Australia
Recently emigrated to Sale, VIC, Australia from the UK. Looking for OT opportunities in the area. Been working for NHS in Wales, currently in Adult Community Mental Health.
Working as an autonomous practitioner and part of an interdisciplinary team to deliver specialist OT intervention to individual service users and groups. As a senior OT provide supervision to junior staff and support students in placements. Lead group intervention, manage a caseload of complex and varied mental health conditions of service users with care coordination, full CTP and risk management (WARRN). Along with specific OT duties, community team duties are completed such as routine assessments, urgent assessments, new patient assessment clinics, duty desk and supporting daily team needs. Experienced with using standardised and non standardised assessments. Lead for Recovery through Activity group in Newport CMHT which required reshaping and adjusting delivery of service provided due to COVID pandemic. Lead MDT and step up to management duties when required. Build rapport with 3rd sector organisations and make onwards referrals for patient pathways. Work well under pressure and with reduced staffing due to pandemic and resources.
Using clinical expertise to advise on functional capacity, job demands, ergonomics, and rehabilitation programmes for employees with complex health problems or disabilities, assisting them to remain or return to work. I work as an autonomous practitioner managing my own caseload of management referrals, prioritising needs and workload with a flexible approach. I provide imparital advice to both managers and employees, using clinical reasoning to support advisory reasonable adjustments and recommendations in line with legislation and organisational policies. I engage with a broad range of referrals from NHS staff, University student contracts and private healthcare companies. Undertake workplace assessments, Display Screen Equipment assessments and support Moving & Handling assessments working in a client-centred approach with the multi-disciplinary team. Actively lead and support groups for clients, to address self-management strategies of symptoms experienced and how to best promote healthy habits to prevent flare ups and manage work/home balance. Support staff in a sensitive and reassuring manner following potential distressing circumstances such as; ill-health retirement or redeployment. Record accurate clinical records, ensuring compliance with agreed record keeping systems of the Trust. Involved with the development of service objectives, protocols and policies. Recently supported a clinical audit for which accreditation was gained.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Older Adult Acute Mental Health. Inpatient 20 bed mixed ward of function mental health illness and dementia. Leading group and individual therapeutic interventions, contributing to MDT ward round meetings. Collaborative working with Community Mental Health Team and Adult Social Care to support families of service users. Provide escorted leave and home visits, to support safe discharge from both a physical and psychiatric viewpoint. Experience with equipment requests and referrals to further services. Employment as an Occupational Therapist in an acute inpatient older adult mental health ward has been rich in professional and clinical development. Being adaptable and flexible to support patient needs has been a constant and being comfortable with changing plans has been essential throughout. Through initially managing difficult behaviours and very low motivation, to being fit for discharge, the OT process has been clear and professionally rewarding. Conflict resolution skills and managing my own caseload has given me the confidence to build my clinical reasoning and ensure safe, effective and supportive discharge for service users. Through reflective practice and supervision I have gained a deeper understanding of adult care, considering the complex and comorbidities older adults face with physical and psychiatric ill health.