Job Summary
Are you passionate about reducing health inequalities and helping people with complex needs to live well with their learning disability?

We are seeking to recruit a B7 Occupational Therapist to join our friendly, creative, and research-active community learning disability team in Uckfield.

You will have access to a high-quality internal training programme, as well as external training opportunities to further develop your specialist skills.

We are a multi-disciplinary team, dedicated toachieving great outcomes for adults with learning disabilities. We have clear objectives linked to the latest national policies and are dedicated to delivering the highest quality care through evidence-based care pathways. We are co-located with our social work colleagues and work closely in partnership with them, as well as with families, paid carers and the wider systems that support people.

Main Duties of the Job
As a clinical specialist occupational therapist, you will use your highly specialist skills and understanding of the relationship between the individual, their environment and their occupations to support people with the most complex needs to live well with their learning disability. You will provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for people referred to the service as well as contributing to the core tasks of the team.

Contributing to the management of a team caseload of individuals with complex needs, you will assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions, which will be delivered in a variety of community settings, including:

• Family homes
• Residential and supported living services
• Day services
• Community facilities

You will have the flexibility to manage your workload in the community; however, you will be expected to spend some time working from the central team base in Uckfield.

You will be supervised by the Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist.

About Us
Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for all age groups across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

We pride ourselves on our high quality internal and external training opportunities. We have robust professional leadership structures and provide excellent career development opportunities.

We encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/ life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home-working, part-time hours, flexible start/ finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

We'd love you to join our Trust, rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC.

Working in Sussex:
Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed

Embrace the city life with great access to Brighton and London

With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there are plenty of opportunities for adventure

Job Responsibilities
In order to be a successful clinical specialist occupational therapist in our team you will be:

• Registered with HCPC as an occupational therapist
• Have significant experience as an occupational therapist supporting adults with learning disabilities - or in a closely related area

It would also be advantageous if you have:

• Training in sensory processing and/or the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)

This post will be based in Uckfield and will primarily cover Eastbourne, Downs and Weald. However, a willingness and ability to travel across East Sussex (and sometimes further) will be needed, as required to meet the needs of the overall service. SPFT staff have the capacity to work from home remotely where applicable and in agreement with your line manager.

Full time hours are available, but part time hours will also be considered.

Main Duties

• To manage a caseload of complex clients, using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions
• To provide specialist clinical advice and input for clients with complex needs
• To promote evidence-based practice in occupational therapy and the relevant learning disability service

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Evidence of post qualification study
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Practice Education training
• Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of both group and individual work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience in a clinical area related to the post
• Leadership experience
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health

Additional Information
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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

Contact Details
For questions about the job, contact:
Advanced Clinical practitioner OT
Stuart Heaton
stuart.heaton1@nhs.net
03003040313

Or Sophie Gill (Team Leader) 07464925337 / sophie.gill8@nhs.net
Helen Justice (Consultant Occupational Therapist) 07899 067762 / helen.justice@nhs.net
(We are happy to arrange informal visits)