Occupational Therapists Wanted for New Intensive Forensic Psychiatric Ward (R2), Aarhus University Hospital

Would you like to participate in establishing a completely new intensive forensic psychiatric inpatient ward where high professional standards, activity, relational treatment and safety go hand in hand?

Then the Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Ward R2 might be your upcoming workplace.

We are looking for engaged occupational therapists who want to become part of the establishment of a new intensive inpatient ward and help to bring the occupational therapy profession into work with some of the most complex patient pathways in forensic psychiatry.

You will be part of a strong multidisciplinary environment where your occupational therapy expertise contributes to assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients’ resources, problems and needs.

You will join the care and daily treatment, and have the role of a key contact person.

The position is initially 37 hours per week – or by agreement – in rotating shifts, which also includes every other weekend.

Why choose R2?

As part of establishing the Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Ward R2, you will have an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the development of a new intensive forensic psychiatric inpatient ward and at the same time help to develop the occupational therapy services in the ward.

A highly specialized field

You will as a basic employee work with some of the most complex patient pathways in forensic psychiatry and have the opportunity to apply your expertise within, among other things, ADL, cognition, sensorimotor function, social functions and activity execution.

A strong multidisciplinary collaboration

You will become an important professional partner for the ward’s other professional groups and contribute with occupational therapy perspectives to assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients’ future activity possibilities.

A work environment focused on development and community

We prioritise a good work environment and strong multidisciplinary collaboration. At R2 you will work closely with, among others, nurses, social and health care assistants, pedagogues, doctors, psychologists, social workers, medical secretaries and physiotherapists.

We emphasise a culture with room to breathe, professional sparring, space for reflection and a desire to develop both individual professional competencies and our shared practice.

Safety as the basis for good treatment

We see a high level of safety as a prerequisite for professional practice to unfold, and we actively work to create a safe environment for both patients and staff.

About the Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Ward R2

R2 will be one of the two intensive assessment and treatment wards in the Forensic Psychiatric Department and will be physically located in Building L in Skejby on the same floor as the existing intensive inpatient ward R1.

The ward will be responsible for

• assessment and treatment of patients admitted with high-security conditions
• carrying out mental observations and preparing mental reports for admitted observation patients
• treatment and stabilization of particularly challenging and complex patients in agreement with general psychiatry.

As an occupational therapist you will be affiliated with the inpatient ward and participate in the multidisciplinary collaboration around the patients. You will also become part of the monofocal occupational therapy collaboration with the ward’s other occupational therapists, where there is an opportunity for professional sparring and development of occupational therapy competencies.

About the Department of Forensic Psychiatry

Based on the Region Midtjylland values, our ambition is to create an open and respectful dialogue with patients, relatives, partners and staff. We strive for high professional quality and a culture that promotes development, learning and multidisciplinary collaboration.

At the Department of Forensic Psychiatry we work from Fundamentals of Care as a common professional reference framework for care and treatment. We believe that strong relationships, person-centred care and high professional quality create the best conditions for good patient pathways – also in a forensic psychiatric context where safety is an integrated part of treatment.

About the position

As an occupational therapist with us you will, among other things

• examine patients’ problems and resources in everyday life (ADL)
• design and initiate occupational therapy treatment based on an occupational therapy assessment and a multidisciplinary evaluation of the patient’s problems and needs
• contribute to diagnostic assessment with your occupational therapy expertise
• work purposefully with activities that are realistic, meaningful and motivating for the individual patient
• include daily activities such as shopping and cooking as well as social, physical and creative activities in the treatment
• work with issues within, among other things, sensorimotor skills, social functions and cognitive functions
• contribute to evaluating, for example, concentration, memory, pace, communication, problem solving, planning and overview in activity contexts
• analyze and assess patients’ future activity possibilities
• work closely with the patient to identify goals and plan relevant interventions
• contribute with occupational therapy observations and assessments to the multidisciplinary team
• document, evaluate and adjust the occupational therapy efforts
• actively participate in the development of the occupational therapy services at R2 and in ongoing professional development
• participate in the ward’s monofocal occupational therapy collaboration with opportunities for professional sparring and development

Expectations

We are looking for an occupational therapist who

• is educated and licensed as an occupational therapist
• preferably has experience from psychiatry or forensic psychiatry – or is keen to specialise in the field
• has an interest in activity-based treatment and working with ADL, functional ability and cognitive, social and sensorimotor problems
• works independently and in a structured way
• is responsible and self-reflective
• has good collaboration skills and thrives in close multidisciplinary collaboration
• is curious and ready to change
• can translate their occupational therapy expertise into practice in a forensic psychiatric context
• has interest in or experience with safety-oriented work
• can create professional relationships while setting clear boundaries
• communicates clearly and constructively
• is flexible and stable
• wants ongoing professional development
• wants to actively contribute to the development of a completely new intensive inpatient ward

We offer

• a unique opportunity to be involved in establishing a new intensive forensic psychiatric inpatient ward
• a special opportunity to influence and develop the occupational therapy practice on R2
• thorough introduction to forensic psychiatry and the ward’s areas of work
• mentoring scheme
• a strong monofocal occupational therapy network with opportunities for professional sparring
• competence development within forensic psychiatry, conflict management and Fundamentals of Care
• a safe and secure work environment
• supervision and reflection forums
• a strong multidisciplinary collaboration
• good opportunities for professional development
• a workplace with an open and acknowledging tone
• 3-4 annual competence days.

Salary and employment terms

The position is initially 37 hours per week – or by agreement – and is intended to be filled by agreement.

Salary and employment terms are determined in accordance with applicable collective agreement and the principles of New Pay.

Application deadline: 10.12.26

Start date: 01.02.27

If you have questions about the position, you are welcome to contact Chief Nurse Yasmine Hassan at tel. 91 16 88 48

We look forward to receiving your application.

In the Psychiatry in the Central Denmark Region, we prioritise that our staff feel secure in their onboarding and continuously develop their competencies. Therefore we have tailored our own education universe – the Psychiatry Academy.

Here you can find introduction and onboarding programs for your professional group and be inspired for the next step in your career.

Read more about our many opportunities on the Psychiatry Academy website: Click here to see the website

The position is, as a rule, a full-time position.

As Region Midtjylland continually carries out savings and reorganisations, employees in redeployment who apply for the position will have the right of first refusal.