Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
This is a developmental post via a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy or MSc Occupational Therapy (Apprenticeship route) fulltime over 2 or 4 years.
You will work towards successful completion of BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy according to your eligibility and the offer of a place on the respective programme.
On successful completion you will register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as an Occupational Therapist and be eligible for registered band 5 Occupational therapy posts.
You will develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies as an occupational therapist through a blended programme of academic and work-based learning. You will be based in a team working alongside and under the supervision of one or more registered occupational therapists and will complete 1000 hours of clinical practice education in other health and social care occupational therapy clinical settings within and outside NELFT.
The level 6 Four-year integrated degree programme will be delivered by the University of East London (UEL), Stratford Campus.
The level 7 Two-year integrated degree programme will be delivered by Coventry University, Vauxhall Campus.
Main duties of the job
1. To attend University teaching sessions and clinical placements as set out in the Occupational therapy BSc or MSc programme.
2. To complete and pass academic modules and clinical placements to the required standard in order to progress through the programme.
3. To ensure timely achievement of assignments and assessments in accordance with the academic programme requirements.
4. To gain experience during the period of the apprenticeship in a wide range of clinical areas to include inpatient and community and physical and mental health.
5. To attend regular meetings with a work based occupational therapy mentor.
6. To participate in tripartite reviews, with the University and employer representatives each semester.
7. To demonstrate increasing skills and competence in managing an OT clinical caseload appropriate to your stage of learning including the provision of occupational therapy assessments and interventions for patients with a variety of physical and mental health conditions.
8. To demonstrate application of the Occupational therapy process (assessment, intervention, evaluation) across a wide range of clinical settings.
9. To demonstrate patient-centred care based on the underpinning evidence base and best practice guidance.
10. To complete and pass the End Point Assessment.
Working for our organisation
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO HANDBOOK
Clinical Skills
11. To develop the ability to engage service users in positive therapeutic partnerships.
12. To provide OT assessments and interventions to service users within agreed competencies and training as delegated by the team lead/clinical supervisor/practice educator.
13. To contribute actively to the work of the service and multi-disciplinary team by communicating clearly using local recording processes and forums.
14. To be actively involved in providing evidence-based advice and care to service users and their carers in accordance with local policies and procedures.
15. To undertake joint work-based learning with other professionals as determined by team leads.
·To use clinical supervision to develop understanding of the needs of the clients and develop health and care plans in accordance with presenting needs.
·To regularly review the outcomes of assessments and interventions whether individual or group based and to share learning with clinical supervisor and wider team as appropriate.
·To develop an understanding of clinical risk pertaining to clinical setting and incorporate into health and care support plans.
16. To work mindfully in relation to work and study-based pressures and seek support as required from clinical supervisor, team leads and work-based mentor and University academic staff.
17. To carry out risk assessments including manual handling and ensure actions are taken for safe interventions.
18. To promote the value of Occupational Therapy to patients, carers and fellow health professionals, seeking support from senior colleagues as appropriate
Leadership
·To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.
·To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
·To support the development of a positive and supportive team culture.
·To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
·To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.
·To advise, encourage and share knowledge utilising the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews.
Administration
·To be computer literate.
·To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patient’s records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
·To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.
Communication
19. To work effectively with other staff and members of the community ( care staff, carers and relatives) in order to implement patient care plans as determined by the occupational therapist. To ensure good communications are maintained at all times to achieve the desired outcomes.
20. To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers, families and colleagues ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly when barriers to understanding exist.
21. To ensure effective communication of sensitive and confidential information to patients, relatives and carer’s where there maybe barrier’s to understanding, which requires interpersonal and negotiating skills.
22. To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff which are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.
23. To liaise with clerical staff around appointments and communication with patients and professionals.
24. To deal with patient expectations and needs sensitively.
25. To maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work carried out at each clinical session, including electronic record keeping and data entry.
26. To ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained through employment with the Trust is kept confidential.
Training
·BSc Occupational therapy is linked to academic level 6. MSc Occupational Therapy is linked to academic level 7.
·To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
·To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
·To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
·To support new staff and their integration within the team.
·To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.
·To take part in student placement schemes offering demonstrational opportunities for both occupational therapy students and students from other disciplines as appropriate
27. Actively contribute own development and learning through supervision and reflection.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
Person specification
Academic Qualifications
Essential criteria
28. Grade A* - C (9 – 4) in GCSE English and Maths or equivalent.
29. Level 3 (A-Levels in at least 2 subjects or equivalent)
30. Evidence of recent academic achievement (within last 5 years)
Experience
Essential criteria
31. Current working experience within a relevant therapy support worker role
32. Understanding of the scope of the role of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in context of team and organisation
33. Understanding of how the occupational therapy contributes to service development
Apprenticeship
Essential criteria
34. Understanding of apprenticeship and benefits of apprenticeship
35. Permanent member of NELFT staff and have completed probationary period
36. Working a minimum of 30 hours per week for NELFT
37. Care Certificate
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
38. A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
39. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
40. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
41. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.