About this role
Job summary
Would you like to help people build their independence and take meaningful steps towards life back in the community?
Join our supportive team at Russell Clinic, an inpatient rehabilitation unit in Exeter, where we have two Band 5 Occupational Therapist opportunities:
- One substantive post: 37.5 hours per week.
- One fixed-term post: 37.5 hours per week, covering maternity leave until 16 November 2027.
At Russell Clinic, we support people with complex psychosis, placing recovery at the heart of our work. You will help individuals develop the skills they need for everyday life, working alongside them to support their recovery goals and plan for discharge.
You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for each person. Building positive relationships will be central to your role, as you liaise with families, housing providers, community teams and other services to support a well-planned transition back into the community.
If you are passionate about recovery-focused occupational therapy and helping people move towards greater independence, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
You will play an important part in helping people at Russell Clinic prepare for life beyond the ward. With recovery at the heart of your work, you will support individuals to develop and practise essential skills for independent living, working alongside the Occupational Therapy team and wider multidisciplinary team.
From initial assessment through to discharge and follow-up support, you will work with each person to understand their needs and help develop a clear, personalised discharge action plan. You will also work closely with the social care assessment team to support their progress through the social care pathway.
At weekly clinical meetings, you will contribute to a shared understanding of each persons needs and help the team plan their next steps. Where complex or sensitive issues arise, you will liaise with Care Co-ordinators to support a thoughtful, coordinated approach.
Building positive working relationships will be central to your role. You will liaise with families, carers, housing providers and residential care providers to ensure each persons support needs are understood. By connecting people with appropriate community services and sources of support, you will help them make a well-supported transition from the ward into the community.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To work in collaboration with the Russell Clinic multi-disciplinary team, to develop robust discharge plans with and for patients. This will involve working with them proactively from admission to the ward and throughout their in-patient stay.
The post holder will apply the core principles of recovery in discharge planning and preparation, supporting the multi-disciplinary team to help patients to develop and practice essential skills for independent living.
The post holder will work closely with the social care team, housing providers and connect patients to community activities to support independence and their recovery.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a mental health rehabilitation setting
- A detailed knowledge of the needs and difficulties of people who experience complex psychosis
- Understanding of current mental health services
- An understanding of the current research and thinking about rehabilitation services
- Understanding of the practice of Occupational Therapy in the context of mental health rehabilitation
- Understanding of the Recovery principles
- Experience of the practice and principles of risk assessment and positive risk management
- Current awareness of relevant benefits
- Experience of running groups
- Ability to demonstrate highly developed verbal communication skills in order to develop on-going relationships with people who use the service, clinical teams, carers and other agencies
- Good written communications skills for example for report writing
- Enthusiasm and genuine interest in mental health rehabilitation
- Excellent all round interpersonal and networking skills, being able to develop community networks with people who use the service
- Able to be appropriately directive and encouraging people who use the service
- Non-judgemental, to appropriately work with people with varying needs, experiences and backgrounds
- Supervisory skills, relates to other team members and people who use the service
- Can demonstrate excellent assessment skills
- Problem solving and lateral thinking skills in a solution focussed way
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
- Professionalism, at all times present self and represent the team in a professional and appropriate manner and able to maintain professional boundaries
- Excellent organisational skills
- Mobility throughout the geographical area and occasionally out of county as required
- Competent IT skills
- Commitment to CPD
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of occupational therapy roles
- Current awareness of housing issues and statutory guidelines
- Knowledge of Mental Health Act law
- Motivational Interviewing skills
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).
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
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Russell Clinic
Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)