Job summary
BAND 7 CLINICAL SPECIALIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - RHEUMATOLOGY SERVICE Substantive | 30 hours per week
Come and join our forward thinking, committed and driven Integrated Therapies and Dietetics Department who constantly put patient care and your professional and personal development to the forefront. We are looking for a positive, proactive clinician with specialist skills in the field of Rheumatology to help us build a strong future for therapy and increase the profile of Occupational Therapy within this specialism. You will have your own outpatient clinical caseload, providing advanced specialist assessments and interventions to a range of patients with rheumatological conditions. You will also provide clinical supervision to students as well as assist in their training and development. You will play an integral role in service development and work closely with Professional Leads for Occupational Therapy to promote and improve the service. We are an integrated department inclusive of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians and assistants and have positive relationships between the different disciplines and teams. Our core hours are 8.00am-4.00pm but we can be flexible. Onsite parking/car shares are available, and a driving licence is essential.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist, you will be responsible for your own complex caseload consisting of outpatients with a range of rheumatological conditions. Good prioritisation, organisational and time management skills will be needed to balance clinical and non-clinical duties. You will be responsible for ensuring the use of advanced effective assessment skills to identify appropriate patients and to formulate, implement and evaluate individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans, some of which will be specialist in nature, based on expert analytical and clinical reasoning skills. You will need advanced communication skills to ensure a successful multidisciplinary approach to patient care and will be in regular discussions with patients, carers, JPUH colleagues, and community partners on therapy plans. You will be responsible for other non-clinical duties such as training/supervision of students, department in-service training and training for other professionals. You will be key to being actively involved in the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures. Through this being able to make recommendations for and assist with change.
About us
The James Paget is a vibrant university hospital providing the best possible care to the people of east Norfolk and north Suffolk. Situated on the coast with beautiful beaches and the Broads National Park on the doorstep we are within commuting distance of Norwich City. Our links with the Research Department is growing with joint projects being worked on. Our therapists represent the Trust at CSP, RCOT, BOA and BGS conferences. Personal and professional development is key. We are developing our research and innovation strategy in line with the national AHP Strategy. We will support you in achieving your career goals through our well-structured supervision and appraisal system, actively encouraging utilisation of training courses (clinical, non-clinical and leadership skills) with use of CPD funding. You will be supported to provide education to your team but also to our wider workforce. We also support development of our future workforce through our close links with the University of East Anglia, Suffolk College and City College Norwich providing teaching and placements to apprentices, under and postgraduates.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for more details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients in your care
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of rheumatology patients, and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management
- To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills
- To formulate an individualised occupational therapy management and/or treatment plan using clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options in order to formulate a specialised programme of care, including psycho-social analysis, clinical joint examination, hand assessment and orthotics, joint protection, relaxation therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals. To promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
- To take a lead role in training, supervising and performance management of undergraduate/MSc students and other therapy staff where appropriate
- To provide training within the Rheumatology Service to medical students from the University of East Anglia where applicable and at the request of other professionals within the Rheumatology Service
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used with a variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident, e.g. sensory loss, pain, fear, severe psycho-social problems
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and support other staff to do likewise
- To lead on the oversight, updating, developing and review of the digital and technology within the department, for example the Inflammatory Arthritis Advice App
Please watch the following videos for an insight into our Integrated Therapies Department:
Landscape version:https://youtu.be/tklpzav7UrU.
Portrait version:https://youtube.com/shorts/U4lwU9T1wKA?feature=share
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for more details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients in your care
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of rheumatology patients, and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management
- To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills
- To formulate an individualised occupational therapy management and/or treatment plan using clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options in order to formulate a specialised programme of care, including psycho-social analysis, clinical joint examination, hand assessment and orthotics, joint protection, relaxation therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals. To promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
- To take a lead role in training, supervising and performance management of undergraduate/MSc students and other therapy staff where appropriate
- To provide training within the Rheumatology Service to medical students from the University of East Anglia where applicable and at the request of other professionals within the Rheumatology Service
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used with a variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident, e.g. sensory loss, pain, fear, severe psycho-social problems
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and support other staff to do likewise
- To lead on the oversight, updating, developing and review of the digital and technology within the department, for example the Inflammatory Arthritis Advice App
Please watch the following videos for an insight into our Integrated Therapies Department:
Landscape version:https://youtu.be/tklpzav7UrU.
