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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-AC-21111
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Chapel Street Clinic
Town
Chichester
Salary
per annum
Closing
15/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust logo

Occupational Therapist/Lead Practioner

NHS AfC: Band 6

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

Job overview

We look forward to welcoming you to the Chichester Neighbourhood Assessment and Treatment Service as a band 6 OT. Do you want to be part of a dynamic, supportive, friendly, and innovative community mental health team dedicated to providing exceptional care for people living with severe and enduring mental health problems? If so, we would like you to be part of the team. Collaboration and teamwork are at the forefront of everything we do. As an OT you will provide OT specific assessments, interventions, group work, occupational formulation, and OT consultation to the multidisciplinary team.

You will have a caseload of people who are cared for within a recovery focused model of care designed to enable and encourage service users to develop positive coping strategies to maximise their quality of life and potential. 

We are striving to establish clear OT pathways and processes in the new Community Mental Health Neighbourhood Teams, and to effectively articulate and communicate the unique contribution of OT in this setting. We are keen to continually develop and improve, and this role would suit someone who is motivated and enthusiastic to establish a strong OT offer in the team, and participate more widely to OT development and OT priorities in West Sussex.

We believe in a healthy work-life balance and offer flexibility to accommodate your personal and professional needs. 

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

To provide occupational therapy interventions for service users using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
To promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.
To act as a care coordinator if appropriate and to cover duty on a rota basis. Working autonomously in the community and with our third sector partners and other organisations

We can offer you development opportunities including group planning and facilitation skill development, experience using a range of OT standardised assessments, embedding occupational formulation, and training in specific intervention approaches.  As your career develops, we can provide you with leadership experiences, and opportunities to develop specialist skills and interests (for example using sensory approaches, Recovery through Activity, and leadership skills training).

Working for our organisation

Working for your organisation

The NHS is changing and with more emphasis on community-based care  there's never been a better time to join us. Over the next three years, community mental health services are going to be undergoing a real transformation and you could be part of these exciting developments. Our community mental health teams will become part of a much more integrated network of services and our mental health clinicians will be central in driving the changes, in close partnership with our primary and third sector colleagues.

We recognise that working in mental health can be stressful so we prioritise staff welfare, providing regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, and any other support that our clinicians need to ensure their wellbeing.  You will have access to other CPD opportunities including the Trust's AHP training offer and the West Sussex OT CPD community network and development hubs.

If you are an OT with previous mental health experience who has a desire to develop into a community mental health OT role, please contact us as we would be delighted to talk about any development opportunities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To manage a caseload of clients.
To provide specialist clinical advice and input for clients with complex problems and needs. 

To ensure occupational therapy contribution to the provision of quality clinical care and performance standards.
 To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of occupational therapy and local multi-professional services

Operate as a senior occupational therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate complex clinical caseload.
 Promote evidence based practice in occupational therapy and the relevant mental health service/ learning disability service.
Provide a specialised range of clinical interventions and demonstrate knowledge of models of practice.
Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
 Provide clinical assessment, formulation, intervention, review and where appropriate CPA including care co-ordination for service users, their families and carers.
Contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.
Have a basic working knowledge of the medication prescribed for the persons in their care. To include usual dosage, common side effects and the need for any special monitoring. Any reported or observed side effects must be brought to the attention of the prescriber.
 Supervise the work of more junior qualified staff and provide support and guidance.
Ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist occupational therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.
To adhere to Trust risk management policies and procedures.
To champion occupational and recovery approaches within the service area.

 Be aware of and able to use de-escalation techniques and physical breakaway
Communication
Ensure effective communication with all parts of the service, other agencies and people who use services and their carers.
Ensure representation in strategic meetings and raise awareness of the contribution of occupational therapy.
Develop and maintain effective communication structures, facilitating two-way communication on professional and Trust issues.
Provide advice to team members, clients, carers and the wider network.
 Liaise regularly with the clinical specialist occupational therapist on professional and service issues.
Communicate effectively with clients and their carers and ensure that communication difficulties are addressed sensitively.
Leadership

To fully participate in the Trust’s performance review and personal development planning process on an annual basis.

 To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisals for junior staff.
Represent the clinical specialist occupational therapist when appropriate at relevant meetings.
To act as a designated pin holder for the integrated community equipment store, to an agreed threshold where relevant.
Staff and Training
 Supervise occupational therapy staff and ensure all staff receive a performance review and personal development plan on an annual basis in conjunction with operational managers.
To participate in the annual training analysis for occupational therapy staff in the locality care group.
To contribute to the occupational therapy development plan
 To contribute to regular speciality away days
 To contribute to the provision of high quality practice placements in liaison with the Practice Education Coordinators.
 To provide training to others in line with service training agenda.
 To ensure that staff adhere to Health and Safety guidelines and maintain safe environments and working practices.
Research and Development
Contribute and participate in occupational therapy research and development, working with clinical specialist therapist and education providers and in line with Trust and service area research priorities.
Engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to occupational therapy and the directorate.
Staff leadership and management
To provide effective leadership and management to staff which promotes high performance standards both individually and as a team, in the achievement of the Trust’s objectives and priorities. The Trust’s success will be dependant on all managers playing an active role to make sure the existing areas of good employment practice are universally embedded within the organisation. Managers will be expected to:
Understand the Trust’s key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group
Ensure clarity and effectiveness in developing and designing roles
Ensure management of staff is consistent with Trust’s HR Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.
Complete annual Appraisals for all staff which reflect these priorities and ensure staff have access to appropriate training and development
 Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback
 Promote an effective team ethos.
Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those belonging to protected characteristics.
Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed.
 Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly. Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others. Be supportive of colleagues or service users who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
  • Evidence of post graduate level study/training
  • Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Louise Vinton
Job title
Professional Lead OT
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07391408838
Additional information

For further details / informal visits contact: We would welcome visits and conversations about the post. Please contact Marylinda Gororo, Service
Manager on 0300 304 0400 or email me on [email protected]

or please contact Louise Vinton, Professional Lead OT on [email protected] for an informal chat/visit.

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