Mental Health Service Lead for Occupational Therapy

Job summary

This is an opportunity to influence the direction of mental health services in our integrated Health Board. You will have responsibility for providing professional oversight and leadership for occupational therapy staff working in adult and older adult mental health services, as part of a professional leadership team.

We are seeking an experienced occupational therapist with excellent clinical skills, as well as experience of, and enthusiasm for, leading, managing and developing others. We are looking for someone with a passion for mental health, multi professional and multi-agency working that puts the person at the heart of everything we do.

You will be an integral member of the Mental Health & Learning Disability Directorate leadership team and work collaboratively with operational managers to support the development and delivery of quality, efficient and effective inpatient and community mental health services for adults. You will also be joining a supportive occupational therapy service, working across the West Wales Region. You will be part of a senior professional leadership team where people work together to deliver and develop safe, sustainable, accessible and kind services for our population.

Main duties of the job

Professionally responsible for occupational therapy practice in adult mental health, including inpatient and community teams. Lead, develop and oversee defined areas of the service and occupational therapy practice.

Designing and maintaining occupational therapy services for clients and their families that are flexible, clinically effective and responsive, ensuring that provision meets local need. Oversees the development and implementation of local occupational therapy standards, interpreting and assimilating into practice;

Professional (RCOT & HCPC) guidance and standardsWG and NICE guidance, directives and strategies.Statutory responsibilitiesResearch and audit

Supports the Head of Occupational Therapy & Directorate in the quality improvement of services, providing specialist clinical leadership into planning, delivery, development and evaluation of local clinical services, holding responsibility for defined projects. This involves working collaboratively across professions and organisations to modernise andredesign local services.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;

48 general practices (six of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Work collaboratively with other Service Leads in occupational therapy, with Health Board wide portfolio service responsibilities that may bridge all specialties and locations.

Manages own workload and works across professional, organisational, agency and system boundaries to improve services and develop practice.

Participates in networks, locally, regionally and nationally.

To establish and maintain an integrated occupational therapy service in designated area, liaising with fellow professionals across sectors. The postholder will be expected to;Consider population need and map demand for occupational therapy services in designated a current knowledge of user experience and views regarding service configuration and incorporate into planned service in partnership with third sector, local authority and tertiary services.Acknowledge patient flow between acute, community and primary care services across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, as well as potential for repatriating patients from specialist centres.Underpin service redesign with the need to achieve a joined up client and revise clinical roles and practice to reflect the modernisation of local services.Produce comprehensive reports to underpin and negotiate service development across portfolio areas.Support and undertake investigations as required, Serious Untoward development relevant to practice area utilising health board processes and documentation.Evaluate training needs and negotiate access to essential training.Improve service efficiency and effectiveness through service streamlining and reduced duplication of and support regarding initiatives that enable people to improve occupational engagement and performance.Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of occupational therapy, utilizing reliable clinical outcome of skill mix and provide advice regarding workforce planning in the context of new ways of working.Develop and sustain partnership working with Third Sector Services. Where safe & viable, utilising these partnerships to deliver low risk intervention traditionally undertaken by occupational therapists.Support the development of formal service level/partnership the Head of Occupational Therapy/Directorate Lead to concerns that may compromise patient safety.

Have knowledge and understanding of formal and informal social structures, services and overarching approaches or systems in the community or society that have an impact on individuals, interweaving this understanding into the clinical and service planning process.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh isdesirablefor this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 19/06/2024.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy HCPC registration MSc or equivalent experience in relevant speciality Evidence of attendance on a range of specialist short courses Knowledge of primary legislation and the statutory responsibilities of NHS Knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety at Work Act Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance framework Knowledge and understanding of the relevance and scope of occupational therapy that enables people to maintain occupational performance

Desirable

Masters qualification in occupational therapy or relevant area Recognised management/ leadership training and/or qualification Active participation in specialist interest group/network Knowledge of legislative framework and service structures that link across the primary/secondary care as well as health/social care/housing to provide integrated care Knowledge of services in the Voluntary and Community setting

Language Skills

Desirable

Welsh Speaker Level 1

Experience

Essential

Extensive clinical experience at senior /supervisory level Evidence of multi professional working Experience of managing information and compiling reports Experience of appraisal and staff development Audit and/or research experience Experience of service improvement & managing change Quality & performance management Representing the profession/ specialist area in public/professional arena Integrating patient experience in service development Developing and implementing guidelines and standards

Desirable

Previous head of section of Occupational Therapy Experience of developing service level agreements and contract monitoring

---