Senior Occupational Therapist in Plymouth

The Plymouth DementiaPathway are looking to recruit a Senior Occupational Therapist for 22.5hours per week on a 6-month fixed term contract.

The PlymouthDementia Pathway provides a specialist service for adults living in Plymouthwho present with progressive memory decline and difficulties associated withthis and everyday activities. The aim of the service is to comprehensivelyassess, diagnose, and provide post diagnostic follow up and treatment. It supportspeople with dementia, their carers and family through their dementia journey.

Main duties of the job

Within the Dementia Pathway, the Occupational Therapy team is a secondary service, providing specialist assessment, treatment, and enablement to service users at any stage of their journey from early investigations, diagnosis, to those with more advanced and complex needs. This is provided through individual community assessments as well as therapeutic group work. The outcome of our intervention is to promote engagement, optimum functioning / independence with an individuals daily life and to promote safety and positive well-being levels.

The post holder will be based at Mount Gould Hospital and running groups onsite and completing patient assessments in their own homes across the city of Plymouth.

In line with Livewell Southwest Hybrid Working policy, the post holder may also be required to work remotely on occasion.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees\' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Summaryof Job Description:

Asan Occupational Therapist within this service, you will be expected to beinvolved with the following areas:

Be responsiblefor leading and implementing occupational therapy services; including bothindividual and group activities and treatments in accordance with identifiedneeds, in the community. This will include developing additional, specialisttherapeutic interventions and opportunities in line with service need.

Promotenon-pharmacological treatments for people with dementia and mild cognitiveimpairment. Reinstate and promote the value placed on improving social andcognitive function. Reduce social isolation and improve patients sense ofwell-being. The post holder will be expected to complete outcome measures basedon therapeutic treatments with a view to collate data to evidence the patientexperience and benefit to the carer / family.

The post holderis to support the wider pathway in achieving MSNAP accreditation by expandingtherapy services to meet these criteria. This will include maintenance CognitiveStimulation Therapy (CST), which will include art / creative therapies andreminiscence.

The post holderwill need to work within Dementia NICE guidelines to offer a range ofactivities to promote well-being that are tailored to the patientspreferences.

The post holderwill be required to offer cognitive rehabilitation to patients with a diagnosisof mild cognitive impairment including memory strategies and delivering the MemoryStrategy Group (MSG) with the psychology team.

The post holderwill be required to lead Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group sessions topatients given a dementia diagnosis as part of the treatment pathway within theservice with our OTA.

The post holderwill need to also manage a small caseload of patients, using evidence-basedprinciples to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. Providing a community-basedspecialist occupational therapy service for older adults with a mild cognitiveimpairment or diagnosis of dementia. There may also be an additional history ofa mental illness, a dual diagnosis, complex physical health needs and possiblerelated social engagement issues.

Workcollaboratively with key partner organisations, including the voluntary sector,people with dementia, carers, clinicians, and other practitioners within amulti-disciplinary team in delivering services.

Assess risk andrespond in an appropriate and timely manner alongside formulation of riskmanagement plans and monitoring the effectiveness of any treatment plan.

Activelyparticipate in the planning, development, evaluation, and maintenance ofoccupational therapy services within Livewell Southwest as a whole,participating where appropriate in emerging projects, research, and audits.

To work withthe Band 6 OT Assessment Lead for the Dementia Pathway, drawing on evidence-basedinterventions and ensuring support staff are guided in developing their skillsand knowledge within the Dementia Pathway

The post holderwill be responsible for managing a Band 3 OT Assistant and volunteer.

Person Specification

Skills

• Undertaking clinical assessments / information gathering
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy using excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrate values of being open, compassionate, and empowering.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workloads.
• Ability to manage waiting lists.
• Ability and confidence lead groups.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Ability to manage and hold difficult situations and cope with stress.
• Able to provide supervision & support to junior staff & students.
• Committed and open to innovative ideas and experiences
• Good administration and IT skills
• Driving; an up-to-date UK Driving Licence - Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for the successful applicant.

Knowledge

• Knowledge or experience in the delivery of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy or the completion of relevant training courses.
• Experience of running groups with dementia patients.
• Experience in developing Occupational Therapy group programmes.
• OT process and philosophy
• Knowledge of Dementia types, assessment, and diagnosis process
• Knowledge of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia
• Able to demonstrate person-centred, creative problem-solving approaches working with people with dementia and their carers.
• Knowledge of therapeutic techniques - non pharmacological interventions
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act,
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children Principles
• Knowledge of standardised OT assessments for older adults/dementia
• National Dementia Strategy
• NICE Guidelines appropriate to service
• Care Act and service provisions for people with dementia and their carers.
• Advocates including IMCA/IMHA
• CPA including integrated care planning.
• Pharmacological interventions in Dementia
• Dementia friendly environments

Experience

• Experience as an OT in Older Adult Mental Health
• Experience of working with people with dementia
• Undertaking comprehensive, evidence-based assessments, information gathering
• Assessing risk and positive risk management
• Managing referrals, transfers, and discharges
• Multi-disciplinary work
• Cognitive assessment and Mood Tools
• Managing/ supervising other staff

Qualifications

• Registered Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development
• Maths and English GCSE Grades 4 and above or equivalent
• Evidence of further learning and development specifically in the area of Dementia

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.