Occupational Therapist

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen in Croydon for a full-time Band 6 OT to work on our women’s acute ward: Gresham 1. You will be working with an experienced, supportive MDT who highly value OT. You will be managing the varied therapeutic activity programme on the ward and will be working with the MDT to support discharge plans through OT ADL assessments.

There are great opportunities to be part of the wider inpatient network of Activity Coordinators, OTs, peer workers, volunteers and students. We promote access to training and CPD opportunities to support your ongoing career progression. You will be well supported with regular supervision from the clinical specialist band 7 OT.

We welcome applications from experienced band 5s who are interested in taking the next step into a band 6 role.

The Bethlem Royal hospital has a central occupational therapy department which offers a wealth of creative opportunities. There is an onsite clinical exercise service, community social hub and large grounds with free parking available for staff, visitors and service users.

Main duties of the job
To manage a caseload of female clients with complex needs using evidence based/client centred principles.

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate group and 1-1 interventions, in collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary and occupational therapy team.

To provide leadership, development opportunities and support for defined staff, students and volunteers via regular supervision and appraisal systems.

To develop links with relevant services and agencies in the community to support service users to begin reintegration as soon as possible.

To take a lead in promoting the use of employment and other vocational avenues to service users and the multi disciplinary team as a means to recovery and social inclusion.

Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. SLaM provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM provides an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To undertake occupational therapy assessments for a designated caseload, assessing health and well-being from an occupational perspective.
To contribute to assessing and completing risk assessments within the multi-disciplinary team to support a person’s recovery.
To identify occupationally focused goals taking into consideration the mental, physical, spiritual, psychological, employment and social needs of the service user and that it is sensitive to age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexuality and disability.
In collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team and service users, to plan and implement individual or group therapeutic interventions using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals which support their recovery.
To interact with service users, families, carers and support networks in an empathetic fashion and demonstrate a clear understanding of the effects of disability in the areas of productivity, leisure and activities of daily living.
To utilise a comprehensive set of skills to effectively communicate with service users and their family using a range of communication and engagement skills.
To actively promote relationships with colleagues that support open communication and collaborative working, taking personal responsibility for one’s contribution to the process of multi-disciplinary team working.
To actively participate in the delivery of the Trust Occupational Therapy Strategy and via the specific occupational therapy implementation plan in the Croydon Directorate.
To participate in the induction, training, supervision and education of students and other staff as required
To utilise leadership skills, contributing to decision making about practice via profession specific forums and using training and development opportunities provided by the Trust.
To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

Qualified Occupational Therapist and HCPC registration
Post registration training qualification in related area
Desirable criteria

Practice Placement Educators course
Experience
Essential criteria

Post registration experience as an OT at band 5
Working with mental health service users (pre or post)
Desirable criteria

Working with people with challenging behaviours
Experience of working in an inner city/multi-cultural environment
Skills
Essential criteria

High level of understanding of mental health disorders and treatment models
Knowledge of principles of risk assessment and management
Understanding of importance of service users involvement
Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships
Ability to manage own workload and determine / set own priorities
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:

That all applications for this post will need to be made online
That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
That we are a smoke-free Trust