Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist - secondment or fixed term inAylesbury inAylesbury PUBLISHED 27 APR 2024

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust provides local, regional and national award-winning healthcare services. We have more than 3.300 staff working out of 20 main sites serving a population of 1.2 million people. We provide community health services and mental health services for young people, adults and older people. Our North London Forensic Service treats and cares for people in the criminal justice system who have mental health conditions. We also provide one of the largest eating disorders services in England, as well as drug and alcohol services.

We are an organisation that is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion; one that prides itself in developing the leadership capabilities of its employees, looking after their health and wellbeing, creating safe spaces for staff to speak up and providing opportunities to mentor and be mentored. Our employees are the reason for delivering Good CQC ratings, excellent outcomes and outstanding patient experiences, so it is our aim to create a happy and healthy working environment where you can thrive and succeed.


Job overview


An exciting opportunity has arisen for a forward thinking and motivated Occupational Therapist to work within the Complex Needs Pathways service in HMP Aylesbury as part of the multi-disciplinary team. The service is part of the community services in North London Forensic Service which is part of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust. The post is based within the complex needs service at HMP Aylesbury who provide assessment, treatment and consultation for male prisoners. The service caters for prisoners from across the establishment and is an innovative service, run as a collaborative team with both health and prison staff. The aim is to increase residents' level of independence through improvements in their psychological wellbeing, reduce recidivism and risk. T


Main duties of the job


The post will involve delivery and oversight of the Occupational Therapy provision to those on the Pathways caseload, focusing on functional daily living skills, transition into the community/progressive prison move and specific personality and risk issues. This will include the oversight, strategic development, planning, facilitation and outcomes of a range of therapeutic individual and group work and contributing to multidisciplinary team care planning and risk assessment. The residents are individuals with diverse needs and presentations, for example with mental health symptoms, personality difficulties and can exhibit aggressive behaviour and poor insight. The aim of the work is to increase residents' level of independence through the development of life and social skills which help to improve their emotional regulation, reduce recidivism and risk.


Working for our organisation


The Aylesbury Complex Needs service is a multi-disciplinary team, working in collaboration with HMPPS to provide support for the people held in the prison. The team consists of forensic and clinical psychologists, OTs, creative therapist (music, art, drama) and prison officers.


Detailed job description and main responsibilities


This post holder will be responsible for overseeing the Occupational Therapy Provision for the service. The post holder will need to be a visible and positive presence within the service and wider prison establishment and be responsive and supportive to the needs of each person using the service. As well as being clinically involved in the therapeutic delivery of treatment within the team, you will also be contributing to the achievement of the One Small Thing Trauma Informed Care Certification. The clinical leads team in the service are committed to an extensive and co-ordinated CPD programme including a robust supervision structure. Support is available, when appropriate, to all staff to engage in external training to further the knowledge pool of the team.

Please see attached job description for full outline of duties.


MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. To be responsible for the day to day operational management of the therapy programme, ensuring the service is appropriately focused on priorities, integrated with the multi-disciplinary teams and responsive to client needs.

1. To regularly review the service, evaluating if it is responsive to need, achieves positive outcomes, is cost effective and is of value to those who use the service.

1. To assist managers of the service to plan future treatment options within the Pathways Team.

1. To work collaboratively with multi agency managers across the prison estate and the LPP to plan the continuity of services and work as a unified team for the benefit of prisoners.

1. To work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the establishment to support the overall pathways of residents' into the community where appropriate.

1. To work collaboratively with officers in the team and be responsive to the demands placed on prison staff to ensure and collaborate approach to service delivery.

1. To take a lead role for service developments within Occupational Therapy and the Pathways Team.

1. To provide joint professional leadership, supervision and guidance for staff in the team, keeping up to date regarding professional developments and guidance from the College of Occupational Therapists and cascading this information, integrating it into departmental practice.

1. To advise the appropriate managers on the day-to-day running needs of the service highlighting any unmet needs in service provision.

1. To be a member of middle management within the service, taking the lead for specific managerial tasks as appropriate.

1. To coordinate the placement of students within the OT service, working closely with the senior therapists who are acting as fieldwork educators.

1. Be involved in developing standards, guidelines and protocols for the service.

1. Support the evaluation of practice through audit and the application of evidence.

1. Participate and oversee the monitoring of standards of care through audit, observation and apply evidence and lessons learnt to inform future practice

15 . Where necessary manage staff performance in line with trust policy.


