About this role
Job summary
Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist.
Home First DORS (Discharge, Outreach and Recovery Support)
Are you passionate about supporting people to regain independence and achieve meaningful recovery following mental health crisis?
Home First DORS is an award-winning, innovative partnership between Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and VCSE partners, providing recovery-focused outreach and specialist occupational therapy to support timely discharge, prevent avoidable admissions and promote independence in the community.
Across hospital and community settings, Home First DORS offers specialist occupational therapy assessment, intervention and consultation for people with complex mental and additional physical health needs, supporting safe, timely and sustainable recovery.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, innovative Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our developing Home First DORS service in West Sussex.
This role offers the chance to support timely discharge, prevent unnecessary admissions and promote recovery through occupational therapy in people's homes and communities. Working with DORS recovery workers, inpatient teams, social care, housing and community mental health services, you will bring specialist OT expertise to people with complex mental health and additional physical health needs.
Main duties of the job
You will:
Provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for adults with complex mental and physical health needs. Support timely and sustainable discharge from inpatient mental health services. Work collaboratively with DORS recovery workers, offering clinical advice, consultation and joint interventions. Undertake functional, environmental and home-based assessments. Identify and recommend equipment, minor adaptations and Technology Enabled Care where appropriate. Promote recovery, independence and engagement in meaningful occupations. Attend MDT meetings, ward reviews, discharge planning meetings and community reviews to identify appropriate referrals across West Sussex. Contribute to service development, quality improvement and evaluation of outcomes. Provide professional leadership and support to colleagues across the Home First DORS pathway. Develop strong partnerships with acute, community, social care, housing and voluntary sector services.
About us
Why Join Us?
This role offers the opportunity to:
Shape and further develop an innovative Home First and DORS model. Work across hospital and community settings in West Sussex. Develop specialist skills in discharge planning, rehabilitation and recovery-focused practice. Influence system-wide approaches to patient flow and alternatives to admission. Access professional supervision, leadership development and Trust-wide OT and AHP networks. Be part of a supportive occupational therapy profession committed to quality, innovation and continuous improvement. Attend OT CPD network and development hubs
Job description Job responsibilities
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who:
Is registered with the HCPC. Has significant post-registration experience within mental health services. Has experience of working with people with complex mental health needs. Demonstrates strong clinical reasoning and risk assessment skills. Has experience of community-based practice, discharge planning or rehabilitation. Has experience of partnership working across health, social care, housing and/or voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. Has experience of contributing to service development, quality improvement, innovation or pathway redesign. Is passionate about recovery-focused and person-centred care. Can work autonomously whilst contributing effectively within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams. Has excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills. Is enthusiastic about working within an award-winning, innovative service that is transforming discharge and recovery pathways across West Sussex.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy Evidence of post qualification study Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist Practice Education training Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools
Knowledge/Experience Essential
Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems Experience of both group and individual work Experience of multidisciplinary working Experience of supervising staff and students Experience as a Care Coordinator Experience in a clinical area related to the post Leadership experience Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Meadowfield Hospital,
Arundel Road
Worthing
BN133EF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)