The post will involve leading on the delivery and implementation of the OT provision across the prison. This post is based within the Mental Health team and Therapies service at HMP Pentonville to provide support to the prison establishment for the management and treatment of men (aged 18+) with varying levels of mental health problems and neuro-developmental needs. The OT provision to a designated caseload, focusing on functional daily living skills and specific mental health and risk issues. This will include overseeing and reviewing the OT referrals process as well as the assessment, treatment and evaluation of clinical interventions, planning and running a range of therapeutic individual and group work, carrying out functional assessments and contributing to multidisciplinary team care planning and risk assessment. The patients are people with diverse needs and presentations, often with emerging mental health difficulties, including personality disorder and can exhibit impulsive behaviour. The post will also include providing consultation and input (including assessment and intervention) to the prison neuro-diversity pathway, working with men presenting with a learning disability, ASD, ADHD and/or acquired brain injury.
The post holder will work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Team and relevant outside agencies, as well as with OT colleagues in other establishments to provide a quality service, which is responsive
to clients’ needs.
Daily management of the Wellbeing Centre environment and processes, including risk assessment, timetable and service provision
To be responsible for the Occupational Therapy assessment, treatment and evaluation of an allocated clinical caseload, and in compliance with New Models of Care as Occupational Therapy Lead
To be responsible for planning and providing group and individual assessment and treatment sessions within the service, working with the team Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapist.
To carry out standardised assessments and provide detailed feedback to the multidisciplinary team about clients’ abilities and also information about future plans and requirements for progress.
To communicate treatment plans and clinical reasoning for interventions to other members of the multidisciplinary team and to work in collaboration with other disciplines and staff in clinical work
To plan, run and evaluate treatment sessions on a group or individual basis, using graded activities to achieve treatment aims.
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
Why NLFT?
We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
Excellent internal staff network
The post holder will be aligned with our values:
We Are Kind
We Are Respectful
We Work Together
We Keep Things Simple
We Empower
We Are Proudly Diverse
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Specialist OT Assessment and Clinical Input
Demonstrate highly specialist knowledge of autism ‑ informed occupational therapy practice underpinned by current evidence -based best practice .
Provide specialist sensory/environmental assessments and develop sensory profiles where indicated , translating findings into practical ward/community adjustments.
Support assessment of occupational performance factors impacting engagement, regulation, independence, and participation in care planning.
To apply advanced clinical reasoning to identify occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan.
To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy process.
Monitor and manage OT assessment activity and waiting lists within the team’s remit, ensuring prioritisation and risk considerations are applied appropriately.
Produce high ‑ quality written outputs from assessments, ensuring recommendations are practical, implementable and tailored to the relevant setting (inpatient or community).
To take a lead role in the education, supervision and training of more junior members of staff, support workers and occupational therapy students
To ensure client needs and their carers are central to service delivery, and that individual spiritual beliefs, customs and values are respected.
Consultative Advice and Guidance to Services
To provide consultation and liaison to other professionals working with autistic adults in the boroughs of Barnet, Haringey, Camden, Islington and Enfield, both community and inpatient services.
Provide specialist consultation and advice to inpatient and community teams regarding sensory/environmental adaptations, occupational functioning and practical strategies for autistic adults.
Support teams to adapt routines, environments and approaches to reduce distress, support regulation and improve engagement.
Provide case-based consultation to multidisciplinary teams, contributing to formulation and planning discussions where required . based consultation to multidisciplinary teams, contributing to formulation and planning discussions where required .
Support consistent implementation of occupational therapy r elated reasonable adjustments across services. related reasonable adjustments across services.
Work collaboratively while maintaining the principle that ongoing clinical responsibility remains with the referring service (except where the team provides specialist assessment input).
To provide signposting to referred clients and their families, supporting clients to engage as required .
To liaise with professionals in locality mental health and learning disabilities teams involved with referred individuals /families.
Inpatient Arm Contributions
Contribute to reducing avoidable admissions and length of stay through early identification of sensory/environmental needs and consistent implementation of reasonable adjustments.
Provide specialist OT input to support autism informed care on inpatient wards, including environmental and sensory adjustments that improve day-to-day experience and reduce escalation. informed care on inpatient wards, including environmental and sensory adjustments that improve day to day experience and reduce escalation.
Support 72-hour admission formulation meetings for joined-up care planning .
