links with the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Attend professional meetings as required.
Maintain an effective supervision structure, and provide professional supervision for designated OT staff, addressing clinical, personal and professional issues.
Assist in the induction of OT staff to the service.
Participate in the performance monitoring of services in accordance with national and local targets.
Provide statistical information on workforce and service user activity as required.
Be responsible for the care, maintenance and monitoring of equipment used by clients and bring any defects or deficits to the attention of the appropriate authority. E.g. ADL equipment.
Ensure requirements for health and safety and safe working practice are met through formal and regular risk assessments and communications as required. E.g. Cascade of HSA alerts.
Assist in the maintenance and updating of the unit’s equipment inventories and service schedules. Ensure regular servicing, maintenance, repair or replacement as required adhering to Health & Safety, COSHH and Medical Devices Agency regulations.
Generic Responsibilities for all staff:
All post holders will agree to:
Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care, addiction services and learning disability care, and in doing so fully utilise their skills and experience to support the objectives of the Trust.
Role model the values of the Trust – Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm and Support– in all activities and interactions with employees, service users and other stakeholders.
Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning difficulties.
Comply with the Duty of Candour, defined by Francis as: ‘The volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not the information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report about that provision has been made.’
Work across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services for all.
Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.
Value the contribution of the patient / service user voice.
Operate within any organisational codes of practice or those from a relevant professional body.
Respect equality and diversity across all areas of working practice and communications with staff, service users and other stakeholders.
Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data and ensuring all personally identifiable information is protected and used only for the purposes for which it was intended.
Comply with all health and safety legislation and local policies and procedures.
Adhere to all organisational policies.
Have knowledge and understanding of technology in the workplace which is sufficient to maintain their efficiency and also how technology can empower service users in a digital environment.
Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to the staff responsibilities that it sets out for NHS employees.
Attend a one day Just and Learning & Civility and Respect training work shop.
Be an ambassador for Just & Learning and Civility & Respect following the training.
Positively advocate the just and learning culture within your team.
Be a confident supporter and implementer of the Trust CARES Values including Civility & Respect within your team.
Support their team/services to create a positive environment for Just and Learning Culture.
Participate in Just and Learning Culture events.
Bring Just and Learning Culture updates/information to the attention of team members and other MCT colleagues they work with.
Support and encourage the sharing of concerns about the safety and quality of care with senior leaders with the aim of improving safety and quality.
Actively participate in creating an open culture within your team so that concerns and difficulties can be discussed safely and respectfully.
Speaking up in the event that they are exposed to incivility between colleagues in the workplace #iwillspeakup.
Listening and understanding others who have concerns and taking a collaborative approach to work towards a solution to improve civility and respect.
This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be reviewed in light of the changing needs of the Trust in consultation with the postholder.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Current HPC registration
Knowledge
* Previous experience in relevant health settings
* Supervision of staff
* Effective team working within a multi-agency framework.
* Experience of service development
* Experience using both group and individual treatment skills
* Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
* Audit and research practices relevant to clinical area.
* Assisting with effective budgetary management
* Evidence based and experience of reflective practice
* Recovery Model of Care
* Model of Human Occupation
* Safeguarding Children
* Mental Health Act 1983
* Mental Capacity Act
* Effective Care Coordination
* Relevant national policies and guidance
* Up to date clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment
* Audit and research methods
* Awareness of own
* Strengths and limitations
* Post graduate clinical experience, within mental health services.
* Wider range of statutory and non-statutory services
Values
* Accountability
* Support
* High professional standards
* Responsive to service users
* Engaging leadership style
* Transparency and honesty
* Discreet
* Change oriented
Skills
* Ability to utilise assessment skills and tools effectively
* Ability to communicate in a variety of settings
* Ability to formulate relevant reports
* Delegation and coordination
* Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
* Flexible approach/ creative thinking
* Able to move and handle clients
* Ability to network and influence decision making
As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to be disabled who meet the minimum (essential) criteria for the role in the person specification. If you would like your application to be considered under the Trust’s guaranteed interview scheme you can indicate this in the personal information section of your online application form.
Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please email recruitment@merseycare.nhs.uk to ensure that measures can be put in place to support you.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
The Trust expects all post holders who require an enhanced DBS for their role and work in Children’s & Young People services to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration. Trans applicants who require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (01516761452 or emailsensitive@dbs.gsi.gov.uk ) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form. The team can prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
Please be advised that the use of Artificial Intelligence on applications is monitored and if you choose to use this, you must declare this on your application form.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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