Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview
Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.
We are seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist to join our friendly South Kent Coast MHT Plus Team.
The senior occupational therapist is an experienced occupational therapist within the multi-disciplinary care team.
Responsibilities include:

• To adhere to and apply the current Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of Occupational Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists.
• To identify, develop and provide the Occupational Therapy contribution within the multi-disciplinary service in accordance with the needs of service users and the requirements of the service.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Main duties of the job

• To assess, plan, deliver and evaluate therapeutic interventions for identified service users.
• To manage a defined caseload of service users with occupational needs using evidence based, service user centred, hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention orientated principles and practice.
• To provide supervision to designated junior staff and students.
• Demonstrates ability to work as a team member as well as autonomously.
• Managing a case load of service users who have complex needs.
• Balancing all aspects of the job role.
• Being flexible and responsive to competing demands.
• Promoting Occupational Therapy in the service and keeping an occupational focus at the centre of practice.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply increasingly complex skills and knowledge commensurate to a higher level of professional practice.

Working for our organisation
We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.
Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To ensure assessment of service users and analyse and interpret information gained to form an accurate formulation of function, strengths, capabilities and occupational needs.
• To work collaboratively with service users, staff, and carers to identify goals to determine and deliver an appropriate intervention/recovery plan which maximises occupational engagement and performance whilst balancing risk, and promoting choice and independence.
Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification

Person specification

Training, Qualifications & Registration

Essential criteria

• Training, Qualifications and Registration

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of post graduate development through formal postgraduate courses or experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience in clinical practice, holding a range of experience within a variety of settings
• Manage a defined caseload of service users with occupational needs using evidence based, service user centred, health promotion and relapse prevention orientated principles and practice
• Experience of delivering and clinical supervision

Desirable criteria

• Experience of being involved in service developments or audits

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Knowledge in the application of relevant OT theoretical models, and approaches relevant to service user group.
• Ability to make decisions and work co-operatively as part of an inter-professional team
• An ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of the broad aims of current national and local healthcare policy and an appreciation of the implications of this on clinical practice

Persoanl qualities, values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Ability to work as a team member as well as autonomously
• Adaptability, flexibility and resilience
• Values diversity and operates with integrity and openness

Desirable criteria

• Self-awareness in managing own wellness at work and confidence to seek support when required

Important Information:
In cases where we receive a high volume of applications for a post, it may be necessary to bring the closing date forward. Please submit your completed application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible to respond individually to your application. Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the vacancy closing, please assume that your application has not been successful.

Probation Period. New employees external to the trust are subject to a six-month probationary period.
To deliver an effective service it is essential in some of our roles that you are able to travel between work bases in a timely manner.
Production of false or forged documents/qualifications in order to obtain employment is a criminal offence and will be reported to the Police.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Certain roles are subject to criminal record checks called Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Therefore, you will be required to submit a completed Disclosure form to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust are signed up to NHS England's Sexual Safety in Health Care Organisational Charter
The trust takes a systematic zero-tolerance approach to tackle any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace and in our care provision. We are committed to sexual safety which encompasses prevention, support and decisive action against perpetrators. We are committed to keeping you and our patients safe.

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