Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, enthusiastic and forward thinking qualified Occupational Therapist to join the Adult Community Occupational Therapy Team at Blackpool and Fylde Coast Home Based Treatment Team. The post will be supported under the supervision of a Community band 7 Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist). The role will involve working within a multidisciplinary team within the adult acute setting for service users experiencing mental health problems requiring home treatment. 

The successful candidate will offer comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments and treatments to service users within the community. They will also be expected to supervise the work of support staff within the team and also be responsible for facilitating education for occupational therapy students. There is some opportunity to assist in local developments related to the occupational therapy services locally, and across the foot print of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. There are regular opportunities for continuing professional development and there is an expectation that staff engage in best practice forums and other training / development provision within the Trust. Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre is an area of outstanding natural beauty with potential to creatively engage with our stakeholders and the people we serve. 

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have substantial experience, special interest, and expertise in Mental Health Occupational Therapy, the post holder will use their deep understanding of the relationship between occupation and mental health to provide occupational therapy to maintain, restore or create a match beneficial to the individual between the abilities of the person, the demands of her/his occupations in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure and the demands of the environment (adapted from Creek 2003).

The post holder will deliver a range of group and/or individual interventions drawn from relevant frames of reference, demonstrating sophisticated clinical reasoning skills. They will prioritise planning and delivering interventions for people whose mental health problems have a marked impact on their occupational functioning, who demonstrate high occupational risk and who have complex occupational needs. Working across the two arms of the Access and Treatment Team they will have and awareness of both the occupational needs of both Start and Home Treatment service users.
 
As an emergent leader and skilful communicator, the post holder will liaise and negotiate across service boundaries and in varied settings. They are research aware, and use evidence to support and develop practice. The post holder will provide regular fieldwork opportunities for occupational therapy undergraduates, and contribute to the learning of other team members or students from other disciplines. 

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT