Community Occupational Therapist

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust.

With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London’s population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

We are looking for a dedicated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join a Community Health team working across the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in the borough of Camden. Services in this Central London location provide client-centred assessment and rehabilitation in patient homes, therapy gyms and community facilities.

Our Trust has a variety of staff benefits which have been detailed in the staff wellbeing attachment. If you come and work with us, we will ensure you are able to follow your clinical and leadership development priorities identified through your personal development and appraisal plan. We will equip you for mobile working and actively support flexible working practice.

You will enjoy the rewards of working with a client group for whom you can make a significant difference every day, and you will experience the benefits of being part of a supportive multi-agency effort which includes Medical, Mental Health, Nursing, Allied Health Professional, Social care and Reablement staff.

Main duties of the job

• To promote, maintain and develop a high quality, efficient and effective Occupational Therapy Service to clients referred to the Integrated Community Health Service, in a multi-disciplinary context, and in accordance with the philosophy and operational policies of the Trust.
• To be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team, and participate in specific clinical projects as agreed and supported by the Team Leader, and participate in service developments, audit and review of the service.
• To provide supervision to rehabilitation assistants and students.

Please read the Essential Criteria carefully - you must have NHS experience to apply or that of a similar public health economy.

Working for our organisation

Our teams strive for inclusivity and value everyone's contribution no matter their job role or grade. We know that working in the NHS can be tough so we make sure that we work as a team and support each other through informal and formal supervision. We even have the odd social every now and then too!

You will be offered both internal and external learning opportunities and support to develop in your area of interest as well as being encouraged to take part in service development. We value clinical excellence and strive to cultivate an environment which facilitates learning and career development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will provide evidence based, client goal focused rehabilitation appropriate within community settings areas. We are looking for a highly motivated team worker with excellent communication skills.

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken. To work within the standards and guidelines of the team, the Trust, and HCPC code of ethics.
• To undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment of clients with diverse needs through subjective questioning, objective assessment and other written material available.
• To prioritise factors involved in the clients presenting condition through clinical reasoning based on knowledge of current professional opinion, clients prognosis and other physical, social emotional and mental health issues.
• To set goals for treatment with clients and/or their carer and ensure that care is client centred and agreed by the client and/or their carer.
• To set and maintain a high standard of clinical practice which is evidence based where possible, using standardised assessment and outcome measures, where appropriate.
• To independently screen and assess complex multi-disciplinary referrals from a variety of sources. This screening requires individual responsible action when at times no other professional is currently involved. This screening will establish priority, determine needs and initiate a plan of intervention.
• To be able to identify a deteriorating patient and escalate in a timely manner.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Registered with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.
• Worked in the NHS or equivalent Health Care Service.
• Post Graduate MSc Degree.
• Membership of BAOT.
• Post Registration courses in the following e.g. Neurology Older people/elderly rehab Goal setting.

Experience

• Experience with Older People/Elderly Rehab.
• Experience with Falls.
• Experience with Dementia and delirium.
• Previous experience of working in the NHS.
• Experience with Medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics.
• Previous experience of supervising juniors and/or students.
• Experience of completion of audit and service developments.
• Experience in working as an autonomous practitioner in a community setting.
• Previous general experience to include the following: Urgent Community Response working Neurology Pain Management.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Demonstrate clinical and professional development.
• Understanding the principles of Multi-disciplinary teamwork.
• Demonstrates understanding and experience of working within frailty.
• Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines.
• Understanding of delirium – causes, treatment and effects on function and cognition.
• Demonstrates flexibility, problem solving, initiative and leadership skills.
• Able to prioritise, delegate and manage own time.
• Use of System 1, EMIS, EPIC.
• The ability to work under pressure and set priorities, delegate and manage own time.
• The ability to work in a team.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period. If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.