Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work closely with the OT and Therapy Lead, the Lead OT for community services and community teams to establish occupational therapy specific roles across the community mental health services in Barnet. The post holder will hold a case load and work as an occupational therapist across a Barnet community core hub, to provide assessment, plan and implement interventions, evaluate treatment and ensure safe discharge. In particular the post holder will embed rehabilitation principles within the core hub. The post holder will provide both  specialist occupational therapy assessments and offer a strengths based, recovery focused approach with the aim of enhancing daily living skills, and engagement in meaningful and purposeful activities for service users across the community. The occupational therapist will work across services providing specific time limited interventions with clear goals established with the service user and in conjunction with the supporting clinical team. 
The post holder will work with service users who have complex and substantial needs, often working with persons with dual diagnosis and coexisting conditions including physical health needs. Having a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, 1983 (amended 2007) will be required as the post holder will support service users return to or adjust to new accommodation in the community following admission to hospital and with the aim of preventing hospital admissions. 

The post holder will work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams and relevant outside agencies, as well as with a band 5 occupational therapist to provide a quality service, which is responsive to client’s occupational needs.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES 
• To carry a full case load for which you have clinical responsibility.
• Using an evidenced based approach assess client’s needs, establish aims and objectives, and plan Occupational Therapy treatment programme in 
consultation with members of the multi-disciplinary teams, involving the client in decisions regarding appropriate interventions. 
• To carry out a range of standardised/non-standardised assessments, e.g. 
MOHOST, AMPS in accordance with OT Pathway to provide a baseline for OT with clear treatment objectives 
• To provide both specific individual assessment and treatment when indicated, involving motivating and adapting sessions and approach to allow full occupational participation. 
• To provide rehabilitation interventions which embed recovery principles. 
• To adapt activities and assessment to facilitate persons with Cognitive 
difficulties, Language difficulties, social skills deficits and Challenging 
behaviour, to work with interpreters where required 
• To work with teams to assess suitability of accommodation and housing need to give OT feedback to MDT and other agencies as appropriate. 
• To plan, run and evaluate treatment sessions using graded activities to achieve treatment aims.
• To maintain a flexible approach to treatment sessions, modifying activities, according to the fluctuating clinical presentation of the service user. 
• To attend multi-disciplinary clinical meetings, to support and share information regarding professional practice with other disciplines and work in collaboration to provide a coordinated package of care.
• To actively contribute to the risk assessment process:
o To consider all aspects of risk when considering treatments and advise 
the team accordingly.
o To complete and maintain risk assessment documentation as required. 
o To assess the therapy environments in relation to risk when planning 
and running treatment sessions.
o To ensure appropriate staffing is available to run treatment sessions 
safely.
o To advise other team members on the management of risk.
o To obtain agreement from the team, OT lead before engaging clients in 
any activity that may require therapeutic risk taking.
• To be aware of current legislation regarding safeguarding, and to have a 
thorough understanding of the Unit and Trust’s policies in relation to them. 
• Liaise with external agencies and BEH trust services to support individuals in transition back to work, education or other structured activity. 
• To carry out home visits, work with people in their accommodation and carry out session in a variety of community settings

OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES /POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT
• To design and implement the operational policy and other relevant procedures and protocols, with support from team and OT and Therapy lead. 
• To have regular meetings with the department lead to consider leadership roles and to input into the developing and maintaining a positive working culture. 
• To actively be involved in developing, reviewing or implementing protocol and policy

- To promote a rehabilitation approach within the core community team.
-  To be actively involved in service development and quality improvement, including inputting to service wide projects, identifying quality improvement within OT service and taking lead on system changes. 
• To identify and develop relevant groups, if required, for the service user needs, developing protocols for such groups based on the best evidence as appropriate 
• To ensure that service users perspectives are gained and listened to in service improvement 
• To work closely with peer support workers, adopting an empowering and strengths based approach to team working.