Occupational Therapist

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic, creative and compassionate individual with an interest in working with adults with learning disabilities. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join two other Occupational Therapists in the North Norfolk Community Learning Disability Team based in Kelling on the beautiful North Norfolk coast.

There are five adult Community Learning Disability Teams in Norfolk, co-located with Norfolk County Council Social Care Teams, offering a multidisciplinary service. The teams are supportive, friendly and passionate about their work with adults with learning disabilities. You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and in a variety of settings that include seeing people in their own homes, day services and residential services.

Applicants should have excellent communication and organisational skills to provide a service to people with complex health and sensory needs who have varying levels of verbal communication and understanding.

Main duties of the job

The work will involve the use of a range of assessments in the areas of self-maintenance, productivity, and leisure skills which will lead to goal setting, intervention planning and review, working in partnership with the individual to support them to meet their goals. Experience in skill development and supporting people to engage in meaningful occupation is an essential part of the role. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team you will also contribute to the development of PBS plans.

The post holder will benefit from being part of a supportive, experienced group of Occupational Therapy staff working in Learning Disabilities across the county of Norfolk. They will receive regular supervision from experienced Learning Disability Specialist OT's. Opportunities for personal and professional development exist through supervision, management and peer support, sharing of best practice and regular continuing professional education.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS Trust in the country to be awarded the title.

About us

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS Trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Find out more about working for our organisation here:

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work, including the management of people under the post holders care.

2. To manage and prioritise clinical work in relation to own caseload with support from the Senior Occupational Therapist.

3. To undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills deficits, enabling the individual in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

4. Use both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, to undertake the assessment with individuals whose presentation is complicated by factors associated with learning difficulty ( sensory processing difficulties, challenging behaviours, mental health issues, and physical disability).

5. To work with people who use the service to identify Occupational Therapy goals as part of the overall care plan.

6. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the individual, using occupation where possible to achieve therapeutic goals.

7. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention of individual in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

8. To support clients to access generic health services and other community facilities as appropriate.

9. To achieve an effective intervention the post-holder will, where appropriate, support the paid and unpaid carers within an individual support network.

10. To provide planned and spontaneous training, teaching, advice and support, to family carers, support workers and other professionals, to promote the understanding of Occupational Therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to meet the needs of the individuals.

11. To work in collaboration with other members of the individuals support network in a complex multi-disciplinary, multi-agency environment.

12. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework where people lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

13. To attend and participate in client-centred meetings, taking formal minutes as necessary.

14. To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to department and Trust manual handling policies, and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others.

15. To demonstrate an ability or willingness to learn to communicate with people with learning disabilities using alternative technologies as appropriate.

16. To demonstrate effective communication skills with carers, team members and people from other agencies.

17. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with professional and trust standards and provide specialist Occupational Therapy reports relevant to practice setting.

Professional

18. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of clinical and professional supervision and appraisal.

19. To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

20. To produce, in conjunction with supervisor, an annual personal development plan.

Trust Values

Trust Behaviour Framework

All post holders are required to adhere to the Trusts Behaviour Framework in the undertaking of their duties.

Research & Development

May be required to undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate in R&D, clinical trials or equipment testing.

Safeguarding Clause

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and where applicable to the role successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal records check via the