Inpatient- Eating Disorder Occupational Therapist

Job Overview
Inpatient Occupational Therapist
We have an exciting role which has become available to work within our Inpatient Eating Disorder Service. We are looking for some who is strong in the ethos of Occupational Therapy and Recovery Focused. To support the adult and their families through this stage our their treatment journey.

We are looking for someone who wants to work as part of an integrated Multidisciplinary Team and be part of the delivery team in our therapeutic group programme. As well as providing specialist clinical interventions to a caseload during their admission.

Main duties of the job

• To provide the multidisciplinary team (MDT) with a specialist occupational therapy service and expertise for inpatients who have eating disorders. This will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Code of Ethics.
• To manage a caseload of service users with a diagnosis of eating disorder health needs; using evidence-based and recovery-focussed principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment.
• To provide specialist occupational therapy interventions for individuals who have identified occupational performance needs within the team, ensuring that interventions amplify their self-management skills.
• To integrate evidence-based practice and skilful use of assessments and interventions with personal recovery principles in order to improve service users' quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to service users' social and physical environments. This will include undertaking assessments and making recommendations.
• To contribute to service development of local and trust-wide Occupational Therapy services.
• To provide leadership for junior / unqualified and educator to students on practice placement.

Working for our organisation

The Eating Disorders team is a strong and supportive team and has excellent structures to offer regular clinical and line management supervision. This is a great opportunity to join our team to support in the delivery of high-quality services for Local and National patients. We are looking for exceptional individuals with the right attitude, skills and knowledge who share our passion to deliver the best quality care experience for our adults and their families.

You will be part of a growing OT team across the Ageless Eating Disorder Service. As well as being part of wider CNWL growing Occupational Therapist Team and Network. Which offer development and progression in your career.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• To integrate evidence-based practice and skilful use of specialist assessments and interventions with personal recovery principles in order to improve service users' quality of life and to support them to do the things they want and need to do and live the life they want and need to lead to build a healthier, more adaptive life beyond their illness/ mental health problems.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions and disabilities; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to service users' social and physical environments. This will include undertaking assessments and making recommendations.
• To work alongside the inpatient and day patient-based OTs to providing OT assessments and group and 1:1 interventions taking particular responsibility for service users with severe and enduring conditions plus a few recovery-focussed patients.
• To facilitate recovery-focussed groups in the service and community-based settings to support service users to access helpful community resources such as the CNWL Recovery College, voluntary and mainstream agencies.
• To contribute to service development of local and trust-wide Occupational Therapy services including developing protocols and procedures.
• To liaise with OT colleagues to facilitate a smooth and co-ordinated transitioning across the service.
• To supervise other such as Activity Co-Ordinator, Peer Support Worker, Outreach Worker
• To act as fieldwork educator to students on practice placement within the eating disorders service as a whole.
• To work flexibly on a needs-led basis which may include providing occasional evening work.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria

• 1. Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• 1. Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered Occupational Therapist
• 1. Completion of Practice Placement Educator's Course
• 1. Completion of mental health-specific workshops and short courses

Desirable criteria

• 1. Postgraduate training specific to eating disorders

Experience
Essential criteria

• 1. Post-qualification experience in mental health.
• 1. Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments
• 1. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• 1. Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment.
• 1. Experience of drafting group protocols and setting up / facilitating groups or group programmes.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with those who have a diagnosis of an eating disorder
• Experience of participating in audit / research projects
• Experience of care coordination.

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential criteria

• 1. Individual and group work assessment and intervention skills
• 1. Good communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication (i.e. IT systems, e-mail, fax, telephone etc).
• 1. Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes.
• 1. Good organisational skills and an ability to delegate effectively
• 1. Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice
• 1. Knowledge of personal recovery principles and their application to service delivery
• 1. Ability to work autonomously, as well as part of an MDT.
• 1. Ability to manage conflict constructively
• 1. Ability to prioritise workload and use initiative.
• 1. Ability to work creatively to engage service users
• 1. Ability to identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities regularly as part of ongoing CPD.
• 1. Ability to adopt a culturally-sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
• 1. Ability to work in a team setting i.e. collaborating/facilitating/ directing and understanding diversity

Desirable criteria

• 1. Research and development at graduate level
• 1. Knowledge of the theory underpinning the Model of Human Occupation.
• 1. Completion of OT medicines management training