Occupational Therapist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our friendly team in our supported living service in Burnley.

Main duties of the job

Summary ofrole:

The postholder represents a specialist clinical resource with whom otherteam members can consult on the complex and very idiosyncratic impact thatmental health problems, adverse childhood experiences and trauma can have onyoung peoples occupational performance and advises the team with regard to therelationship between mental health, trauma and occupation. The postholder willchampion social inclusion, education and employment issues, and will be a keycontributor to meeting the teams objectives concerning promoting youngpeoples greater social inclusion, independent living skills, health promotion,recovery goals and quality of life.

The postholder will use their deep understanding of the relationshipbetween occupation and mental health, adverse childhood experiences and traumato provide occupational therapy in order to maintain, restore or create a matchbeneficial to the young person, their abilities, and the demands of theiroccupations in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure and the demandsof the environment.

About us

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a four-bedded child and adolescent inpatient servicebased in Darwen, Lancashire. The Lighthouse provides inpatient Mental Healthcare to children and Young People of either gender from age eight up to, andincluding Seventeen years of age. The service model is based on providing a seamless step-down care servicefor children and young people who are ready to leave a Tier Four Child andAdolescent Mental Health Ward but require extra support transitioning into thecommunity to independent/supported living, or even, returning to their familyhomes. The service also provides assessment, formulation, stabilisation, andintervention to Young People with Mental Health needs who may be supported byChildrens Social Care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To maintain confidentiality of information regarding children, young people, families and individual staff at all times. Provide, receive, formulate and evaluate complex or sensitive information. To work within and promote collaborative and partnership working, with both colleagues and young people as a member of the multidisciplinary team. To promote and maintain effective confident communication and positive working relationships throughout the placement and wider services, both internal and external to the service. To promote and maintain effective communication and positive therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families. To act as an advocate for children young people and families when necessary. To attend and participate in regular placement meetings. To liaise with and report issues, concerns or untoward incidents to the nurse in charge, deputy / registered placement Manager and Consultant Occupational Therapist. Ability to actively develop relationships with key members of 3rd sector, volunteer, social and leisure organisations thus enabling young people and colleagues make best use of local resources to achieve greater social inclusion for our young people. Is able to work autonomously as a sole OT within the team, can challenge assertively without aggression, can accept criticism constructively, has good interpersonal skills. Has a positive view of how to effect and implement change, can communicate effectively with colleagues and young people.

Knowledge, Training and Professional Experience

Have HCPC registration and ensure Standards of proficiency are adhered to, and keep a written record of continuing professional development activity. Work autonomously but in compliance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) code of ethics and professional conduct (RCOT 2021), national legal frameworks, and local clinical governance policy. Act as fieldwork educator for occupational therapy students.

Identify own personal and professional needs through the local personal development review and clinical supervision process.

To ensure that personal mandatory and statutory training requirements are met in accordance with national and organisational policy and guidelines.

In collaboration with the young person, plan, formulate, implement and modify where necessary, a wide range of individual and/or group/community interventions to promote young peoples occupational performance, enhance ability to fulfil meaningful life roles, develop independent daily living skills, address occupational risk factors ( occupational deprivation, imbalance, alienation) and promote inclusion and enable young people to connect with their local communities.

Ability to evaluate the outcomes of interventions and ensure occupational therapy interventions/plans are effective and acceptable to the young person and, if appropriate, their carers/families. Absolute commitment to the involvement of young people in all aspects of care; adheres to underlying principles of co-production. Has at least 2 years experience of working in a mental health setting (community, inpatient CAHMS). Has knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation. Can describe and demonstrate a range of appropriate skills including assessment of risk. Can provide a range of appropriate occupational based assessments founded on evidence based frames of reference and models of practice. Can demonstrate the ability of therapeutic participation and can describe the importance of therapeutic boundaries. Demonstrates a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice, cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of current Equality & Diversity initiatives/policy relevant to young people. Demonstrate ability to utilising and implementing trauma informed practice/approaches within occupational therapy interventions.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

To contribute to the analysis and decision making in relation to young peoples environmental and occupational risks in complex situations. To support assessment, formulation and intervention for young people with complex needs, to enable effective transition to adulthood. Demonstrate the capacity to utilise confident clinical reasoning skills relating to young people asking for support and guidance when required. To embrace mental health promotion and trauma informed initiatives and encourage a positive attitude to mental health difficulties at all times.

Planning and Organisational Skills

To participate in the provision of an effective learning environment for students as required. Manage own work load/diary and conduct new assessments as required, working in conjunction with a whole team approach ethos. In conjunction and collaboration with young people devise effective OT intervention plans. Delegate appropriate tasks to support staff and keyworkers as required. Work effectively across 2 sites ( miles between sites). Plan, devise and facilitate individual/group/community interventions. Plan and organise regular OT awareness sessions for the team to embed the value and concepts of OT. Plan and participate in OT service development projects and initiatives.

Physical Skills

Demonstrate and maintain skills in basic life support. To be trained in and utilise techniques and strategies for the safe physical management of children and young people (as required). Ability to use IT equipment effectively. The operational hours of the OT service are typically 9-5, Monday-Friday. Though flexible hours will be considered.

Documentation

Ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Professional and organisational standards, and that sensitive information is held securely. Provide timely professional reports demonstrating an experienced and informed analysis of assessment, formulation, plans for interventions, progress, and recommendations and/or advice for other workers. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma/BSC (Hons) in Occupational Therapy (OT) State registered with Health Care Professionals Council. Documented evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) Practice Placement Qualification (Undergraduate OT student educator)

Desirable

Provision of training and/or presentations to groups

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