Job Description
Join us as an apprentice and train to become a qualified Occupational Therapist, gaining a BSc Hons Degree in Occupational Therapy whilst you work. This is a 4-year fixed term contract for the apprenticeship. On successful completion of the programme, you will be invited to apply for a position as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the Trust.
The post is a blend of integrated learning between the workplace (4 days per week) and the University (1 day per week). Three full time practice placements will also be completed over the course of the degree to provide required experience in other clinical settings or organisations. You are expected to be at work 5 days a week during university breaks.
You will be taught one day per week at university except during the full-time placements. There is also an expectation of independent study and workplace learning of up to 20 hours per week. You will have a mentor assigned to you from within the OT team who will support your learning.
Please note that entry qualifications for the apprenticeship course is set by the University. Please ensure that you clearly state your education qualifications on your application form, with dates obtained and specific grades achieved.
This post will be based in the inpatient child deaf mental health unit. A minimum of level 1 BSL or equivalent is required for this post and lived experience of hearing loss and experience working within the Deaf community is desirable.
For the duration of the apprenticeship, you will be working at the same location, however your three full time university practice placements will provide an opportunity to experience how the profession works in different settings such acute general hospitals, community services, schools, with children, adults, and older people.
You will be patient-facing from the very start, so that you can develop your clinical competencies and knowledge related to the role of an Occupational Therapist with increasing confidence.
Our core business as Occupational Therapists is specialist assessment and intervention to ensure the delivery of an evidence-based, specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention service to maximise health and wellbeing to the people that use our services.
In this role you will be supporting the Occupational Therapists and Multi-Disciplinary Team with the assessment process, delivering care planned interventions and evaluating outcomes. This will be achieved using specialised technical/creative skills to plan and provide a flexible person-centred programme, with the supervision of registered Occupational Therapists.
On successful completion of the 4-year programme you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to clinically practice and you will be invited to apply for a position as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the Trust.
Corner House
Corner House is a 6-bed national inpatient service for deaf children and young people aged 11 to 18 years with severe and enduring mental health problems, and communication disorders.
The unit is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, within which both deaf and hearing staff are proficient in British Sign Language (BSL) and Sign Supported English (SSE). It provides detailed assessment and inpatient treatment through a variety of goal-focussed interventions.
The unit addresses complex problems including psychotic illness, bipolar affective disorders, depression, severe anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, some eating disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, and Tourette's syndrome. Our focus is on recovery in collaboration. with children, young people and their families/carers.
You’ll use signing at all times when a deaf person is nearby, whether or not they are directly involved in the conversation. You’ll be supported in developing your signing skills to a minimum of BSL 2 within two years of appointment.
About our locations:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Corner House, our national Deaf CAMHS in-patient unit is located within the impressive grounds of Springfield University Hospital in Tooting. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.
- The post holder will support the delivery of occupational therapy assessment and intervention in tier 4 service, at Corner House, national in-patient unit for deaf children and adolescents mental health services
- You will be supporting individuals in their recovery – working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers to achieve optimum levels of occupational performance and occupational balance in the areas of identity, communication skills, occupational roles, lifestyle management, motivation, interpersonal skills, cognitive skills, self-care, productivity (education, training and/or employment) and leisure.
- You will work in our skilled multi-disciplinary team alongside Occupational Therapists who deliver evidence-based assessment and intervention. Our Occupational Therapists offer a unique understanding of occupational performance, physical and mental health, children and young people occupations and child development in the context of mental health. We work in innovative ways to deliver OT interventions to enable individuals to reach their occupational potential and fulfil their role and identity as occupational beings.
- Under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, you will contribute to the delivery of occupationally focussed assessment and interventions with an agreed caseload. In addition to a robust occupational focus, you will contribute to risk assessment and risk management processes.
- Under the supervision/guidance of the Occupational Therapist you will develop, implement, and evaluate programmes of care on an individual and group basis.
- You will develop and maintain partnership working and good professional links with statutory, voluntary, and private organisations as well as the multi-disciplinary team.
- You will undertake occupational therapy assessments that demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between occupation and health and wellbeing.
- You will work with people to implement their care plan for them to regain control over their own unique recovery journey.
- You will work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and maintain communication networks with staff, service users and carers.
- You will facilitate and support information sharing to promote choice, self-determination, and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.
- You will assess service user’s physical health needs and prescribe/facilitate use of equipment, assistive technology and environmental adaptations when required to enhance occupational performance.
- You will be an active member of the OT Service and wider MDT.
- You will participate in MDT meetings and OT Team meetings where relevant.
Obtaining the post will be dependent on firstly successfully completing a two-step interview process for the Trust and then being accepted by Coventry University - London base.
- This role will require you to undertake work which is relevant to your level of knowledge and experience and will increase in complexity as you progress with your training.
- This role also entails working alongside qualified Occupational Therapists to assist in the application of knowledge gained from university attendance.
- The post holder must uphold both their clinical workplace commitments and those for their academic study, completing all necessary work by the deadline and completing clinical placements to a satisfactory level.
- Ongoing progression in university study is essential for this position, employment will be unable to continue without academic attendance and eventual degree level qualification.
WHEN APPLYING FOR THE POST PLEASE ENSURE:
1. a) Your application form clearly identifies how you meet the ESSENTIAL CRITERIA as set out in the Job Description.
2. b) You clearly state your education qualifications on your application form with dates obtained and specific grades achieved.
3. c) You have a passion to become an Occupational Therapist and are realistic about your capacity to manage a demanding work role plus university study in your own time. Emotional resilience, ability to manage pressure and deadlines, and availability to study evenings and weekends are essential.