Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary

The post holder will work closely with a multi-disciplinary professional team within the Adult Community Eating Disorders Team (CEDS) in Bedfordshire and Luton. The post holder will lead on the planning, co-ordination, delivery and evaluation of high-quality evidence based and person-centred Specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) provision for service users of CEDS.

The post holder will provide support to service users to engage in intensive treatment support to prevent admission to hospital where clinically appropriate; support with effective transitions for service users; and meal planning, delivered in a sensitive and motivational manner. This would be carried out in the outpatient's clinics and home environments and will include both one-to-one and group interventions.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the planning and delivery of occupational therapy within the Intensive Community Support (ICS) and ARFID Services, prioritising clinical needs, and to provide an effective service to service users presenting with eating difficulties.

To provide Specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, formulation and intervention for service users with ARFID, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self maintenance, productivity and leisure.

To plan and implement collaborative care plans in collaboration with service users, carers and other professionals and services involved in a person's care.

To contribute to monitoring and reviewing of mental health needs and risks, and ensure safe management and referral of people presenting with escalating risks.

Support with transitions as per Eating Disorders Transitions Standards.

Promote awareness and understanding of the safe and effective support needs of people with disordered eating

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service users will be seen at a variety of sites across the county of Bedfordshire and Luton including the home environment, and the post holder will be expected to travel throughout the county to meet the service needs and for clinical supervision and MDT meetings. Travel to in-patient services outside the county may also be necessary to support service users for discharge. The service user group seen by the post holder will include people experiencing severe or complex eating disorders, and may present with high levels of physical and psychiatric risk, with high levels of distress, for example suicidal ideation, self-harming behaviour, and histories of trauma and abuse. The post holder will work closely with the Senior Therapist, Operational Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Head Occupational Therapist to agree case and workload levels, and systems of monitoring quality of practice. The post holder will directly contribute to the positive working environment within the multi-disciplinary team.

The post holder will participate in the planning, development and evaluation of clinical services using advanced clinical skills and knowledge; participate in and contribute to the development of the Intensive Community Support (ICS) & ARFID services and provide training and consultancy for Occupational Therapy within the ICS & ARFID services. The role may also include line management and supervisory responsibility for Occupational Therapy Technicians within CEDS.

It will be essential for the post holder to develop and maintain links with relevant statutory and non-statutory agencies throughout Luton & Bedfordshire, with particular reference to day care services, recovery college, user led initiatives, voluntary bodies and work, training and education services, with the aim to reduce the need for hospital admissions and support successful recovery focused care transitions within mental health service.

Person Specification

Person Spec

Essential

Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy Postgraduate training in Sensory Integration or other relevant postgraduate training HCPC Registration Clinical supervision training oDemonstrable experience as an Occupational Therapist; with some experience of working with people who have an eating disorder oEvidence of service development activities oExperience of clinical effectiveness activity oExperience of working as part of a Multi-disciplinary team and of working in the community oExperience of individual and group work oExperience of CPD and role development activities oExperience of supervising staff and or students oKnowledge of how mental health and eating disorder difficulties impact upon occupational functioning and performance oKnowledge of Equal Opportunities and confidentiality oKnowledge of the Model of Human Occupation and its practical application in the clinical field oSkills in devising and implementing strategies to improve and monitor quality oKnowledge of current legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to adult mental health and eating disorders oWorking knowledge of clinical governance and its application oKnowledge of Royal College of OT standards of practice and their application oOccupational and vocational assessment skills and tools oSpecialist clinical skills to carry out OT interventions: therapeutic and activity based interventions oSpecialist clinical skills to carry out OT interventions: remedial training, cognitive behavioural interventions, psychosocial and psycho-educational interventions oTo have proficient interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained with clients who have complex needs. oAbility to evaluate the effectiveness of OT interventions including knowledge of outcome measures oAbility to manage a complex clinical caseload oAbility to undertake clinical risk assessment oAbility to plan, prioritise and coordinate clinical service provision oAbility to communicate difficult information sensitively. oAssertive in clinical and managerial situations oAbility to carry out training and presentations oAbility to assess and manage verbal aggression and risk of physical aggression in community settings, whilst reducing the risk to those involved. oAbility to plan and work with statutory and non-statutory services around clinical issues including safeguarding. oWord-processing/IT skills oOrganisational and time management skills oAbility to maintain the profile of OT within a MDT and the organisation oHighly effective written oKnowledge of how mental health and eating disorder difficulties impact upon occupational functioning and performance oKnowledge of Equal Opportunities and confidentiality oKnowledge of the Model of Human Occupation and its practical application in the clinical field oSkills in devising and implementing strategies to improve and monitor quality oKnowledge of current legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to adult mental health and eating disorders oWorking knowledge of clinical governance and its application

Desirable

oMembership of professional body and/or special interest group

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