Communication

1. To professionally manage and communicate sensitive or contentious information adhering to associated policies and protocols

Patient care

1. To participate clinically within the treatment programme and occupational therapy service which may include:

• carrying a small complex caseload
• carrying out specific short term clinical work
• Joint working with less experienced staff
• Running treatment groups
• Contributing to assessment and formulation processes

Professional Conduct


The post holder must comply with the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Practice for Occupational Therapists, and the Trust & Directorate Guidance on Professional Conduct.


People (HR) Management

1. To provide supervision and guidance to junior staff in the team, keeping up to date regarding professional developments and guidance from the College of Occupational Therapists and cascading this information, integrating it into departmental practice.
2. To be actively involved in service development working closely with the whole team.
3. To assist in the induction of new team members as delegated by the strategic clinical lead.

Information Management

1. To ensure that relevant records, reports and treatment statistics are produced in line with the trusts Data Recording Policy, service policy and departmental guidelines.
2. To ensure that relevant records, reports and treatment statistics are produced to a competent standard in line with professional guidelines, Trust policy, performance requirements and established service systems.
3. To attend multi-disciplinary clinical meetings and to support and share information regarding professional practice with other disciplines.

Policy Development

1. To develop and implement directorate policies relating to the management of risk and good practice within the rehabilitation areas of the service.

1. To work collaboratively with multi agency managers across the prison estate and the LPP to plan the continuity of services and work as a unified team for the benefit of residents.

1. To be involved in service wide initiatives and developments working closely with the whole team.

Service Development

1. To ensure a comprehensive in-service training programme for therapy staff is enabled.
2. To directly provide staff professional development opportunities via teaching sessions.
3. To support the delivery of staff support / reflective groups across the whole prison establishment.
4. To provide liaison and in-put to linked college of occupational therapy.

Resource Management

1. Management of OT equipment and materials budget.
2. Effective use of supervision
3. Liaise with strategic team Lead to manage any absence from work and annual leave.
4. Liaise with service team leads regarding training needs or requests.

Systems and Equipment

1. To demonstrate and understand the appropriate use of security systems i.e alarms, keys, access areas.
2. To have relevant IT skills to complete reports and assessments and document clinical notes.

Person specification



Education and Qualifications



Essential criteria

• Minimum 4 years Relevant clinical postgraduate experience in Occupational Therapy, including a minimum of 2 years experience as a senior practitioner working with people with mental health problems in particular personality disorders, challenging behaviour, depression, psychosis and dual diagnosis

Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate training to achieve clinical expertise and specialism at Masters level or equivalent • E.g. MSc in Occupational therapy.

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE



Essential criteria

• Up to date knowledge of developments in OT, secure care, prison therapy, to inform clinical decisions, and best practice for self and for the service. • To include Specialist Knowledge of: • Clinical conditions and their functional implications within Forensic and Adult mental health, including personality disorders, depression, anxiety and psychosis, substance misuse, Dual Diagnosis and PTSD • The Mental Health Act and its significance for service users and impact on clinical practice • Risk issues and risk management techniques with this client group • O.T. models of practice • The evidence base for O.T. interventions with this client group used to inform best practice • Theory and models of supervision • Research and its application to forensic mental health • Audit and its implication to mental health services • Clinical Governance and National Service Framework for Mental Health and their impact on the clinical environment and practice • NICE guidelines relevant to mental health practice • Current developments/initiatives effecting O.T. practice • Directorate and Trust wide strategic plans relating to area of service • Trust policies for staff recruitment and management • Experience in Forensic and secure care occupational therapy. • Experience of working autonomously, being responsible for own practice and managing a varied workload. • Experienced lead planner and facilitator in a range of treatment sessions on a group or individual basis including: Practical based, discussion, support and psycho-educational groups. Including experience of working with clinical staff of a variety of grades to support their development of treatment skills. • Experience in the use of the Model of Human Occupation, MOHOST and other standardised assessments. • Expertise in carrying out functional assessments. • Experience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. • Experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating therapy programmes to ensure the most effective use of clinical priorities. • Experience in producing and maintaining client-centered treatment plans and instructing others in the same. • Experience of assessing and managing risk issues within OT and Mental Health and contributing to multidisciplinary teams risk assessments, care plans and the discharge process. • Experience of supervision and appraisal of junior staff.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in a therapy team in a prison setting. • Experience in dealing directly with finance and human resources to ensure management of the service is in line with Trust policies and procedures. • Experience of managing a staffing and non-staffing budget and ensuring the effective use of resources. • Experience of implementing service improvements. • Experience of using a range of evaluation tools and outcome measures. • Experience of negotiating and managing change. • Experience of initiating an audit. • Experience in the recruitment and selection of staff including: • writing adverts • short listing • arranging interview panels • exit interviews • writing references • Experience of co-ordinating and monitoring an on service training programme for therapy staff. • Experience of chairing and co-ordinating meetings, including agenda setting. • Experience of developing guidelines and policies. • Experience of representing Occupational Therapy in wider range of working parties, committees, project groups and strategy groups - Clinical Governance etc. • Experience of investigating serious and untoward incidents, formulating recommendations and plan relating of these.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES



Essential criteria

• Effective verbal communication skills to include - presentation of information to clinical meetings, management teams and chairing meetings. • Effective personal management skills, including excellent time management and the ability to prioritise, delegate and problem solve. • Effective leadership skills. • Self-motivated and confident in working independently in a clinical and managerial capacity. • Effective written communication skills to include • clinical records and reports • reports for senior management teams • Ability to read, understand and process information quickly. • Able to establish working relationships with supervised staff and colleagues across the service. • Ability to identify clinical needs of client group and apply this knowledge in service planning and development. • Ability to apply and utilise the knowledge base for forensic mental health in service delivery. • Ability to provide clear clinical reasoning for interventions across the service. • Ability to incorporate risk assessment into service delivery. • Demonstrates professional approach and appropriate boundary keeping with staff and patients and able to instruct others on professional standards of communication. • Effective supervision skills, which include workload monitoring, clinical advice, managerial advice, personal development and performance appraisal. • Able to formally and informally teach and advice staff and students in the service on aspects of mental health and occupational therapy practice. • Ability to promote the role of OT within the multidisciplinary teams. • Able to critically appraise literature and research and use to inform own practice and service development.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of project management skills. • Evidence of ability to meet performance deadlines and support to ensure other meet deadlines. • Awareness of the performance targets for a prison therapy service. • Effective presentation skills including use of a variety of appropriate media: power point or structured discussion/activities. • Effective IT skills. • Team dynamics and team building skills

PERSONAL QUALITIES



Essential criteria

• Commitment to work as a proactive team member • "can do attitude" • Ability to be flexible and adaptable to manage fluctuating work demands. • Empathy for people with mental health problems and passionate about service user involvement • Aware of own limitations and needs and ability to seeks advice and support appropriately • Ability to promote self and the service • Professional manner

Desirable criteria

• Ability to promote positive image of OT • Experience with service user involvement • Experience with external network involvement

Other requirements



Essential criteria

• Passionate about service delivery for offenders with emerging personality disorders. • Proactive use of continuous professional development opportunities. • Service user-centered approach. • Highly motivated and able to motivate others. • Able to sustain demands of fulfilling role working with a challenging client group in a pressurised environment.

References will be required to cover your last 3 years of employment/training. One has to be from your current or most recent employer and the others from your previous employer. The references should be from persons with management responsibility or HR.

If you have been unemployed for a period of four years or more, please give the details of your last employer and one character referee of your choice (not members of your family). If more applicable, references will be requested from your teacher or head of faculty. Please ensure you provide full contact details.

Vacancies that are advertised as Fixed Term Contracts will also be available as secondment opportunities for substantive internal staff.

Please be aware that your documents eg. Passport/NI Card, will be electronically scanned using Home Office accredited Verification System.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts, we will close vacancies before the stated closing date once the first
50
applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

All non-medical posts with the Trust are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the Trust's satisfaction, your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Should you not hear from us within three working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.


By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at improving efficiencies within the NHS both to make costs savings for NHS organisations but also to save you time when your employment transfers.



Employer certification / accreditation badges



Applicant requirements


You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.


Documents to download

• B7 OT Job description (PDF, 384.6KB)
• B7 OT person specification (PDF, 392.6KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 258.2KB)
• Applicant Information Pack (PDF, 1.6MB)