Job descriptionYou will work as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist within Nottingham West PCN, providing specialist input for adults with a range of mental health needs across GP practices. You will work autonomously in a fast-paced primary care environment, delivering holistic assessments and time-limited, focused interventions. The role promotes recovery, improved function, and self-management and independence. The role includes approximately 20 hours per year of extended access sessions (evenings and/or Saturdays) on a rota basis. You will join an established Mental Health OT team within Nottingham West PCN and the wider PICS workforce, alongside Mental Health OTs, Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaches, and a Mental Health Practitioner with links to secondary care. Professional support is provided by the OT Clinical Lead within PICS. Nottingham West PCN covers 12 GP practices across Broxtowe (Eastwood, Stapleford, Beeston), serving around 110,000 patients, with strong links to social prescribing, wellbeing services, and community partners. Main duties of the job Deliver autonomous holistic assessments within primary care mental health pathways. Deliver time-limited evidence-based interventions supporting function, wellbeing, and self-management. Manage risk, prioritise need, and ensure appropriate escalation or referral. Develop collaborative care plans with patients, carers, and MDT colleagues. Contribute to MDT working, pathway development, and service improvement. About us PICS is the employer for this role. We collaborate with patients and partners to design and deliver clinically robust health and social care solution through Community Services, Out of Hospital Services, GP Practices, and Primary Care Networks. Find out more about us: http://picsnhs.org.uk/. 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 Development and Personal Performance To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and to participate in the review and appraisal process. To adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times. To reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision and meeting the goals of the MHOT competencies. Share any knowledge gained via conference, peer review journals, specific training sessions, workshops, presentations etc. to develop and underpin good practice. To reflect on own practice through clinical supervision and mentorship and to develop skills as a clinical supervisor/mentor to others. To support the use of evidence-based projects, audits, and outcome measures. To work autonomously as an Occupational Therapist within professional and PICS guidelines, policies, and procedures. Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified need. Participate in the Appraisal System and demonstrate the achievement of agreed personal objectives. High degree of personal credibility, emotional intelligence, patience, and flexibility, including ability to use reflective practice and access support when required. Confident in facilitating and challenging others. Communication and Relationships Demonstrate advanced communication skills in providing advice, empowerment, facilitation, influence, motivation, and counselling. Be able to provide concise summary of appointments, raise any concerns to appropriate professionals, communicate treatment plan and request additional support or requirements from GP or other Healthcare Professional. Manage complex communication issues that may arise between differing health and social care professionals including de‑escalation skills when working in highly antagonistic, hostile, and emotive clinical areas. Demonstrate an understanding of the need to involve patients and carers in decision making, offering them informed choices, respecting their views. Demonstrate the ability to recognise barriers to understanding that can be countered with those without English as their first language, patients with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties such as anxiety, clinical depression, or personality disorders. Seek out different styles and methods of communicating to assist longer term needs and aims. The nature of some communication can be unpredictable and can be of an urgent high priority nature: this can therefore be responsible for impacting into time allocated towards other necessary tasks. Provide and receive complex and sensitive information in relation to patient care and will have the ability to advise and support others to communicate information in an understandable, empathic, and reassuring way to adults with Mental Health and/or Learning Disabilities and/or Cognitive difficulties and their family and carers. Utilise 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 HCPC registered occupational therapist. * Postgraduate knowledge of meeting the health needs of Adults with Mental Health underpinned by theory and experience, demonstrated with experience working in Mental Health roles. In depth knowledge of National and HCPC policies, procedures, code of conduct and standards of care in relation to service provision for adults with mental health. Post qualification experience of working collaboratively with statutory partners, third sector partners and families/carers. Knowledge of safeguarding adult and children's procedures and the ability to elevate concerns. Developed skills from a wide and variant background, experience(undergraduate and postgraduate)and a broad yet deep knowledge base underpinned with a proven track record and/or an academically scrutinised knowledge base. 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/ AI and GP practice data monitoring systems, training provided on SystmOne Software as required. Ability to write comprehensive clinical notes, implement and evaluate care plans. Participate in the education, induction programmes and support meetings for other professional staff. Maintain up to date mandatory training records and individual health professional requirements. Identify the potential benefits of, and participating in, educational programmes for patients and their relatives/carers. Analytical and judgment skills Ability to analyse and interpret complex, dynamic, and incomplete information, pre‑empt and evaluate issues, and recommend appropriate course of action to address emergency issues in unfamiliar contexts. You will be supported in the development of this skill in primary care. Demonstrate a high level of reflective practice and competence in clinical reasoning and decision making based on evidence‑based OT practice. Analysis of and ability to 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 seeking additional advice when necessary. It is desirable to have extensive risk assessment experience including use of the Mental Health or Mental Capacity Act. Planning and organisation skills Responsible for planning and prioritising their own work load within primary care rotas. Promote, develop, and implement clinical standards and good practices both in care delivery and appropriate record keeping. Responsible for non‑clinical demands alongside clinical caseload. Responsibilities for patient/client care Provide effective care and therapeutic interventions to patients presenting with a range of difficulties. To engage in active relapse prevention planning with patients and carers, contributing to their recovery and/ or wellbeing and discharge planning. At all times work in collaboration with patients and carers ensuring that the patient is treated with compassion, respect and dignity. Manage distress and conflict in the day‑to‑day work with patients who, as an expression of their condition/ diagnosis, may at times be difficult to engage and/or demonstrate significant risk behaviours. 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 be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of patients and their carers and advise and treat on the promotion of health and the prevention of physical/mental and behavioural deterioration. Work flexibly to meet the needs of patients across pathways which may regularly include working enhanced access and flexible hours. 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 and advise on statutory issues which impact on 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. Human Resources Take responsibility for keeping own professional knowledge and skills up to date through mandatory training, reflective practice, shared learning, etc. Be responsible for being actively involved in CPD and professional development plans via supervision and appraisal process. Clinical Governance To maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation in line with legal, professional and organisational requirements. Ensure all information with regard to each patient related contact is recorded within SystmOne records. Actively promote peoples equality, diversity and rights. Take appropriate action to the significance of the risk and consistent with protection procedures, applying protection procedures, following lone worker procedure. Demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals. Report all accidents / incidents, and all ill health, failings in equipment and / or environment to line managers. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr
