Specialist Occupational Therapist

We are looking for an enthusiastic skilled Occupational Therapist tojoin our friendly team of OTs who work within our multidisciplinary Specialist Health Community Learning Disability (LD) covering East Devon, working from our bases in Exeter and Honiton.

The post holder would be part of the Devon wide LD service which offers a dynamic and friendly approach across community settings,supporting adults with a LD and complex needs (dual diagnosis/complex distressed behaviour) who are unable to access mainstream services.

Occupational Therapy is a large and well-respected profession within the Service. We have dedicated professional leadership, well established clinical supervision and have co-developed a 3-year Development Plan alongside our peersin the wider Trust with our Head of Profession.

Our work is integral to the LD Service Specialist Working Groups and evidence-based care pathways including Behaviours of Concern, Complex Health Needs, Dementia, Trauma Informed (including mental health) and Autism. Occupational Therapy contribute to MDT formulation and planning of Positive Behaviour Support Plans, Reducing Restrictive Practice,Stopping Over Medication of People with a LD, memory clinics and much more. We pro-actively work with the MDT contributing to care planning and risk management, and have a strong role in supporting quality of lifeoutcomes and development of capable environments for adults with a LD.

Our core business as Occupational Therapists is specialist assessment and intervention and/or consultation and advice to promote engagement in meaningful occupations to maximise health and wellbeing. We enable people to bean active member of their home and local community, supporting reasonable adjustments to access mainstream services.

The post holder will have experience of managing a specialist caseload of adults with complex needs, and will have experience in utilising specialistevidence-based assessment and outcome measurement, and an interest in sensoryprocessing assessment and intervention. We welcome applicants who will bringtransferable skills and we support continuing professional development.

The post holder will provide management and clinical support to junior

Occupational Therapy staff based within the team alongside Occupational Therapystudents and apprentices. Therapists are encouraged to contribute to leadership, development and research in the Occupational Therapy service and in development of the clinical model within the Learning Disability Service.

Due to the large geographical area of work suitable access to transportwill be required.

Please contact Ali Leonard Ali.leonardfor any further information about the post , you are welcome to arrangea visit prior to applying.

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile;

making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Provide the first point of contact and advice for Occupational Therapy for adults with a learning disability and additional mental health issues and complex distressed behaviour in the team.
• Relay complex, sensitive information to people with learning disabilities and their carers with empathy and in a way that they can understand.
• Contribute to and lead (as agreed) meetings and represent Occupational Therapy or the team when required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with team colleagues and with relevant community partners.
• Keep written and electronic records according to Trust policy.
• Provide professional advice and consultancy to the clinical team lead, multidisciplinary team members, carers…