Senior Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

RESPONSIBLE FOR

Supporting rehabilitation assistant, HCAs and volunteers

OVERALL PURPOSE

The postholder will work as part of the Living Well Services team based atTrinity Hospice to provide a high quality, innovative Occupational Therapy service forpatients with palliative care needs.

You will work autonomously as an advocate of the rehabilitative approach to care todeliver high quality Specialist Occupational Therapy interventions, managing a caseload ofpatients with a wide range of life-limiting conditions to mutually agree goals, monitor, evaluate and modify treatment using appropriate outcome measures to progressand ensure effectiveness of interventions.

You will also provide support and advice for patients families, friends and carers asappropriate and within your scope of practice whilst adhering to HCPC and the RoyalCollege of Occupational Therapy standards.

As well as outpatient, group, patient homes and community based work, there will be in reach to the adult inpatient unit to support rehabilitation and discharge planning for hospicepatients and involvement in supporting the wider Trinity strategic development of services.

Main Duties of post

Clinical

To work within a rehabilitation model to ensure people living with a cancer or other progressive life limiting illness have access to self-management programmes enabling them to reach their physical, psychological, social and vocational potential consistent with their limitations, desires and life plans.

To deliver a service that is flexible and designed in response to patient needs, within varying locations including The Living Well Centre, Trinity In-patient unit, patients own home and community settings.

To provide expert holistic assessment and therapeutic interventions to improve the symptoms, quality of life and independence of patients and carers.

To plan the development and evaluation of new Occupational Therapy initiatives for both inpatient and outpatient services, working collaboratively with other professionals as appropriate.

To provide continuity of care through comprehensive, accurate recording and verbal handover to the multi-professional team within the Hospice and/or community.

To provide expert advice, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, carers, relatives and other non-professionals.

To undertake specialist Occupational Therapy practice to a high professional standard, using specialist knowledge and skills from theoretical and practical experience.

To develop and enhance personal and the teams clinical practice relating to the model of rehabilitation which supports self-management for carers and patients. To include the implementation of specific changes to practice and contribute to service protocols/development and future programmes.

To demonstrate continuous evaluation of own practice and make changes where appropriate.

To take personal responsibility for own learning and development through clinical supervision, CPD and appraisal.

To be an active member of MDT contributing to the presentation and decision making of the patients care planning. Acting as patient advocate and representing AHP and OT professional views.

To be able to communicate effectively with the immediate team and outside agencies, ensuring continuity of care is maintained across the different care settings.

To lead on the education and teaching of both patients and carers in all aspects of health care.

To develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.

To work across professional boundaries using creative reasoning and problem solving.

To maintain succinct clear records as an autonomous practitioner and record statistics as requested.

To have the highest regard for the principles of confidentiality and the importance of patient consent.

Leadership and Service Development

Act as a role model to non-specialist OTs and other professionals interfacing with the patients along their pathway, demonstrating high standards of care and clinical leadership.

To provide specialist education and training to other professionals involved in patient care and clinical leadership.

To initiate and manage change within a complex environment.

To influence the development of others through education and training.

To promote patient and public experience feedback to inform and drive innovation and change.

To participate in the development, management and promotion of the service ensuring the delivery of high quality, cost-effective care.

To promote the philosophy of person-centred care, co-creating care with people affected by their palliative diagnosis and encouraging self-management.

To champion the implementation and adherence to relevant clinical guidelines.

Demonstrate skills in conflict resolution and competent negotiation skills when dealing with difficult or challenging situations.

Actively support the recruitment, training and supervision of the volunteer team for the rehabilitation service in collaboration with the Volunteer Co-Ordinator

General Responsibilities

Maintain professional registration in line with HCPC requirements

Be responsible for own learning needs

Act in accordance with Trinity Hospices value and behaviours

Be a role model to staff and students, promoting a positive learning culture

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of up-to-date CPD

Desirable

• CPD in long term conditions

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work as part of multi professional team and on own initiative
• Computer literacy
• Good communication skills verbal and written
• Leadership skills
• Teaching and facilitation skills
• Working knowledge of Care Quality Commission Regulations, Mental Capacity Act, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and all other relevant legislation and policies
• Ability to compile reports from information and deliver presentations
• Ability to communicate within the multidisciplinary team and effectively with patients
• Maintain quality care by monitoring the competency through self-evaluation

Desirable

• Involvement in service development.
• Able to manage self when working in a highly emotive area

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Calm and objective.
• Assertive, confident yet approachable.
• Recognition of own limitations.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm
• A willingness to introduce change for the benefit of patient care
• The ability to lead, inspire, and influence others
• Ability to engage with teams to encourage them to challenge ways of working and implement improvements
• Self-awareness of need to ensure personal wellbeing and professional resilience.
• UK Driving licence and car

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

• Evidence based practice
• Risk Management and Health and Safety at work issues
• Infection Control
• Equality and Diversity
• Awareness of current issues in the palliative care arena
• Understanding of work within a charitable organisation.

Desirable

• Clinical governance and Clinical audit

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post registration experience at senior position.
• Working with long term conditions.
• Experience of audit
• Experience of teaching and training.
• Experience of multi-professional working.
• Evidence of advanced communication skills.
• Experience in providing constructive suggestions and support for service improvement

Desirable

• Experience in cancer, palliative care, mental health or another appropriate speciality
• Use of EMIS digital medical records programme
• Experience of working with volunteers.

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).