Senior Home Treatment Team Practitioner (Occupational Therapist)

The post holder will contribute to the effective operation of a multi-disciplinary Home Treatment Service for those in mental health crisis in the community, as an alternative to hospital admission.

The post holder will provide rapid OT assessment and help plan and deliver effective evidence based home treatment in collaboration with service users, carers and professionals from other services and agencies. There will also be a role for the post holder at the recovery house in Enfield for those clients needing extra support. The post holder will have responsibility for the group programme of the unit and will be expected to provide clear assessment and treatment plans for clients using evidence based interventions including group work and 1:1s at the recovery house. The OT will also be an integral part of the wider Inpatient Therapy Team at Chase Farm Hospital and will receive supervision and support from the Lead OT.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a high standard of care for people in the care group in keeping with the philosophy, operational policies for the Home Treatment service and in addition to the Trust's policies, practice and procedures.
• To ensure child and adult protection issues are assessed and relevant protocols are adhered to.
• To conduct accurate risk assessments and management plans, involving the service users, carer, and any other individuals relevant to the care of the service user, and to ensure that this is well documented.
• To provide evidenced based OT intervention including assessments, implementation and evaluation of treatment for service users under home treatment services.
• To work with services users at the recovery house using evidenced based OT approaches to provide group and 1:1 assessments and interventions.
• To assess clients meeting defined referral criteria as per local Home Treatment Service policies.
• To provide specialist MOHO functional assessments to service users to ascertain their level of independent functional abilities in activities of daily living and make recommendations of any support needs that may arise.

Person specification

• Qualifications/ Registrations
• HCPC registered OT
• MSc/BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of other relevant Postgraduate education/ relevant CPD
• Membership of RCOT/specialist networks eg RCOTMHSS
• Completion of preceptorship

• Experience
• Experience of working in an NHS or equivalent setting.
• Experience of acute inpatient and/or community areas, working with people going through a mental health crisis.
• Working with a range of HCPs including peer workers.
• Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments.
• Clear concept of OT and models of practice.
• Experience of facilitating a variety of groups.
• Ability to address physical health needs of patients.
• Supervision of OT students.
• Understanding of legislation as related to mental health.
• Experience of working in a crisis resolution/Home Treatment Team Service.
• Facilitating practice placements.
• Post-registration experience in a mental health setting.
• Involvement in research and clinical audit.
• Experience of participating in quality improvement projects.
• Able to prescribe small pieces of equipment/maintain equipment stores.
• Knowledge of the MOHO model and its application.
• Supervision of junior staff.
• Understanding of co-production.

• Skills/ Abilities
• Excellent Organisational skills.
• Able to communicate effectively within a multiprofessional team.
• Confidence to work autonomously and use own initiative.
• Good assessment skills.
• Ability to write comprehensive reports as required.
• Awareness of risk assessment/management in an acute and/or community setting.
• Ability to work well in a team setting.
• Understanding of legislation as related to mental health.
• Proficient IT skills and ability to use electronic clinical documentation systems.
• Sensitive to cultural, dynamic and diverse needs, liaising with carers and other agencies with regards to care.
• Leadership Skills
• Team building.
• Building links with local community services.
• Specific clinical skills applicable in a community setting e.g. brief therapy, cognitive therapy, and anxiety management.

• Personal Qualities
• Ability to work flexibly according to client/service needs.
• Service user/carer centred approach.
• Receptive to changing environments and an ability to promote positive approaches to implementing changes according to service and client need.
• Ability to remain calm in difficult situations.
• Positive approach to work.
• Ability to think creatively and outside the box.
• Willingness to be flexible in working hours.
• Ability to travel across a geographical area and various locations within the borough and trust.

• Other Requirements
• Physically fit to undertake duties as specified in the job description.
• Ability to partake in PMVA training and interventions as required.