Job summary
We are looking for a Band 5Occupational Therapist to join our multi-disciplinary team.

Community mental health services are going through a national restructuring, putting a new emphasis on delivering interventions, of which Occupational Therapy is identified as a key part.

We have an established team of OTs that we are looking to expand as we provide more group and individual interventions to our service users.

The role would include completing OT assessments and interventions. The intervention may be completed by the successful candidate, or by OT apprentices, support workers, or junior team members under supervision.

We are also increasing our offer of group work, looking at supporting complex service users to develop skills for daily living, and others to develop strategies to manage their mental health recovery.

Occupational therapy is valued as a core part of the multi-disciplinary team and the post holder will be working in a team with a variety of professionals. As well as occupational therapy activity, you will be involved in delivering core team functions such as dialog + and group interventions.

You will support the development of the therapeutic offer within MHT+ and will work closely with their therapy colleagues, members of the interdisciplinary team and AHP leadership.

Main duties of the job

• Provide high-quality and evidence-based occupational therapy assessments and interventions, both group and individual, to people who access services and their carers/supporters/family members, in line with the occupational therapy pathways.
• Communicate effectively with people who access services, carers, the multi-disciplinary team and when appropriate, outside agencies.
• Contribute to the generic functioning of the team.
• Provide supervision and mentoring to more junior occupational therapists, occupational therapy apprenticeships, and support workers.
• Provide occupational therapy student placements.
• Contribute to service development and audits.
• Take on the role of lead professional as appropriate.

About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.

Take a look at our Occupational Therapist Video

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Person Specification
Training, Qualifications and Registration
Essential

• A recognised Occupational Therapist professional qualification
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge in the application of relevant OT theoretical models, and approaches relevant to service user group.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the role of an OT within Mental Health services

Experience
Essential

• Mental Health Experience
• Experience of individual & group work
• An ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Computer literate. Able to use email, Word, Excel and access Internet resources

Desirable

• Providing interventions

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.