Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Adult Learning Disabilities

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To take a lead responsibility for the assessment, development and delivery of an effective and highly specialist Occupational Therapy service to people who access the IST
• To support other IST professional team members to develop their awareness and skills around occupation, occupational rights and occupational justice.
• To manage a caseload, of adults with learning disabilities and /or autism across IST who have occupational challenges that require occupational therapy inputs.
• To provide specialist occupational therapy assessments as part of a broader multidisciplinary/multiagency health and social care process, with a high level of understanding of the complex interaction between health and social issues and their impact on the persons occupational life.
• To undertake occupational therapy assessment and intervention as identified, in line with individual need.
• To assess capacity to gain valid informed consent. To be able to utilise best interest procedures in the event that the person lacks the capacity to consent to assessment/ treatment, in order to work within a legitimate legal framework.
• To identify and select, with the person with learning disabilities and their network, the most appropriate intervention options, which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, client choice, independence, areas of conflict and cost effectiveness.
• Where appropriate, to utilise standardised assessments and processes with people, for example, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), Sensory Profile, Residential Environment Impact Scale (REIS), Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist.
• To analyse the assessment findings, plan and implement a range of interventions, to ensure that the persons occupational performance is maintained and/or improved.
• To contribute occupational focussed information and strategies as part of the establishment and development of individual positive behaviour support plans for people accessing IST.
• To plan and deliver specialist training to support staff and significant others in the most effective use and development of any occupational strategies with people who are receiving services from IST
• To apply a high level of understanding of the impact of a persons learning disability and/or autism in any intervention.
• Evaluate outcomes of occupational therapy intervention alongside the persons overall goals and review ongoing input as required.
• To assess and support the person to take measured risks in order to achieve greater independence.
• To contribute to the knowledgeable transfer of clinical treatment plans between placement types (ward to community and vice versa) and geographical areas (in and out of borough).
• To contribute to sustained outcomes for the person through tapering of support rather than handovers.
• To contribute to the training of staff teams to meet the needs of the people they support
• To be accountable for all clinical decision-making pertaining to own caseload.
• To always put the person first: involving them in developing and reviewing their programmes, and ensuring they are at the centre of the service delivery.
• To plan, co-ordinate, monitor, evaluate and modify individual occupational therapy provision using evidence based practice.
• To provide joint assessments and training with other occupational therapists, MDT members and other agencies ensuring the persons needs are met in the most comprehensive way.
• To co-ordinate and communicate with MDT members, social services and other professionals and agencies regarding service needs of people receiving occupational therapy services.
• To provide specialist clinical information and contribute to discussions at occupational therapy meetings, multi-disciplinary team meetings, planning meetings, CTRs, case conferences, best interest meetings etc.
• To consider the views and wishes of the person, their carers and families, respecting their lifestyles and diversity when providing occupational therapy services

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Post graduate training in sensory integration

• Evidence of post graduate training relevant to working with adults with learning disabilities
• AMPS calibrated
• Post graduate certificate in Sensory Integration
• Membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Membership of Royal College of Occupational Therapists - Specialist Section People with Learning Disabilities

Experience

• Significant post qualification experience of working as an occupational therapist with adults with learning disabilities.
• Significant post qualification experience of working as an occupational therapist with adults with learning disabilities and/or autism and behaviours that can be described as challenging.
• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Experience of community working.
• Proven case management experience with people learning disability and additional complex needs.
• Experience of working within a positive behaviour support framework

• Experience of running training sessions
• Experience of student education
• Experience of presenting at local /national/ international conference and study days

Skills

• Detailed knowledge of the legislation pertaining to the delivery of care to adults with learning disabilities and/or autism
• Knowledge of current research and best practice in the field of learning disabilities and/or autism and occupational therapy
• The ability to undertake detailed and accurate assessments and plan interventions accordingly.
• The ability to develop occupational based guidelines for individuals, families and paid carers
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, active listening, tact, diplomacy and reflection
• Evidence of well-developed team work skills
• Evidence of well-developed organisational, prioritization and time management skills
• The ability to organize and lead on service development/working parties as required
• The ability to influence and develop excellent working practices with the team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability and willingness to be flexible in response to the changing needs and demands of the service, people and carers
• The ability to respond to change and positively adapt to new ways of working
• Computer literate in range of applications
• Able to use mobile electronic devices to the standard required

• Experience of planning, devising, delivering and evaluating occupational therapy based training
• Confident in setting up and using databases

Other

• Ability to work within stressful environments including managing frequent interruptions, and competing demands
• Ability to travel within and across the three boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham with equipment and mobile devices

• Car driver

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth and Southwark Teams for Adults with Learning Disabilities

121 Townley Road

East Dulwich

SE22 8SW

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx