Mental Health Occupational Therapist

We are excited to offer this opportunity as part of the continued expansion of our innovative Mental Health Service within Nottingham West Primary Care Network. This is an established post over the last four years, reflecting our ongoing investment in occupational therapy and mental health support across primary care. As a Mental Health Occupational Therapist, you will work First Contact within GP surgeries across Nottingham West PCN, supporting patients experiencing mental health difficulties. Working autonomously, you will assess occupational needs and develop personalised management plans that promote recovery, wellbeing, and improved daily functioning. You will join an established and award‑winning team of Mental Health Occupational Therapists whose work has been presented to HRH Princess Anne, recognised through Occupational Therapy Excellence Awards, and shortlisted for two prestigious HSJ Awards. The team also delivers successful therapeutic group programmes for patients across the PCN. You will work alongside the Mental Health Team Lead, Advanced and Senior Mental Health Occupational Therapists, and an Occupational Therapy Apprentice, with additional support from our Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead within PICS. Main duties of the job * The ability to take a lead role in completing autonomous advanced assessments, triage and treatment of acute and chronic presentations for patients with mental health concerns attending primary care. * Help patients identify their needs and make shared decisions about management using current evidence‑based practice. * Liaise with Primary Care colleagues to ensure that all the patients needs are addressed. * Support Primary Care colleagues development in the best treatment and onward management strategies by attending meetings, delivering educational sessions and supporting PCN Practitioners. Key requirements * HCPC registered * Occupational Therapy qualification and registration or equivalent. * Experience working in Adult Mental Health. * Willingness to complete the HEI First Contact Practitioner Roadmap when successfully in post; you will be supported by the clinical lead to develop your primary care skills to succeed on the module. Benefits of working for PICS We offer a comprehensive package which includes: * NHS Pension 2015 Scheme (subject to eligibility) * Alternative government‑based scheme (subject to eligibility) * Competitive leave entitlement that includes maternity, paternity and adoption leave, study leave allowance, and sickness provisions * Access to education and training opportunities, depending on your role (CPPE Pharmacy, NHS England Roadmap for First Contact Practitioners, apprenticeship schemes, support professional development) * Working in a multi‑disciplinary team with support from a wide variety of professionals * A flexible approach to a work‑life balance * Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility) * Access to Blue Light Card scheme * All staff events and conferences * Free parking across many sites * Personalised induction into the company and job role Job responsibilities Professional Leadership and Development * Maintain own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and participate in the review and appraisal process. * Adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times. * Reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision. * Provide clinical education, training, and evaluation of clinical competence of team and multidisciplinary team staff, providing support and guidance. * Maintain, develop and disseminate specialist knowledge of evidence‑based practice. * Critically evaluate own work using evidence‑based projects, audits, and outcome measures. * Work autonomously as an Occupational Therapist within professional and PICS guidelines, policies, and procedures. Communication and Relationships * Demonstrate advanced communication skills in providing advice, empowerment, facilitation, influence, motivation, and counselling. * Provide concise summaries of appointments, raise concerns to appropriate professionals, and communicate treatment plans and additional support requests. * Manage complex communication issues with differing health and social care professionals, including de‑escalation skills in highly antagonistic, hostile, and emotive clinical areas. * Involve patients and carers in decision making, offering informed choices and respecting their views. * Recognise barriers to understanding for patients without English as their first language, with disabilities, and those with mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, or personality disorders. * Use different communication styles and methods to assist long‑term needs and aims. * Handle unpredictable, urgent high‑priority communication that can impact time allocated to other tasks. * Provide and receive complex and sensitive information in patient care and advise others to communicate in an understandable, empathic, and reassuring manner to adults with mental health and/or learning disabilities and/or cognitive difficulties and their families and carers. * Use communications in accordance with Caldicott Principles, Data Protection, Freedom of Information Act and Trust policies and procedures. Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience * Occupational Therapy qualification and HCPC registered occupational therapist. * Postgraduate degree or equivalent qualification or experience. * Highly developed specialist knowledge of meeting the health needs of adults with mental health, underpinned by theory and experience. * A teaching qualification (e.g., ENB998/P126/127) or a proven track record in occupational therapy education is desirable but not essential. * In‑depth knowledge of National and HCPC policies, procedures, code of conduct and standards of care for adults with mental health. * Post‑qualification experience of working collaboratively with statutory partners, third‑sector partners, families and carers. * Knowledge of safeguarding adult and children procedures and ability to take a lead role in strategy meetings as required. * Developed skills from a wide and varied background, experience and a broad yet deep knowledge base, underpinned with a proven track record or academically scrutinised knowledge base. * Proven professional development, a profile that demonstrates advanced clinical occupational therapy practice. * Systematic understanding of managing a designated, complex occupational therapy caseload (relative to primary care) using theoretical and practical experience, completing assessments, planning, implementing occupational therapy interventions, and evaluating outcomes aligned to care plans. * Offer advanced consultation skills and developed specialist and generic knowledge to undertake comprehensive assessment of health and psychosocial care needs of patients with complex disease, including holistic assessment, gathering and interpreting information, performing tests and analysing results. * Analytical judgement underpinned with specialist knowledge and experience is used to develop evidence‑based holistic personal care plan with patients, carers, relatives and health care professionals based on a full assessment. * Provide evidence‑based written information, ensuring easy access to advice and information for patients and their carers. * Working knowledge of Microsoft and GP practice data monitoring systems. * Ability to write comprehensive clinical notes, implement and evaluate care plans. * Provide specialist education and training to other professionals involved in patient care. * Participate in the education, induction programmes and support meetings for other professional staff. * Monitor own performance by reflective practice and identify training and educational needs. * Regular self‑direction of learning needs. * Maintain up‑to‑date mandatory training records. * Identify the potential benefits of, and participate in, educational programmes for patients and their relatives/carers. * Address specific health targets (e.g., NHS Plan, National Service Frameworks) related to own area of practice through education. * Ensure compliance of others with regard to mandatory training and individual health professional requirements. Analytical and Judgment Skills * Analyse and interpret complex, dynamic and incomplete information, pre‑empt and evaluate issues, and recommend appropriate actions to address emergency issues in unfamiliar contexts. * Demonstrate a high level of reflective practice and competence in clinical reasoning and decision‑making based on evidence‑based OT practice. * Analyse and work across organisational boundaries within health and social care and with wider community partners. * Make a judgement on whether clients have the capacity to give informed consent and seek additional advice when necessary. Desirable to have extensive risk assessment experience including use of the Mental Health or Mental Capacity Act. Planning and Organisation Skills * Plan and manage own workload. * Work independently as an Enhanced Practitioner to manage own complex caseload. * Plan and organise specialist occupational therapy provision and adjust as required. * Promote, develop and implement clinical standards and good practices in care delivery and appropriate record‑keeping. Responsibilities for Patient/Client Care * After completing a comprehensive core assessment, develop and provide an individualised, evidence‑based programme of care based on formulation, including to those with complex needs or challenging behaviours. * Work collaboratively with patients and carers ensuring compassion, respect and dignity. * Manage distress and conflict in day‑to‑day work with patients who may be difficult to engage and/or demonstrate significant risk behaviours. * Provide effective care and therapeutic interventions for patients with a range of difficulties, engage in relapse prevention planning with patients and carers, contributing to recovery, wellbeing and discharge planning. * Provide specialist advice and guidance to patients, carers and practitioners of other professional disciplines, less experienced staff, voluntary organisations and the public. * Recognise and anticipate situations that may harm the health and wellbeing of patients and carers and advise and treat to promote health and prevent physical or mental deterioration. * Work flexibly to meet the needs of the PCN, including extended hours where pre‑agreed with surgeries for Enhanced Access. * Demonstrate flexibility in the role, including working across clinical pathways to support the needs of the service while ensuring high‑quality care. Policy and Service Development * Adhere to policies, procedures, protocols and standards, and be instrumental in embedding these in service provision. * Adhere to professional code of conduct and standards, and requirements of other legislation. * Understand, contribute to and advise on statutory issues that impact patients and carers. Perform statutory duties and seek advice where necessary. * Ensure implementation of National, Trust and Local Service Legislation, Policies, Procedures and Guidelines for Health and Social Care and be involved in their development where appropriate. Report any deficiencies within the clinical environment or equipment. * Actively participate in service developments and improve the quality of evidence‑based treatment interventions by others, ensuring a consistent and standardised approach across the pathway. * Participate in the effective monitoring, review and evaluation of the service provided. Person Specification Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. J-18808-Ljbffr