Occupational Therapist - HMP High Down

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.

In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care, we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative, and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our forward-thinking, friendly, and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP High Down. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will not only look after the healthcare needs of our patients residing in secure environments, but you will also have the opportunity to have a real impact on promoting health and well-being. Our healthcare services work to a 7-day week working model to ensure our patients' healthcare is managed and maintained to the highest standards at all times.

Our motto is "Caring NOT Judging", so by working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable, and high-quality primary care and mental health services to those who may have offended and those at risk of offending in the communities we serve, to improve their health status and encourage social inclusion.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deliver high-quality occupational therapy services within the Mental Health In-Reach Team at HMP High Down. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will provide therapeutic interventions to individuals with complex mental health needs, including those with challenging behaviours.

This exciting role involves assessing, planning, and delivering both individual and group sessions, focusing on improving residents' functional engagement and activities of daily living. You will also contribute to the Neurodiversity pathway, providing support around functional engagement for individuals presenting with Neurodiversity needs.

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Responsibilities

To provide comprehensive occupational therapy assessments for an allocated caseload, identifying functional needs and developing appropriate treatment plans.

To plan and deliver individual and group therapy sessions to support residents in achieving functional independence, using a variety of therapeutic interventions.

To carry out standardised and non-standardised assessments and provide detailed feedback to the multidisciplinary team about clients' abilities, information about future plans, and requirements or recommendations for progress.

To undertake joint treatment planning with clients.

To communicate treatment plans and clinical reasoning for interventions to other members of the multidisciplinary team and to work in collaboration with other disciplines and staff in clinical work.

To plan, run, and evaluate treatment sessions on a group or individual basis, using graded activities to achieve treatment aims.

To maintain a flexible approach to sessions, modifying activities according to the fluctuating clinical presentation of individual clients and the needs of the service.

To engage with clients with challenging behaviours, contributing to team discussions regarding the clinical approach to individuals and communicating this clearly to all therapy staff working with the client.

To work in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team to provide a coordinated care package.

To actively contribute to the multidisciplinary team's risk assessment process and discuss with the team before engaging clients in activities that may require therapeutic risk-taking.

To regularly review each client's progress in order to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions and modify treatment plans accordingly.

Ensure therapy interventions align with best practice and evidence-based guidelines, including through critical appraisal of literature and research, professional guidelines, outcome measures, and clinical audit.

2. Communication and Information Management

Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records in line with confidentiality protocols and service requirements.

Provide clear, written reports following assessments, and communicate clinical reasoning and treatment plans effectively to the MDT.

Develop strong working relationships with colleagues across the prison healthcare system and external partner agencies (e.g., social services, voluntary organisations).

The post-holder will have access to sensitive multi-agency information and must be aware of potential public and media interest that this may generate and handle these issues in line with Trust policies.

3. Service Development

Contribute ideas and feedback to the development and improvement of service delivery, with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness.

Participate in the appraisal and review of both personal and team clinical practice to enhance service delivery.

Promote best practice in mental health and challenging behaviour care through participation in team discussions, training, and audits.

4. Knowledge and Education

Provide training and educational sessions to multidisciplinary staff, helping to raise awareness and understanding of occupational therapy within the prison setting.

Attend regular supervision sessions, mandatory training, and relevant external courses to enhance professional skills and knowledge.

5. Governance and Performance

Participate in clinical supervision, performance reviews, and objective setting.

Monitor and review the clinical performance and governance of the service, contributing to quality improvements.

Provide clinical cover in the absence of colleagues, ensuring continuity of care.

Report all sickness, absence, accidents, or incidents promptly in line with Trust procedures.

Adhere to Trust policies and procedures and effectively manage time and resources to ensure high-quality care.

6. Professional Responsibilities

• Pursue continuous professional development (CPD) and maintain a portfolio documenting skills, knowledge, and learning.

To participate in internal and external training, in keeping with personal development plan to develop relevant skills and knowledge.

To be a reflective practitioner, evaluating the effectiveness of own work and learning from experience, including proactive use of supervision and appraisal process.

To regularly update own clinical knowledge through training, clinical discussion, guidelines, and literature reviews.

To work in accordance with professional guidelines set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), NICE, and by the Royal College of Occupational Therapy.

To promote a positive and professional identity for Occupational Therapy within the field of prison healthcare and Forensic Psychiatry.

Engage in research opportunities, with support from the Lead Occupational Therapist, and contribute to evidence-based practice in the field.

Ensure continued professional registration with the HCPC and remain up-to-date with relevant legislation and clinical developments.

7. Effort, Mental and Environment

Maintain professionalism and resilience in challenging, high-stress environments, including when working with individuals with complex behaviours.

Sustain focus and mental effort in a demanding and often unpredictable environment.

Safeguard both personal wellbeing and professional boundaries when dealing with challenging situations.

Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
• Completion of or willingness to engage in preceptorship
• Qualifications in specific activities relevant to post

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Relevant experience working with individuals with complex needs.
• Experience of group work
• Experience of working in an MDT
• Experience of using standardised assessments e.g., MOHOST and outcome measures
• Knowledge of Mental Health conditions
• Knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation
• Knowledge of the Recovery Model
• Experience of working in a secure environment
• Experience of carrying out functional assessments
• Experience of contributing to MDT care planning and risk assessments
• Up-to-date knowledge of developments affecting OT practice
• Knowledge of factors leading to offending behaviour in young people

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of the occupational therapy process
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to laterally think and problem solve
• Ability to apply and develop core OT skills
• Ability to act on constructive criticism
• Able to be proactive in contributing towards service development

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Ability to sustain demands of working with a potentially challenging client group
• Ability to promote self and profession
• Ability to work independently
• Aware of own limitations and seeks advice appropriately
• Demonstrates willingness to learn
• Professional manner towards clients and colleagues
• Ability to be flexible within own work and demands of the team
• Commitment to work as a proactive team member
• Ability to relate to people from varied social backgrounds

Other

• Ability to promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices
• Ability to promote and work in line with the working model of a 7-day a week service

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

£34,521 to £41,956 a year per annum inc. Outer HCAS