Occupational Therapist

Job Overview

Occupational Therapist Band 5 - Mental Health Inpatient service

If you are looking for an exciting new challenge this could be the opportunity you are looking for. A vacancy has arisen for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist working within the mental health inpatient team, based at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford. This team provides support across four wards: Finchingfield, a male-only ward; Galleywood, a female-only ward; Topaz, a mixed-gender ward; and The Christopher Unit, a mixed-gender psychiatric intensive care unit. The acute inpatient service in Chelmsford provides 24-hour treatment and care in a safe and therapeutic setting, actively engaging and involving people who are experiencing an acute mental health episode. Patients receive individual care and treatment based on Care Programme Approach (CPA).

The AHP leadership is committed to provide ongoing and continuous professional development for all staff. We offer exceptional education, training and development opportunities as well as a wide range of benefits, which include salary sacrifice schemes and the opportunity to buy or sell up to 1 week of annual leave to support a healthy work-life balance.

Main duties of the job

You will be working closely with the Occupational Therapy team to provide OT support on the wards. Our interventions, both individual and group, are guided by the VdT Model of Creative Ability. This includes undertaking initial assessments, treatment planning and implementation, and providing ADL assessments as required. The acute inpatient service in Chelmsford provides 24-hour treatment and care in a safe and therapeutic setting, actively engaging and involving people who are experiencing an acute mental health episode. Patients receive individual care and treatment based on Care Programme Approach (CPA).

This post will particularly suit a motivated, experienced, treatment focussed and skilled Occupational Therapist, who is competent in case management with a focus on utilising Occupational Therapy approaches and interventions that support recovery. A knowledge of VdTMoCA is desirable but not essential as in-house training will be available. We are seeking a resilient enthusiastic individual who is committed to the provision of therapy within the inpatient service. You will be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, including nurses, support workers, psychiatrists and psychology. It is important that you are able to work autonomously whilst adopting a flexible and positive approach.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
  
  
  

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post, the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Applications for Job Share are positively welcomed.

Equal Opportunities Employer

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [email protected] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Covid Vaccination

Although Covid vaccinations are no longer a mandatory requirement within the NHS we continue to encourage and support the vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against Covid19. The safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for us at EPUT.

If you would like to book a Covid vaccination or would like more information please contact us by emailing [email protected] .