Job overview
Due to team expansion, there is an exciting opportunity to work as an occupational therapist within the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities- Intensive Intervention Team (AID-IIT), a National and Specialist CAMHS service which works closely with the Orchids team and has links with the rest of the Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) and with other N&S CAMHS teams. AID-IIT work with young people across London with a diagnosis of autism and/or intellectual disability and complex mental health needs, with an aim to reduce or prevent inpatient admission and support young people to remain in the community.
We have a strong tradition of evidence-based treatment, and are active in clinical research, developing, assessing and implementing effective new treatments such as intensive day treatments for eating disorders.
Our clinical teams are fully committed to multi-disciplinary, comprehensive assessments of young people within their family and social context, taking into account their academic achievements and potential. The team are at the forefront of the development of support, practice and interventions for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities with high-risk presentations.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as an Occupational Therapist in the AID-IIT team offering specialist therapy input within the team, including offering specialist input into MDT assessments, occupational therapy assessment and interventions to young people and parents/carers and consultation, training and support to multi-agency local networks including staff from local and inpatient CAMHS settings, and supervision and support to junior staff and occupational therapy students within the team.
The role includes work across a range of settings - offering work in community settings, inpatient settings, working from home, and working from our clinic base, depending on the needs of the young person, family and network. The role will also involve contributing to service developments within the AID-IT team and across where appropriate.
Working for our organisation
Flexible working:
As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance. (This may include working early mornings, late evenings or some Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)
About our locations:
The Michael Rutter Centre is located on the Maudsley hospital sit and is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2).
Maudsley Hospital (headquarters)
Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill, 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high-street that offers great shopping opportunities and with a wide range of restaurants.
The AID-IIT team are based at the Michael Rutter Centre (and will be based in the new Pears Maudsley Centre in the near future) with other staff from N&S CAMHS, facilitating close working, academic/learning opportunities and good support for the postholder.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder will work within the AID-IIT team to provide highly specialist occupational therapy assessments, interventions and support within the multi-disciplinary team including:
• To offer specialist occupational therapy within the multi-disciplinary team, including offering assessment and intervention to young people with highly complex presentations, their families and wider networks, using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and liaising with professional networks to offer specialist occupational therapy consultation.
• To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
• To carry out team activities e.g. generic assessments and duty responsibilities
• To provide specialist advice on the assessment and intervention of occupational needs for children/young people with a neurodevelopmental profile.
• To develop occupational therapy interventions in this specialty undertaking regular audit and R&D activities.
• To participate in service development for the service with support from clinical supervisor, working with young people with autism spectrum disorder and/or an intellectual disability at imminent risk of inpatient admission in London.
• To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach work when needed – for example seeing young people in inpatient settings, family homes, community settings across London as required.
• To work as an autonomous professional within RCOT and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Qualified and registered Occupational Therapist with HCPC (A)
Desirable criteria
2. Postgraduate level qualification in sensory integration
3. Other postgraduate training relevant to CAMHS
4. Membership of OT professional body and / or special interest group (A)
5. Specialist training and/or experience in autism assessment measures, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) (A/I/)
Experience
Essential criteria
6. Post registration experience (2+ years) as an occupational therapist (A/I)
7. Post registration experience working with Mental Health service users (A/I)
8. Clinical experience including individual and group work (A/I)
Desirable criteria
9. Experience of working with people with challenging behaviours (A/I)
10. Experience of specialist Mental Health settings (A/I)
11. Experience of audit, research and clinical governance procedures and their application in practice (A/I)
12. Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of occupational needs of a complex nature in children with autism spectrum disorders and associated neurodevelopmental conditions, intellectual disabilities and comorbid mental health difficulties (A/I)
Knowlege/Skills
Essential criteria
13. Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders and associated neurodevelopmental conditions intellectual disabilities and comorbid mental health difficulties (A/I)
14. Knowledge and application of occupational therapy assessments, interventions, and outcome measures for children and young people with autism and other neurodevelopmental difficulties (A/I)
15. To communicate skilfully, accessibly and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including, sensory and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.(A/I)
16. To communicate skilfully, accessibly and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including, sensory and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.(A/I)
17. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles (A/I)
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential criteria
18. Strategic comprehension: ability to recognise key and underlying issues in complex situations, the immediate long term implications of decisions to make the interconnections.
19. Analytical ability: capacity to process detailed information rapidly.
20. Ability to translate complex issues into meaningful actions and to develop others to do so.
21. Cultural flexibility: ability to develop an in-depth understanding of a wide range of organisational and community cultures
Result orientated and motivation
Essential criteria
22. Focused on improvement: acts to improve performance and establish high standards of quality.
23. Has high capacity for concentration and activity, and is outcome-orientated.
24. Develops others to grow their capacity and potential.
25. Inclusivity and cultural sensitivity
Desirable criteria
26. Ability to work creatively as a member of a team with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
27. Ability to relate to other people and bring the best out of them.
28. Willingness to work flexibly (I)