Occupational Therapist - Palliative Care

Job responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications/Experience Required

BSc / BSc (hons) Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapist

Valid and up to date Health and Care Professions Council registration (HCPC)

Experience in Occupational Therapy practice in the specialty

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage a clinical caseload of complex patients with advanced life limiting illnesses as part of the multi-disciplinary team for Overgate Hospice working with patients in the Hospice setting and their own homes. To work collaboratively with the Physiotherapist to deliver therapy services and cover each others annual leave.

Conduct Occupational Therapy assessments of adults with deteriorating conditions presenting with diverse, complex health and social care needs. Develop and deliver an individualised Occupational Therapy treatment plan, as part of a specialist multi-professional team, ensuring the service provided is evidence based, high quality, clinically effective and cost effective.

The post holder will work autonomously as well as part of a team. Robust peer support/review is available from the team through multi-disciplinary team meetings and regular clinical supervision.

Actively participate in the delivery of educational programmes on topics relating to specialist palliative care to healthcare professionals in different settings. In addition, contribute to the supervision, support, training, and assessment of occupational therapy students on clinical placement and other professional students to facilitate their education as appropriate.

Contribute to the annual audit programme and service improvement projects to ensure service provision is of the highest standard. This may lead to the implementation of specific changes to practice as a team or as part of the wider Hospice service.

Professional/Clinical

Provide specialist, evidence based Occupational Therapy interventions to a caseload of patients to ensure good clinical outcomes. The post holder will be required to work with the patient to assess their needs, using specialist tools and identify goals for Occupational Therapy intervention, to evaluate the outcome and maintain patient records. To develop, manage and provide an Occupational Therapist service for Inpatients and Day Hospice patients who are under the care of Overgate Hospice with an emphasis on symptom control, enablement, rehabilitation and improving/maintaining independence and quality of life. This will require the use of clinical reasoning skills, investigative and analytical skills as an autonomous practitioner.

Participate in delegated management tasks for the team such as providing clinical supervision, recruitment and induction of new starters, management of resources etc., ensuring good working practices for staff, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.

Implement Hospice and service policies and engage in clinical and operational discussions to propose potential changes that benefit the patient population and service.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers, colleagues, and relevant agencies in a range of matters, some which are sensitive and require advanced communication skills in negotiation, conflict, or persuasive skills, in order to motivate patients to engage.

Contribute to the development of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services.

To work towards implementing elements of the Hospice UK rehabilitation model in the context of ward based and community based clinical intervention: www.hospiceuk.org/what-we-offer/clinical-and-care-support/rehabilitative-palliative-care to ensure a multidisciplinary holistic approach to care.

Provide evidence of compliance with clinical governance standards in order to contribute to the Hospices assurance for CQC quality and safety outcomes.

Contribute to meeting the training needs of other professionals and students in areas of skill and knowledge relevant to the post holders expertise.

Use audit and research to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the service provided.

Undertake project work as appropriate to meet the needs of the service.

It is the responsibility of the post holder to complete risk assessments to ensure that risk in the service is managed and reported as required. All Therapy staff are responsible for the safe use of equipment including ensuring the competence of staff, carers, and patients.

Therapy staff are required to participate in regular supervision sessions as agreed for their individual needs. This includes clinical and management supervision, as well as appraisal and reviews.

IT skills are required for many tasks including clinical assessments and documentation.

Some clinical work requires moderate physical effort, moving and handling techniques to safely move equipment and using hoists to safely move patients.

There is a requirement to manage with sensitivity and compassion, patients who have high levels of anxiety and emotional distress.

A requirement of this role is to complete home visits / interventions independently within community settings. Therefore, the post holder will be expected to adhere to the lone working policy.

This post requires the ability to travel within community. It is essential that the post holder is a car driver with a vehicle suitable for business use and insured for the same.

Professional Standards relating to all Occupational Therapy staff include the followingHealth and Care Professions Council: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics

Health and Care Professions Council: Standards of Proficiency

Health and Care Professions Council: Standards of Continuous Professional Development

College of Occupational Therapists: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists

College of Occupational Therapists: Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice

Management and Leadership

Mandatory training as prescribed is undertaken.

Other records are maintained by the team ensuring compliance with the agreed record keeping systems of the Hospice.

Informed consent is obtained where appropriate and documented in accordance with Hospice procedures.

New and replacement equipment is not used until it has been commissioned in accordance with Hospice policy.

Appropriate risk and other assessments are completed and documented in a timely manner in accordance with Hospice policy.

Defective equipment is reported and made safe without delay in accordance with Hospice procedures.

Equipment is maintained in accordance with Hospice policy.

Infection prevention and control procedures are followed by all staff within their area of responsibility.

All staff follow Hospice clinical governance requirements.

Occupational Therapists are integrated within the Multi-Disciplinary Teams. However, Clinical supervision will be provided by internal and or external bodies as required.

Administrative

Record activity data accurately in a timely manner and in keeping with documentation standards of within 24 hours in order that activity targets can be monitored.

Maintain patient records (electronic and paper based) in line with Hospice policies and standards.

Education

To provide training to students on clinical placement.

To be responsible for, and actively record, your own personal development.

Post holder will be responsible for booking and attending / completing all mandatory training, ensuring compliance is maintained at all times.

To disseminate knowledge of Occupational Therapy through in-service training and be available for training other healthcare professionals as required.

Overgate General Duties & Responsibilities

Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation.

The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies and abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).

The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions.

The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times and participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies.

The employee must be actively involved in Hospice clinical and operational Governance and support the audit cycle.

The employee must maintain strict confidentiality at all times, applying to all aspects of Hospice business and work within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act.

Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally.

Employees must adhere to the Hospices Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work.

Work closely with the Volunteer Services Team as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise.

Use all Hospice resources economically and cost effectively.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review. The employer and the employee share responsibility to review and amend it as appropriate.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc / BSc (Hons) Degree of diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Valid and up to date Health and Care Professions Council registration

Desirable

• Clinical Practice educators training

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate an understanding of Clinical Governance
• The ability to understand and use a wide range of assessments, intervention, and evaluation methods to support best practice
• Able to critique research and practice and apply to area of work
• Able to communicate effectively to a range of stakeholders
• Conflict resolution training
• Able to make decisions and prioritise work
• Be flexible and adaptable to work in order to meet competing priorities and an ability to work as part of a close-knit team
• Able to take personal responsibility, work autonomously and manage time effectively
• Able to promote the contribution of Occupational Therapy to a range of audiences
• Ability to travel between sites car driver with valid full driving licence and a vehicle suitable and insured to use for business use
• Literate in English, numerate and able to use a computer efficiently including email, internet, Microsoft Office including Word/Excel and ability to learn service specific systems

Desirable

• Completed an Advanced communications skills course

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of current issues in OT and affecting OT practice in the clinical specialty
• Knowledge of research and audit methods
• Knowledge of OT Professional standards and codes of conduct
• Minimum of two/three years post graduate experience as an Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Evidence of experience of using research to underpin and inform evidence-based practice
• Experience in Occupational Therapy practice in the speciality
• Experience of practice placement education and providing training for a range of students/staff
• Up to date knowledge of Occupational Therapy practice in a specific speciality
• Knowledge of the pathology of disease and illness processes particularly related to life limiting illness

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.

UK Registration

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