Specialist Neurology Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patient in your care. To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under your management and support other to do likewise.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form an accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of neurological conditions, of which some will be highly complex, to recommend the best course of intervention/expect advice and to develop comprehensive management strategies for the patients presenting condition.

To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients including those with complex neurology presentations, using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualised management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organize this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.

To demonstrate highly developed precise dexterity coordination and palpation skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

Other Interventions may include on an ongoing basis:

o Energy conservation techniques (To manage long term, conditions).

o Self-management strategies

o Specific hand therapy techniques such as mirror therapy or functional exercises.

o Relaxation techniques and practice

o Anxiety management

o Lifestyle management and health promotion advice

o Retraining service users in personal and domestic activates

o Return to work advice and support

o Prescription for specialist splinting

Ensure the implementation of service policies and any service development changes.

To provide spontaneous and planned specialist neurology advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of the therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To train and supervise staff, including qualified professionals such as physiotherapists, Occupational therapists and nurses, assistant practitioners and therapy assistants. This will include the performance of their appraisals and PDPs.

To provide specialist clinical supervision in the management of neurology conditions for students at both Msc and Bsc level.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise the rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of the condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will be used with a variety of patients.

Communicate effectively with all members of the integrated community neurology team, GPs, Consultants and other professions to ensure a collaborative approach to the management of patients conditions.

To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work with the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

Professional

To act as team leader in a designated clinical area this will include initial stages of grievance/discipline reporting and monitoring of sickness and return to work interviews. Delegation of tasks to other staff members in the department. To be actively involved in conjunction with the HR department in recruitment and selection of staff.

To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work. To be an active member of the in-service training programme.

Maintain accurate and up to date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.

To communicate effectively and work collaborative with the MDT colleagues across the health economy to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated integrated service.

Identify objectives for personal development and participate in the staff appraisals scheme and personal development programme.

Demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance agenda through participation in risk management assessment, audit, Datix evaluation and apply to work situation ensure others do likewise.

Organisational:

Responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the clinical coordinator.

Plan and organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to patient management and use of time.

Decide priorities for own work area balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that these remain in accordance with those of the section as a whole.

Responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the department and be an authorised signatory for travel claim forms, enhancements and purchasing equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

Be aware of the health and safety aspects of your work and implement any polices which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, ensuring that equipment used is safe

To comply with the organisational and departmental polices and procedures and be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

To lead by action and inspire others activity as a role model, demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by the organisation aims and objectives.

Any other duties which might be considered appropriate by the clinical and professional lead.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.

Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.

Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.

AI

We recognise that AI tools are increasingly used in professional settings. While we encourage strong applications, we value authenticity and an accurate reflection of skills and experience.

Applicants must declare if AI has been used to complete their application, including responses that are directly copied or significantly shaped by AI tools.

By submitting this application, you confirm that all information provided is a true and accurate representation of your own skills, knowledge, and experience.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or Equivalent in Occupational Therapy Leadership / Management qualifications or willing to undertake
• Evidence of post registration study at masters level or equivalent experience
• Registration with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Previous experience in neurology
• Teaching qualification
• Relevant validated clinical course

Experience

Essential

• Experience working at band 6 level or above
• Ability to demonstrate clinical appraisal and supervision skills
• Experience working in the community.

Desirable

• Experience at band 7 level Clinical educators course
• Experience managing teams / change

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Skills and Knowledge
• Ability to demonstrate clinical skills and knowledge within specialist area
• Leadership skills
• Forward thinking
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Self-directed learning
• Ability to work autonomously
• Presentations skills
• Critical appraisal
• Personal Attributes
• Able to lead and motivate a team
• Able to work collaboratively with a team
• Able to work independently
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Able to maintain motivation, drive and enthusiasm.
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.

Desirable

• Skills and Knowledge
• Audit Research

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).