Job summary We are seeking to recruit a Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our Later Life and Memory Service. We are a forward thinking, friendly and busy team aiming for high quality service provision. As a community based practitioner you will work with some autonomy. Support and supervision will be provided by the team and Occupational Therapy colleagues as required. We already have two Band 6 Occupational Therapists within the team and an OT Assistant. We would welcome an informal visit or telephone contact to further discuss the role if you wish to. IMPORTANT Please note: This job is a permanent role, however the first 12 months only will be working for the Older Adults Community hub, Knowsley. This is to cover maternity leave. Following this another suitable position will be found within the Trust. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the community and then remain in a position working for Merseycare. Main duties of the job Your main role will be completing OT functional assessments within the Memory Assessment role of our service. These assessments will be to support people living with dementia in the community and enhancing patient safety. Assessments to support diagnosis and care plans. Supporting with running Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. Communicating with people with dementia and their loved ones to support holistic care. Liaising with other agencies to support the person living with dementia, including senior nurse practitioners, social workers, consultants, admiral nurses and so on. About us Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. Date posted 20 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 350-MHC6926936 Job locations Willow House Dragon Lane Whiston L35 3QY Job description Job responsibilities Responsibility for screening/assessments for OT based functional assessments/specialist assessment. To work as part of the wider MDT to ensure the highest standard of care is given to our patient cohort. To complete mental health assessments/reviews as necessary. To complete assessment of risks that may be presented to/posed by our patient cohort and plan for care accordingly. To ensure that safeguarding is considered as part of the daily role. Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role Job description Job responsibilities Responsibility for screening/assessments for OT based functional assessments/specialist assessment. To work as part of the wider MDT to ensure the highest standard of care is given to our patient cohort. To complete mental health assessments/reviews as necessary. To complete assessment of risks that may be presented to/posed by our patient cohort and plan for care accordingly. To ensure that safeguarding is considered as part of the daily role. Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role Person Specification Knowledge/ Experience Essential Experience of OT functional assessment Experience of successful team working Experience of liaison with internal and external services and agencies Knowledge and ability to express an understanding of Occupational Therapy Process including activity and task analysis and the formulation of intervention plans grounded in clinical reasoning General knowledge of the principles of clinical governance Have an understanding of clinical and environmental risk assessment Evidence of CPD/Short courses Desirable Experience of service development audit and research practice relevant to the clinical area Experience of planning and facilitating therapeutic groups for patients/ clients Experience of service development Experience of being involved in clinical audit and/or research Familiar with Electronic Patient Records Management and clinical leadership A basic understanding of relevant legislation including The Mental Capacity Act Values Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented Skills Essential Up to date knowledge and application of current best Practice in Occupational Therapy relevant Area of Practice Application of Occupational Therapy Outcome measures and Models of practice Application of the process of standard setting, audit, evaluation and review A sound knowledge of the core skills of Occupational Therapy and their application in this field Be able to communicate effectively with service users within the specific client group Have good listening skills Demonstrate a good knowledge of the Health Profession Councils standards of Proficiency and Occupational therapists responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base Demonstrate knowledge the concepts of mentorship, and supervision. Evidence active participation supervision and the appraisal process Experience of Group and Individual interventions with the specific client group Experience working in a collaborative way with MDT and service users/carers Good time management skills Apply and promote OT skills, to include carrying out occupational assessments, setting clear occupational goals and facilitating a wide variety of therapeutic interventions via the provision of meaningful activities Able to apply Person Centred Approaches Apply clinical skills and able to reflect on own and others practice Excellent range of communication skills, able to motivate and support other staff Ability to facilitate presentations Self-management and motivation skills Risk assessment skills IT literate Ability to travel across boundaries Awareness of factors contributing to good health and the importance of promoting these in line with organisational public health policy Understanding of partnership working Awareness of local agenda in health and social care Desirable Demonstrate leadership skills to be able to initiate, monitor and implement change and fully participate the development of OT service delivery Apply Professional skills to enable MDT working partnerships and liaise with external agencies Qualifications Essential Registered Occupational Therapist with the Health Professions Council Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy Teaching / Mentorship qualification or equivalent work-based experience Desirable Evidence of post Registration study in a field relevant to post Membership of professional body Practice placement education Qualification Person Specification Knowledge/ Experience Essential Experience of OT functional assessment Experience of successful team working Experience of liaison with internal and external services and agencies Knowledge and ability to express an understanding of Occupational Therapy Process including activity and task analysis and the formulation of intervention plans grounded in clinical reasoning General knowledge of the principles of clinical governance Have an understanding of clinical and environmental risk assessment Evidence of CPD/Short courses Desirable Experience of service development audit and research practice relevant to the clinical area Experience of planning and facilitating therapeutic groups for patients/ clients Experience of service development Experience of being involved in clinical audit and/or research Familiar with Electronic Patient Records Management and clinical leadership A basic understanding of relevant legislation including The Mental Capacity Act Values Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented Skills Essential Up to date knowledge and application of current best Practice in Occupational Therapy relevant Area of Practice Application of Occupational Therapy Outcome measures and Models of practice Application of the process of standard setting, audit, evaluation and review A sound knowledge of the core skills of Occupational Therapy and their application in this field Be able to communicate effectively with service users within the specific client group Have good listening skills Demonstrate a good knowledge of the Health Profession Councils standards of Proficiency and Occupational therapists responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base Demonstrate knowledge the concepts of mentorship, and supervision. Evidence active participation supervision and the appraisal process Experience of Group and Individual interventions with the specific client group Experience working in a collaborative way with MDT and service users/carers Good time management skills Apply and promote OT skills, to include carrying out occupational assessments, setting clear occupational goals and facilitating a wide variety of therapeutic interventions via the provision of meaningful activities Able to apply Person Centred Approaches Apply clinical skills and able to reflect on own and others practice Excellent range of communication skills, able to motivate and support other staff Ability to facilitate presentations Self-management and motivation skills Risk assessment skills IT literate Ability to travel across boundaries Awareness of factors contributing to good health and the importance of promoting these in line with organisational public health policy Understanding of partnership working Awareness of local agenda in health and social care Desirable Demonstrate leadership skills to be able to initiate, monitor and implement change and fully participate the development of OT service delivery Apply Professional skills to enable MDT working partnerships and liaise with external agencies Qualifications Essential Registered Occupational Therapist with the Health Professions Council Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy Teaching / Mentorship qualification or equivalent work-based experience Desirable Evidence of post Registration study in a field relevant to post Membership of professional body Practice placement education Qualification 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). 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Address Willow House Dragon Lane Whiston L35 3QY Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)