Principal Applied Psychologist 8b CYPF intensive support team

Job overview

Within this post we are looking to recruit one Specialist Occupational Therapist who will support the intensive support team for children and young people to deliver specialist intervention services for children and young people who have LD, ASC, mental health and behaviours that challenge. The role will involve specialist clinical intervention work. We welcome enthusiasm and creativity and you will be joining a supportive, forward-thinking team who prides themselves on building positive therapeutic relationships and our strong commitment to the continual improvements in patient care.

Clinical and leadership supervision, and continuing professional development, are highly valued. We are able to offer great opportunities for career progression. The post will have active links with, and support from, both the wider CAMHS Services and professionals across the whole of the Black Country healthcare Trust. 

Main duties of the job

Assesses and manages the Occupational Performance of clients, in particular those with the most complex difficulties, including those with challenging behaviour, high acuity and mental or physical health concerns, to reduce the impact on quality of life and reduce hospital admissions. Contributes clinically as part of the intensive support pathway to the intensive support team settings (community and inpatient) to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce hospital admission, providing assessment and treatment for patients within the areas of; functional equipment provision, falls, sensory integration, sensory stimulation, activities of daily living, participation in purposeful activities. Provides both direct and indirect intervention regarding Occupational Performance and in particular the impact that sensory integration, environment and participation in meaningful activity can have on an individual. This intervention will be delivered in various forms including assessment, analysis and interpretation, therapy, consultation, advice, staff training and facilitation; working within an inter-disciplinary model in order to ensure that the inter-agency needs of clients are met. Responsible for managing his/her own caseload including team and clinical outcome measures as part of the Intensive Support Team and inpatient services. To possess comprehensive risk assessment skills and ability to participate in shared multidisciplinary formulation of risk and care planning.

Working for our organisation

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, children’s and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

Across the whole of the region, we provide:

Adult and older adult mental health services Specialist learning disability services CAMHS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Assesses and manages the Occupational Performance of clients, in particular those with the most complex difficulties, including those with challenging behaviour, high acuity and mental or physical health concerns, to reduce the impact on quality of life and reduce hospital admissions. Contributes clinically as part of the intensive support pathway to the intensive support team settings (community and inpatient) to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce hospital admission, providing assessment and treatment for patients within the areas of; functional equipment provision, falls, sensory integration, sensory stimulation, activities of daily living, participation in purposeful activities. Provides both direct and indirect intervention regarding Occupational Performance and in particular the impact that sensory integration, environment and participation in meaningful activity can have on an individual. This intervention will be delivered in various forms including assessment, analysis and interpretation, therapy, consultation, advice, staff training and facilitation; working within an inter-disciplinary model in order to ensure that the inter-agency needs of clients are met. Responsible for managing his/her own caseload including team and clinical outcome measures as part of the Intensive Support Team and inpatient services. To possess comprehensive risk assessment skills and ability to participate in shared multidisciplinary formulation of risk and care planning. To work with individual clients and to advise and train multi-disciplinary team members, parents and carers, following assessment and treatment. To participate and lead clinics, care reviews, CETR’s, CPA’s, individual planning meetings, and other appropriate case meetings, contributing professional knowledge when required as appropriate. Liaises both verbally and in writing with any significant others involved in the management of the client, within and outside the NHS, to ensure the client’s needs are met effectively and efficiently. To establish effective and robust communication networks with clients, carers, and other health workers and agencies. To provide, receive and interpret complex condition related information to patients and carers. To promote awareness of the role of O.T. within the team, and to external organisations and agencies, negotiating priorities where appropriate. To coordinate day-to-day activities of junior staff where applicable. Monitors OT team caseloads in conjunction with the clinical lead and IST service manager, including clinical administration and appointments, in order to meet access criteria and ensure an effective, quality service. To providing leadership for junior staff e.g. Junior OT’s and OT assistants and students through supervision and appraisal, ensuring that all OT are using evidence based/person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist interventions, within inpatient, IST and community pathway. Undertakes advisory work, second opinions and provides peer review and advice within his/her area of expertise to support and develop the clinical skills of other staff. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects. To participate and lead as appropriate in the planning, evaluation and audit of; practice, assessment, clinical pathways, NICE guidance, policy and service developments within your area. To make recommendations for change and where appropriate lead the change management process. To plan, develop and evaluate Occupational Therapy services within the Intensive support Team and in-patient assessment and treatment unit, holding responsibility for defined projects. Proposing policy and service changes that may impact the wider team. To contribute to the maintenance and development of the wider Learning Disability Division Occupational Therapy service. Provides specialist advice to service-wide development initiatives across community and inpatient pathways where they interface with the IST and Assessment and Treatment service. Ensures timely response according to service standards to referrals to the IST and Inpatient service. Autonomous responsibility for maintaining accurate and contemporaneous client records, in order to ensure compliance with departmental, professional and legal requirements. To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities, ensuring that practice is evidence based. Contributes fully to the wider OT service development, including audit, research and evaluation. To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, HCPC standards and all trust relevant policies and procedures. To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post in order to provide a quality service

Person specification

essential

Essential criteria

Degree in Occupational Therapy or relevant equivalent overseas qualification. HCPC registration Evidence of a highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory in a range of clinical skills, including the impact that sensory integration, environment and meaningful activity has on behaviour.

Desirable criteria

Evidence of knowledge of the use of Positive Behavioural Support and Trauma-based approaches in clinical management. Specialist knowledge and application of current best practice in Occupational therapy and children and young people with LD and with learning disabilities with behavioural needs.

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