Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist inGuildford inGuildford PUBLISHED MON 6 JAN 2025

Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist In Eating Disorders

We are seeking a dynamicOccupational Therapist to join our Trust-wide Adult Eating Disorders Service (AEDS). This is a substantive post which will primarily be based within our Enhanced Treatment Team (ETT) at Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford, but with the additional flexibility required to sometimes work from our Epsom site and other hub sites. The postholder will additionally be expected to complete home visits.

You will be part of an Occupational Therapy team who are committed to leading and developing innovative ways of ensuring the occupational needs of people who use our services are a key component of high-quality service delivery.

The post holder will be joining what are well-established outpatient and day care facilities for working age adults with moderate to severe eating disorders. The development of the ETT is, however, an exciting new multi-disciplinary initiative. This new intensive treatment pathway aims to reduce hospital admissions and to provide an alternative to day care for initial stabilisation purposes when needed.

The ability to drive a car and access to a car during working hours is also essential due to the requirement to sometimes travel between the AEDS sites (in Guildford and Epsom), to complete home visits and to occasionally also travel to other Trust hub sites.

To provide compassionate and effective leadership to the occupational therapists and assistants within the AEDS and ETT service

To strengthen and actively contribute to the overall leadership of the service.

To provide high quality and evidence based occupational therapy assessment and interventions and consultation to people with complex needs who access AEDS ETT services and their carers/supporters/family members, generic and specialised in line with the occupational therapy and service pathways

To communicate effectively with a range of clinicians, managers, directors, associate directors, people who access services, carers/supporter/family members, stakeholders and agencies.

To provide supervision and mentoring to occupational therapists within the occupational therapy service.

To ensure the delivery occupational therapy student placements.

To actively contribute to the continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities within the wider occupational therapy service.

About us

Leadership

To plan and deliver a highly specialist occupational therapy service (in leadership or advanced therapy role) and to oversee its clinical governance.

To contribute to the professional leadership and continued development of a team I service area. The role will be required to provide appraisal, supervision, career development support and mentoring for junior qualified and unqualified staff and across the AEDS service

To contribute to the skill development of more junior colleagues within the AEDS service by offering clinical supervision (individual or group).

To support the AEDS ETT Lead in developing and delivering training presentations.

To act as a positive role model for junior staff by assisting and guiding them in their duties.

To help junior staff prioritise and manage their caseloads appropriately.

To regularly share updates and information to the AEDS ETT Lead, particularly when any incidents arise that may affect the standing or safe operation of the service.

To ensure that the healthcare needs of people under AEDS ETT team are communicated to service commissioners and providers.

To act as mentor for junior colleagues wishing to gain experience in working with complex and challenging mental health presentations

To positively contribute to divisional developments in relation to occupational therapy practice.

To be responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate policies, protocols and care pathways.

To contribute to appropriate staff recruitment and contribute to the wider strategic plans regarding occupational therapy recruitment.

Clinical

To provide highly specialist assessments and interventions for people presenting with complex eating disorders

To demonstrate highly specialist expertise and specialist occupational therapy skills in areas such as occupational engagement, environmental adaptation, development and maintenance of skills needed for meaningful participation

To have an excellent knowledge of occupational therapy models and frame of references

To provide high quality and comprehensive assessments for people who access the service, adapting the approach as and when needed.

To use highly effective clinical reasoning and formulation skills to devise person-centred occupational therapy care plans, alongside people who access services and their carers/family members (where appropriate). Ensuring that there is proper regard for their dignity, choice, self-esteem, racial, cultural, sexual and religious needs and preferences

To evaluate the effectiveness of team and occupational therapy interventions.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments and develop effective risk management plans.

To work in partnership with acute and primary care services and other healthcare providers.

To establish and maintaining effective relationships with colleagues, other agencies, people who use services and their families.

Professional

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work and care. To maintain high standards of care in all areas of practice in accordance with the HCPC Code of Conduct, professional guidelines and Trust Policies and Procedures. To act within the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act (2005).

To be aware of and implement Safeguarding Adult and Child Protection Policies, Procedures and legislation. To carry out professional responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other relevant legislation.

To act as practice assessor/supervisor/teacher in teaching, facilitating and supporting pre-registration students and junior personnel and to participate in the audit of educational placements.

To participate in new staff induction.

To research national best practice and enable services to benchmark practice against nationally recognised standards.

To lead in quality assurance activities as required.

To develop, implement and monitor interventions driven by government initiatives.

Develop and provide a range of specialist teaching/training packages which can be delivered to a range of multi-disciplinary audiences.