Portrait version:https://youtube.com/shorts/U4lwU9T1wKA?feature=share
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (BSc/MSc)
- Current HCPC registration
- Evidence of relevant postgraduate courses (e.g. BSR Core Skills in Rheumatology course, BAHT Level 1)
- Undertaken student/fieldwork educators' course
- Leadership training
- Coaching/supervision training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Band 6/7 experience of musculoskeletal assessment in rheumatological conditions, incorporating the latest clinical guidance and research evidence into practice
- Evidence of a variety of assessment skills
- Evidence of involvement in service development, e.g. working on projects
- Training and clinical supervision of clinical staff and students including the teaching of specialist skills
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of national guidance documents within the scope of rheumatology occupational therapy (e.g. NICE, ARMA, EULAR and BSR) and applies to their day-to-day work
- Evidence of research experience/interest in research
- Demonstrates experience/understanding of work-related interventions, including assessment of work ability, job retention, vocational rehabilitation, return-to-work planning, in collaboration with individuals, employers and multidisciplinary teams to optimise occupational participation and vocational outcomes
- Demonstrates experience/understanding that developmentally appropriate healthcare is provided to adolescents and young adults with a rheumatological condition
- Experience of undertaking advanced hand assessments and interventions including the fabrication and provision of bespoke splints, joint preservation strategies, and evidence-informed rehabilitation programmes tailored to the functional and clinical needs of individuals with inflammatory and non-inflammatory hand conditions
- Audit experience
- Training and clinical supervision of clinical staff and students including the teaching of specialist skills
Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Essential
- Leadership skills, including team building and supporting others
- Demonstrates advanced communication, investigative and analytical skills to undertake comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments of individuals with complex presentations
- Self-motivated, proactive and resourceful
- Ability to act as an autonomous practitioner, organising, prioritising and delegating workload as appropriate
- Able to work well with others and pass on skills and knowledge
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and prioritise accordingly
- Ability to work flexibly across clinical areas and adapt to the needs of the service, particularly when the service is under pressure
- IT skills
- Critical appraisal
- Ability to use own initiative and problem solve
Other
Essential
- Evidence of motivation for Band 7 role in Rheumatology
- Ability to take on responsibilities and additional duties
- Motivation for area and James Paget University Hospital Trust
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (BSc/MSc)
- Current HCPC registration
- Evidence of relevant postgraduate courses (e.g. BSR Core Skills in Rheumatology course, BAHT Level 1)
- Undertaken student/fieldwork educators' course
- Leadership training
- Coaching/supervision training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Band 6/7 experience of musculoskeletal assessment in rheumatological conditions, incorporating the latest clinical guidance and research evidence into practice
- Evidence of a variety of assessment skills
- Evidence of involvement in service development, e.g. working on projects
- Training and clinical supervision of clinical staff and students including the teaching of specialist skills
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of national guidance documents within the scope of rheumatology occupational therapy (e.g. NICE, ARMA, EULAR and BSR) and applies to their day-to-day work
- Evidence of research experience/interest in research
- Demonstrates experience/understanding of work-related interventions, including assessment of work ability, job retention, vocational rehabilitation, return-to-work planning, in collaboration with individuals, employers and multidisciplinary teams to optimise occupational participation and vocational outcomes
- Demonstrates experience/understanding that developmentally appropriate healthcare is provided to adolescents and young adults with a rheumatological condition
- Experience of undertaking advanced hand assessments and interventions including the fabrication and provision of bespoke splints, joint preservation strategies, and evidence-informed rehabilitation programmes tailored to the functional and clinical needs of individuals with inflammatory and non-inflammatory hand conditions
- Audit experience
- Training and clinical supervision of clinical staff and students including the teaching of specialist skills
Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Essential
- Leadership skills, including team building and supporting others
- Demonstrates advanced communication, investigative and analytical skills to undertake comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments of individuals with complex presentations
- Self-motivated, proactive and resourceful
- Ability to act as an autonomous practitioner, organising, prioritising and delegating workload as appropriate
- Able to work well with others and pass on skills and knowledge
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and prioritise accordingly
- Ability to work flexibly across clinical areas and adapt to the needs of the service, particularly when the service is under pressure
- IT skills
- Critical appraisal
- Ability to use own initiative and problem solve
Other
Essential
- Evidence of motivation for Band 7 role in Rheumatology
- Ability to take on responsibilities and additional duties
- Motivation for area and James Paget University Hospital Trust
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).
Additional information
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).