Support ward teams to strengthen documentation that captures sensory needs, functional considerations and adjustments (e.g., passport content, sensory profile summaries, adjustment prompts/templates).
Support improved transitions between inpatient and community services by ensuring OT recommendations are clearly documented and shared appropriately .
Where relevant, support liaison/unplanned care interfaces through autism-informed guidance to staff when autistic people present in acute settings.
Advice on arranging CeTRs where needed
Community Arm Contributions
Provide consultation and guidance to community services to support earlier intervention by addressing sensory/environmental barriers, daily living challenges and functional needs.
Advise on adapting appointments, contact methods, care planning and interventions to be more autism inclusive and functionally accessible. inclusive and functionally accessible.
Work with community teams to embed consistent occupational adjustments across boroughs.
Improve the understanding and skills of staff in working therapeutically with autistic adults.
Training, Workforce Development and Resources
Contribute to the design and delivery of autism ‑ informed training for frontline staff, with a focus on sensory needs, environment, occupational functioning and practical adjustments.
Support co ‑ produced training and workshops in partnership with Autism Hubs and lived experience contributors, ensuring authenticity and relevance.
Develop practical resources and tools for staff (e.g., sensory/environment checklists, adjustment templates, de ‑ escalation/environment guidance).
Contribute to “train ‑ the ‑ trainer” approaches or internal champions where used to sustain learning and practice changes in teams.
Provide presentations/workshops to varied audiences (staff groups and, where appropriate , service users/carers) to support understanding and uptake of autism ‑ inclusive adjustments.
Documentation, Record Keeping and EPR Requirements
Ensure OT assessment findings and recommendations are documented in line with Trust and local processes, including appropriate use of EPR systems.
Maintain high standards of record keeping through timely , accurate , professional documentation .
Support teams to record and implement OT related recommendations consistently within agreed documentation. related recommendations consistently within agreed documentation.
Service Developments
Contribute to discussion on proposed local clinical guidelines, protocols, and service and strategic development.
To advise line manager of any service delivery issues .
Data, KPIs, Outcomes and Service Evaluation
Contribute to activity monitoring and outcomes tracking relevant to OT input (e.g., number of specialist OT assessments, timeframes , themes/recommendations).
Support performance reporting by providing data and narrative input as requested (e.g., access to assessments, impact themes, training activity).
Participate in audit and evaluation activity , including capturing feedback from staff, service users and carers to inform service improvement.
Governance, Risk, Safeguarding and Quality
Work within Trust governance frameworks and contribute to safe service delivery, including raising and escalating concerns in line with safeguarding policies and procedures.
To work closely with other staff in the team to ensure that operational issues that impact on the delivery of a quality service are identified and addressed.
Participate in clinical supervision, reflective practice and professional development in line with professional standards.
Contribute to quality assurance processes including peer review of work, audit, and development of safe, consistent practice across boroughs.
Promote inclusive, least restrictive, autism ‑ informed approaches in line with best practice principles.
To complete complaint investigations and serious incident investigations when allocated .
Partnership Working and Co-Production
Work collaboratively with Autism Practitioners, SaLT colleagues, inpatient/community teams, Autism Hubs and partner services to provide joined ‑ up support.
Participation in co ‑ production activity to ensure service development and learning outputs reflect lived experience and improve accessibility.
Support effective communication with families and carers where appropriate , in line with consent and governance procedures.
Professional Responsibilities
Maintain registration and practice in accordance with professional standards and Trust policies.
Maintain competence through CPD and ensure practice remains evidence ‑ based, ethical and person ‑ centered .
Deputise for the Service Manager when appropriate , including supervision of junior staff where necessary.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role and service needs.
Policy Development
Ensure compliance with local policies including working within allocated budgets and resources, ensuring value for money.
To be responsible for policy development to implement/adapt policies and practice as necessary to specialist area .
Comply with Trust cost improvement plans and initiatives.
Information Management
To operate a laptop or desktop PC .
To have a working knowledge of the Data Protection Act, GDPR and its requirements, in respect to confidentiality for both patients and staff and ensure that any computerised information system is maintained as requested.
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council professional standards and local Trust policies.
General
All staff are responsible for the continual compliance with CQC standards and outcomes.
The postholder must be aware of, and work in line with, the Trust’s Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures.
