Bank Senior Therapist (Occupational / Physio)

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

We are looking for applications from Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists who would be interested in working as a member of our bank staff. Working as a member of the bank offers opportunities to work and gain experience in palliative care and working for a third sector organisation, whilst enabling you to work flexibly.

The role of the post holder is to provide therapy services on the in-patient unit and in the community, both as one to one and group interventions for people with life limiting illness in partnership with the wider MDT.

You will contribute to the development of services to promote function and overall well-being of patients and carers, set and work towards patient centred goals, optimize quality of life and coproduce service in response to patient need.

Primary Responsibilities

Clinical / Professional Role

• Undertake comprehensive holistic Occupational / Physio therapy assessment and implement therapeutic interventions for patients with complex progressive life limiting illness utilising an evidence baed approach.

• Tailor holistic therapy assessment and treatment to patients individual needs including physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. Adapting approach and intervention as conditions and contexts change.

• Work in a person centred way, optimizing and restoring quality of life and sense of self to promote overall wellbeing, focusing on independence and autonomy, involving the patient, carer, family and multi-dicsiplinary team in the treatment plans and approaches.

• Provide advice regarding symptom management and patient care to the MDT and external colleagues as well as supporting and guiding discharge planning where appropriate.

• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives demonstrating compassion and empathy when providing advice, education and support to patients and carers.

• Provide advice, education and training to patients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team regarding safe use of recommended aids and equipment to promote patients independence in activities of daily living.

• Participate in MDT meetings, professional and family meetings offering specialist input and advice and act as an advocate for the patient.

• Undertake visits to patients homes and make recommendations for equipment and support.

• Be mobile across Kirklees with access to their own vehicle in order to undertake home visit assessments with patients to complete functional assessment of patients in their home environment with support of the Senior Occupational / Physio therapist.

• Work closely with equipment services, community therapists and external agencies in the provision of necessary equipment and adaptations in order to maximise the patients independence, comfort and safety on discharge, with the emphasis on quality of life.

• Assess for and prescribe appropriate specialist equipment for use on the in-patient setting.

• Provide specialist clinical advice and support to te MDT and external agencies.

Management Role

• Ensure that patient documentation is completed accurately using SystmOne and paper records in accordance with professional standards, hospice policy and legal requirements.

• Support the Therapy assistant and volunteers.

• Provide cover for the therapy service and prioritise Occupational / Physio therapy interventions in the absence of the Senior Occupational / Physio therapist.

• Support the KICS team and actively contribute to the achievement of service development initiatives.

• Collaborate with the therapy team to undertake audit of Occupational / Physio therapy provision in order to maintain high standards within the service and to evaluate outcomes.

• Participate in policy and guideline development relevant to therapy provision.

Educational Role

• Maintain a professional portfolio in accordane with HCPC recommendations and the competency framework for the role.

• Undertake training and education to ensure ongoing personal and professional development.

• Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence based practice in palliative care and National Standards and guidelines, incorporating these appropriately into clinical practice.

• Take responsibility to access clinical supervision.

• Engage in personal development reviews, ensuring CPD and service standards are maintained in partnership with line management develop learning objectives to meet set knowledge and competencies.

• Engage and assist the therapy team with the delivery of formal and informal education.

• Support in supervising the team members, students and volunteers.

Quality Assurance Role

• Ensure Occupational / Physio therapy practice is evidence based.

• Initiate changes to practice in partnership with appropriate MDT members.

• Initiate and undertake further policy and standard setting, audit and research as appropriate.

• To participate in the development and implementation of policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines.

• To carry out governance initiatives measuring and evaluating the Occupational / Physio therapy service, effectiveness, activity data and real time feedback.

• To collaborate with the therapy team and KICS team to develop and undertake regular audits of Occupational / Physio therapy provision.

• To attend internal and external meetings, representing the team and organisation when required.

Health and Safety

• All staff have a responsibility to identify and assess risk. Staff are actively encouraged to report all incidents. In order to ensure all incidents are reported, an open culture operates in which staff are free to report incidents in the knowledge that they will be supported.

• The postholder is responsible for the identification, assessment and analysis of risks and implementing action plans to reduce risk and minimise the impact of known risks and ensure they are familiar with all risk management and health and safety policies and procedures.

Other Responsibilities

• To work in accordance with the values of The Kirkwood. Patients, Families and Carers are the focus of everything we do. Our values are what we live and work by.

We are:

• Respectful and Inclusive

• Passionate and Determined

• Open and Honest

• Kind and Compassionate

• Forward-thinking

• We strive for Quality and Excellence

• To participate in The Kirkwoods performance and development review process.

• To undertake any other duties required by The Kirkwoods Management team commensurate with the post.

• To undertake annual mandatory training provided by The Kirkwood.

• To maintain complete confidentiality as a condition of employment. Information relating to patients, other members of staff and volunteers or which is acquired for the purposes of employment may only be disclosed with the express permission of the appropriate manager.

• To respect the ethos and values of The Kirkwood and its services and comply with its policies, procedures and regulations.

This job description is not exhaustive therefore the employer and employee share responsibility to review and amend this job description in order to reflect any changes in role/development.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a broad range of clinical areas, including physical settings.
• Evidence of experience of functional assessments, discharge planning, equipment provision, home visits / access visits, using person centred approaches, collaborative goal setting.
• Experience of using SystmOne and paper records in accordance with professional standards, local policy and legal requirements.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Experience of working with community and other agencies.
• Experience of advocating for patients and promoting their interests in MDT discussions.

Qualifications

Essential

• A full, clean UK driving license with regular access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Degree or diploma in Occupational / Physio therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT).
• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Previous experience and knowledge of working within the field of palliative care.
• Evidence of CPD and reflective practice.
• Basic understanding of Clinical Governance.
• Knowledge and insight into own limitations and a willingness to share and learn from others, utilising skills of critical appraisal.
• Ability to work autonomously as part of a large MDT and represent Occupational / Physio therapy in MDT discussions.
• Ability to lead group sessions and self-management groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people with complex needs.
• Ability to work in an environment that is emotionally demanding.
• Ability to organise own work and caseload and work well as part of the wider MDT.
• Ability to undertake assessment and formulate treatment / management programmes with patients, acting as an autonomous practitioner.
• Demonstrates self-motivation and positivity in attitude and behaviour.

Desirable

• Awareness of Local and National initiatives relating to palliative care.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).