Occupational Therapist - Advanced

Job summary

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist with a passion for supporting Autistic adults in times of crisis or transition? We are seeking an Advanced Occupational Therapist to join our specialist service, working with individuals with Autistic Spectrum Conditions to facilitate safe and timely discharge from inpatient mental health settings and provide support in the community to prevent admission to hospital and or contact with criminal justice services.

This is a rewarding and dynamic role where you will apply advanced clinical reasoning, specialist Autism knowledge, and highly developed OT skills to improve outcomes for Autistic adults across Cornwall.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a defined caseload of Autistic adults using evidence-based practice, the Occupational Therapy process, and person-centred approaches.
• Carry out advanced assessments, planning, intervention, and evaluation as an autonomous practitioner with regular professional supervision.
• Provide highly specialist OT support to individuals experiencing distress, at risk of crisis, placement breakdown, or returning home from out-of-county placements.
• Work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team to support individuals living independently in the community.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and evaluation of high-quality Occupational Therapy services for Autistic adults.
• Offer expert leadership to colleagues through supervision, training, and appraisal (excluding formal line management).
• Lead on delivering training to health and social care professionals on sensory differences and occupational barriers experienced by Autistic adults.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications and Relevant Experience

Essential

• A degree or diploma in Occupation therapy
• Health Professional registered Occupational Therapist
• Considerable experience of working with people with Autism
• Evidence of further study at Masters level or equivalent experience

Knowledge and abilities

Essential

• Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to people with Autism

Skills and Aptitude

Essential

• Highly skilled in use of standardised assessments (e.g. MOHO, Sensory Processing and AMPS) and professionally recognised non-standardised assessment tools relevant to this client group (e.g. SHEA, environmental checklists)