Job overview
Are you passionate about working with adolescents? Do you want to work within a supportive and well-established multi-disciplinary team? Would you be excited to plan and deliver a group programme to young people admitted to hospital?
SLaM Inpatient CAMHS are excited to be recruiting a senior Occupational Therapist to work with the team at Bethlem Adolescent PICU (BAPICU).
As the Occupational Therapist you will work closely with the nursing team alongside the MDT. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to engage with young people in individual as well as group sessions.
We are looking for a candidate who has experience working as an OT within an acute mental health setting (CAMHS or adult), or in a youth setting where you have delivered a range of individual and group activities. The role will provide opportunities to undertake assessments as well as support young people with their sensory and ADL needs. You will oversee the group programme and support with designing and running of groups which engage and support the young people.
You will also be well supported by the Lead OT as well as the Ward Manager and the wider MDT.
Main duties of the job
CAMHS is dynamic and as the unit OT you will need to be enthusiastic, responsive and adaptive! You will be responsible for facilitating a flexible and patient centred activity programme (working within the ward timetable).
You will offer 1:1 assessments for young people to support with the development of individualised treatment plans. This will often include conducting sensory assessments and feeding these outcomes back to the team to inform a supportive, whole team approach.
There is also an expectation that you will complete ADL assessments and develop care plans following this, particularly for young people with additional needs.
You will also need to plan and run groups within the unit. These will be a mixture of, therapeutic groups, more OT focused sessions, as well as general recreation and leisure based groups.
You will work closely with a small team of Occupational Therapy Assistants who work between the nursing and OT team and support with evening and weekend groups. As the OT on the unit you will also provide supervision to the OTAs.
Flexible working:
1. As this role is based within inpatient services, the successful candidate must be able to be based on site five days a week if required. SLaM has a flexible working policy, and we are happy to discuss this and what this may look like for someone working within inpatients, at the interview stage.
Working for our organisation
SLaM has the largest and most specialised CAMHS services in the country and is on the forefront of personalised support for children and young people. We pride ourselves in delivering personalised support to children, young people and their families / carers.
The full list of inpatient services within the CAMHS directorate is:
2. Maudsley Adolescent Unit based at the Pears Maudsley Centre at the Maudsley Hospital (currently housed on the Bethlem Royal hospital site, known as Tyson East 2)
3. Bethlem Adolescent Unit based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital
4. Bethlem Adolescent PICU based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital
Pears Maudsley Centre
Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People is opening in early 2025. The aim of the building is to change the story on mental health and transform the lives of children and young people. It will be home to the Maudsley Adolescent Unit, the King’s Maudsley Partnership; the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School as well as many National and Specialist Outpatient CAMHS services and will also house state of the art clinical research facilities.
Bethlem Royal Hospital
Bethlem Royal Hospital is based in a beautiful setting in over 200 acres of green space in the London Borough of Bromley, South East London. The hospital has easy access to nearby main roads and have offers free parking. The site is within walking distance from of Eden Park and West Wickham overland stations and now with the Superloop there is a bus right to the gates of the hospital.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main responsibilities of the job include, but are not limited to:
5. To work autonomously in the delivery of clinical interventions using technical and creative skills to engage young people in therapeutic activities within an acute inpatient setting.
6. To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
7. To demonstrate and apply a broad / high level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the client’s physical and social environment.
8. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the client, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
9. To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for service users with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
10. Form professional relationships with young people, parents/carers, colleagues and external agencies, whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries.
11. Communicate effectively and appropriately with colleagues on clinical matters as well as communicating the outcomes of interventions.
12. Use a variety of communication skills and techniques to instruct and guide individuals as well as groups of young people during activities.
13. Engage and motivate young people from a diverse variety of backgrounds.
14. Maintaining clear and accurate electronic records each shift as per trust policy
15. Comply with national and local procedures and guidelines as well as relevant professional codes of conduct.
16. Demonstrate ongoing personal development through undertake relevant training as identified in clinical/ professional supervision and appraisal.
17. Awareness of Safeguarding Policies and how to report any safeguarding concerns.
18. Awareness and practice of current trust, NHS and government infection control policies.
19. Recognising and valuing the young people as individuals. Acknowledging the importance of maintaining their respect and dignity at all times and ensuring the care provided respects equality and diversity
20. To actively participate in and be responsible for relevant planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within service area and corporate OT as required
21. To actively participate in the delivery and review processes of the OT Strategy and Business Plan and local service delivery.
22. To participate in local OT service development under the supervision of OT staff / in conjunction with senior staff.
23. To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development
24. To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance
25. Be responsible for maintaining stock, advising on resource allocation and responsibility for managing petty cash
26. Co-ordinate day-to-day activities of junior OT staff, Technical Instructors and volunteer staff where applicable
27. To actively participate in the delivery and review processes of the OT Strategy and Business Plan and local service delivery.
28. To participate in local OT service development under the supervision of OT staff / in conjunction with senior staff.
29. To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
30. Registered Occupational Therapist
31. Post-graduate training relevant to Mental Health
Desirable criteria
32. Post-registration qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
33. Clinical post registration experience as an OT
34. Advising and supporting / supervising junior staff and students
35. Working in groups / Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work
36. Experience of specialist Mental Health settings
Desirable criteria
37. Working with young people with mental health needs (pre or post qualification)
38. Experience working on a PICU
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
39. High level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment mode
40. Working knowledge of the principles of CPA (Care Programme Approach)
41. High level verbal and written communication skills
Desirable criteria
42. Training and facilitation skills