Job summary
In this role the post holder will be taking a lead for the Occupational Therapy service in a further education college for people with autistic spectrum conditions and/or profound and multiple learning disabilities.

The post holder will assess the impact of the learning disability on occupational performance through the use of specific OT standardised (eg AMPs, MOHOST, Sensory Profile) and non-standardised assessments. They will also provide specific treatment goals and provide training to the people who support them in order that they can participate in their everyday activities as independently as possible. They will work with a range of people with mild to severe and profound learning disabilities.

Main duties of the job
To Develop the occupational therapy contribution to the further education college and the wider service in collaboration with the Health Coordinator of Alexandra Centre.

To work autonomously as an advanced Occupational Therapist with people who have a learning disability and their support networks to meet the complex health and social care needs of all concerned.

To provide a Specialist Occupational Therapy Service in clients' homes, at their place of work or education, their residential, daytime or respite setting, or in any relevant community setting.

To plan and implement Occupational Therapy and multi-disciplinary group work. To work in a multi-agency context, sharing information, joint assessments and care planning to provide an holistic understanding of need and provision of services.

To use Occupational Therapy models of practice to guide assessment and treatment

To undertake project and service development work based on identified clinical need.

To assess, advise, organise and/or provide equipment and adaptations and instructing on their safe use where indicated or referring on to other relevant agencies, when appropriate

To develop materials and documentation that, where appropriate, is accessible to people with learning disabilities.

To follow all Trust Policy relevant to patient / service user care and conduct of own role

About us
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Job responsibilities
To plan and implement Occupational Therapy and multi-disciplinary groupwork. To work in a multi-agency context, sharing information, joint assessments and care planning to provide an holistic understanding of need and provision of services.

To use Occupational Therapy models of practice to guide assessment and treatment.To undertake project and service development work based on identified clinical need.

To work as a member of the teams, using a range of specific professional and generic, mental health and learning disabilities assessment tools to assess, plan, treat and evaluate the care needs of service users. Undertaking and contributing to reviews of such care.

3.1.7 To assess, advise, organise and/or provide equipment and adaptations and instructing on their safe use where indicated or referring on to other relevant agencies, when appropriate

3.1.10 With the support and facilitation of other senior occupational therapists, to continue to develop the clinical speciality area of occupational therapy working with Adults with learning disabilities.

To use and complete care plans, pathway documents and Framework progress notes and professional reports accurately and in a timely manner

To provide sound clinical reasoning in relation to professional input to care plans, to members of the team, trainees or others external to the organisation, when required.

To develop materials and documentation that, where appropriate, is accessible to people with learning disabilities.

To research and collate information about local resources relevant for people with learning disabilities.

To recognise and respond appropriately to disturbed behaviour in line with trust policies

To follow all Trust Policy relevant to patient / service user care and conduct of own role.

To work and travel across a geographical area and to liaise with integrated teams

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist
• Completion of fieldwork educators' course.
• Current Children and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults level 1

Desirable

• Evidence of Post Graduate or equivalent specialist training in areas of practice relevant to the post eg sensory modulation, learning disabilities, mental health

Experience/Skills
Essential

• Extensive experience working with children?adults with learning disabilities
• Skills in the use of a range of methods of occupational therapy assessments, intervention and management for the full range of problems of severity and complexity presented by adults with learning disabilities, including challenging behaviours.
• Experience of carrying out assessments for basic equipment and adaptations.
• Demonstrate independent problem solving skills.

Abilities
Essential

• Ability to form good working relationships with others in a multidisciplinary setting and negotiate role in setting.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to respond to complex information and wide range of client needs
• Ability to present clear & accessible reports on work carried out.
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritise and organise own workload.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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