Social Care Assessor Progression Route Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Experienced Occupational Therapist Clinical Lead Locality Manager
Social Care Assessor Progression Route Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Experienced Occupational Therapist Best Interest Assessor Approved Mental Health Practitioner Practice Manager
Social Care Assessor Progression Route Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Experienced Occupational Therapist Practice Educator Approved Mental Health Practitioner Practice Manager
Social Care Assessor Social Care Assessors carry out the basic needs assessments of vulnerable people to identify their needs and identify the levels of risk and urgency to be able to produce individual care plans. They then act as the Care Manager to implement, co-ordinate and maintain these plans. They play a pivotal role in monitoring any changes which will require a change in individual care plans to ensure our service users receive the highest level of care, whilst achieving this in the most cost-effective way for the Council.
Occupational Therapist Progression Route Newly Qualified Occupational Therapists (NQOT’s) are at the start of their occupational therapy career journey. During the first two years of their career, they will undertake the Occupational Therapy Progression Pathway programme after becoming a registered Occupational Therapist. During these 2 years they will gain extra support from Senior colleagues to provide them with the required skills, knowledge and experience to progress their occupational therapy career and become the very best Occupational Therapist they can be.
Experienced Occupational Therapist When the 2 -year progression pathway has been completed Occupational Therapists will have gained the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to continue to progress into the role of an Experienced Occupational Therapist. As an experienced clinical specialist, a Grade 9 Occupational Therapist will competently and confidently manage their own complex caseload assessing for specialist equipment and adaptations and moving and handling working with an all-age service including children, learning disability, adults, and blue badge clinics. A Grade 9 Occupational Therapist will supervise junior staff and support with student placements working towards their student educator accreditation.
Clinical Lead As a clinical lead, you are an advanced clinical specialist in community equipment and adaptations working with an all-age service including children, learning disability and adults. The clinical lead will support both the Occupational Therapist Practice Manager and the Occupational Therapy team. The clinical lead OT will offer support, assistance, advice and supervision on a regular basis including support with home visits and cover for the Practice manager OT when not available. A clinical lead OT will hold a small complex mixed age case load and assist staff in their development and practice to ensure the very best service is provided to residents.
Practice Manager Once an individual has obtained enough relevant experience at a senior level, they may wish to progress their career into being a Practice Manager. Practice Managers perform less casework and oversee the delivery of social care through the managing of budget, allocating of resources and recruiting, developing and managing of staff all to ensure the service meets the needs of service users. At this level they are required to manage arrangements to resolve situations of high complexity and risk, including situations where legal remedy or safeguarding investigation may be required; chairing complex meetings and overseeing operational activity relating to safeguarding enquiries.
Practice Educator Our Practice Educators have a critical role in social work education. They promote learning, teaching, assessment and management of Social Work students. Practice Educators must therefore be familiar with the principles and practice of adult learning and be comfortable in sharing their knowledge and skills in line with the Code of Professional Practice for Social Care and the National Occupational Standards for Social Work. They provide regular professional and developmental supervision to social work students while providing constructive evaluation and feedback on all aspects of the student’s work.
Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) Approved Mental Health Practitioners are individuals who carry out certain duties under the Mental Health Act and are responsible for co-ordinating assessments and admissions to hospitals if people are sectioned under the Mental Health Act. They are pivotal in being a counterbalance to the medical model that can exist in mental health and bring a social or more holistic perspective. The role requires individuals to be able to make sound legal decisions, knowing how and when to use compulsory legal powers where deemed best for the individual’s safety. Although a role with great responsibility it brings great satisfaction in knowing you’re helping people likely at their point of greatest crisis and providing them with support when needed most.
Practice Manager Once an individual has obtained enough relevant experience at a senior level, they may wish to progress their career into being a Practice Manager. Practice Managers perform less casework and oversee the delivery of social care through the managing of budget, allocating of resources and recruiting, developing and managing of staff all to ensure the service meets the needs of service users. At this level they are required to manage arrangements to resolve situations of high complexity and risk, including situations where legal remedy or safeguarding investigation may be required; chairing complex meetings and overseeing operational activity relating to safeguarding enquiries.
Best Interest Assessor To be a Best Interest Assessor individual’s must be able to demonstrate high level professional practice in their area or specialism, usually with at least 2 years' work experience in this, where they must be able to work independently and have a working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and human rights legislation. Best Interest Assessors are usually the main assessors to determine a service users' mental capacity to make specific decisions. They are responsible for identifying if an individual is over 18 and balancing the user’s wishes, feelings, values and beliefs whilst considering and assessing any lawful decision-makers who may object to any proposals. Most significantly they are responsible on whether restrictive situations are legally authorised or whether any restrictions are a deprivation of the service user's liberty. It is the Best Interest Assessor's responsibility to scrutinise all the evidence available to make this decision. Although a demanding role it is one that brings great satisfaction in knowing that you can make a great difference to the people you encounter daily in ensuring that their best interests are always championed and pioneered.
Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) Approved Mental Health Practitioners are individuals who carry out certain duties under the Mental Health Act and are responsible for co-ordinating assessments and admissions to hospitals if people are sectioned under the Mental Health Act. They are pivotal in being a counterbalance to the medical model that can exist in mental health and bring a social or more holistic perspective. The role requires individuals to be able to make sound legal decisions, knowing how and when to use compulsory legal powers where deemed best for the individual’s safety. Although a role with great responsibility it brings great satisfaction in knowing you’re helping people likely at their point of greatest crisis and providing them with support when needed most.
Practice Manager Once an individual has obtained enough relevant experience at a senior level, they may wish to progress their career into being a Practice Manager. Practice Managers perform less casework and oversee the delivery of social care through the managing of budget, allocating of resources and recruiting, developing and managing of staff all to ensure the service meets the needs of service users. At this level they are required to manage arrangements to resolve situations of high complexity and risk, including situations where legal remedy or safeguarding investigation may be required; chairing complex meetings and overseeing operational activity relating to safeguarding enquiries.