Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist - Community Stroke Rehab

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

• To provide Occupational Therapy input to a multidisciplinary client focused community Stroke Rehabilitation service, working within patients own homes within Bromley.

• To facilitate clients early discharge from the Hyper-Acute Stroke units.

• To undertake assessment and treatment of clients with a range of physical and cognitive impairments, who may have complex or multiple pathology. To determine the occupational therapy treatment indicated, and to maintain records, as an autonomous practitioner

• To develop and support programmes of rehabilitation for clients which will be carried out by a team rehabilitation support workers

• To participate and advise in the development of BSRT services, so that they continue to meet the needs of the client group and responds to Government initiatives

• To manager and clinically supervise junior OT colleagues and students.

Job functions / and Responsibilities

Professional

1. To maintain and record continuing professional development, taking part in formal peer review and using a professional portfolio.

1. To attend professional body/clinical interest group meetings as appropriate.

1. To read relevant journals and research papers and participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects.

1. To attend training courses, participate in experiential learning as identified in PDR and impart information to colleagues.

Managerial

1. To be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload, including arrangements for cover for planned absence, as negotiated with the Service Manager and the Team Leader for BSRT.

1. To represent OT at cross health and social care meetings and other relevant forums.

1. To work with the Team Leader for BSRT to ensure the continuity of OT cover for clinical work across Bromley

1. To monitor and evaluate the occupational therapy intervention to ensure efficiency and high quality standards

1. To organise and manage appropriate delegation of patient care/work to the BSRT Rehabilitation Support Workers.

1. To attend all appropriate team meetings.

1. To assist in ordering and maintaining stock of equipment.

1. To ensure all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the Service Manager and that appropriate action is taken by those concerned

1. To be responsible, with other staff, to see that local procedures required under the Health and Safety Act, COSHH Regulations, Fire Safety, the Consumer Protection Act, the Data Protection Act and Access to Health Records Act are complied with.

1. To participate in the Trust staff appraisal scheme.

1. To supervise and appraise junior occupational therapist and ensure they are able to achieve their learning objectives

Clinical

1. To take clinical responsibility for the occupational therapy input to the rehabilitative treatment programmes provided to client.

1. To respect clients' dignity, privacy, culture and wishes during treatment, with a commitment to equal access to occupational therapy.

1. To undertake advanced, specialist assessments of clients with a range of physical disabilities and neurological conditions, complex needs and/or multiple pathology, to determine the occupational therapy treatment indicated

1. To plan, develop and implement individually tailored programmes of treatment that are client centred and SMART.

1. To facilitate and encourage client self-management throughout OT intervention.

1. To work collaboratively with clients, carers, members of the multidisciplinary team and external agencies to ensure a co-ordinated approach to service delivery, appreciating the role of all partners.

1. To communicate with all appropriate people and organisations to provide and recieve all relevant information pertaining to each client, ensuring holistic and informed care.

1. To communicate and negotiate with individual clients and all those involved in the clients care, to gain consent to and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure that occupational therapy treatment is effective. This will frequently be with clients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. aphasia, cognitive and memory problems due to traumatic brain injury, deafness, dysarthria etc. and will need expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools.

1. To maintain a highly skilled clinical expertise and interest in stroke rehabilitation using national standards and guidance.

1. To contribute to the development of new and innovative ways of working with this client group

1. To advise clients on specific equipment and minor adaptations and recommend provision thereof

1. To ensure a high standard of clinical practice is maintained, keep up-to-date with clinical developments and only undertake treatment modalities in which trained and competent.

1. To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with HCPC and trust standards.

1. To lead on OT related audits and projects with the aim to improve the BSRT service.

1. To participate in discharge planning with family, carers and external teams.

1. To maintain good working links and liaise with GPs and all relevant others involved with each patients care, ensuring consultation, feedback and discharge communication

1. To attend case conferences and other meetings, as appropriate.

1. To maintain and develop close links with colleagues in the Acute sector, Local Authority Services, Voluntary Organisations and other relevant organisations.

1. To work as a member of the Bromley Stroke Rehabilitation service by assisting in providing OT input as required, as negotiated with the Service Manager and the Team Leader

Education/Training

1. To provide training for the carers of clients and participate in training with other members of the BSRT Team.

1. To plan, organise and deliver training for staff from other disciplines and organisations, including the voluntary sector

1. To carry out risk assessments and advise on safe and appropriate moving and handling techniques as necessary.

1. To organise, deliver and receive training through in-service training programmes

1. To attend training courses, participate in experiential learning as identified in PDR and impart information to colleagues

1. To develop and deliver occupational therapy training programmes to Rehab Support Workers and ensure competence is maintained, in collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team

1. To have input into the clinical placements of occupational therapy students on placement within the Team.

• Key Relationships

It is essential for continuity of care that good and effective working relationships are developed and maintained with all those involved in client care.

These will include :-

Clients, their families and carers

Members of the multi disciplinary Team

Therapy managers

Mental Health Team

GPs, District Nurses and other members of the Primary Care team

Health care professionals and colleagues within the Acute Trusts.

Other team within the Intermediate Care service

Community Therapy Teams

Colleagues within Social Services (social workers and occupational therapists)

Home care workers

Public Health professionals.

Statutory and voluntary organisations

Members of the public and community groups

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Graduate Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• State Registration HCPC
• Evidence of attendance on relevant post registration courses
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintained in a portfolio
• Member of College of OT's.

Desirable

• Member of relevant SIG
• AMPS Trained
• Bobat - Introductory Modules
• Bridges - Self Management
• Braintree - Cognitive Rehabilitation

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 year post registration experience.
• At least 2 years at senior level having covered the range of physical clinical work within a community setting.
• In depth experience of a variety of clinical specialities, specifically neurology and including stroke rehabilitation.
• Experience of working within an MDT
• Experience of liaising with other agencies
• Experience of training staff from other disciplines and organisation, e.g. care staff, students, MDT training
• Experience of working within varied clinical settings
• Experience of supervising junior staff/students/support workers
• Ability to write clear reports
• Able to supervise junior staff and support workers
• Good time management and prioritisation skills

Desirable

• Experience and understanding of clinical audit
• Knowledge of upper limb management and splinting

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of own professional standards
• Awareness of current legislation and developments within the NHS and local Authority
• Ability to work autonomously
• Advanced skills in assessing patients with complex conditions both physical and cognitive, identifying the problems and selecting and implementing the relevant treatment/management programme.
• Knowledge and use of relevant assessment tools and outcome measures related to Stroke Rehabilitation.
• Ability to analyse and understand complex information and communicate appropriately
• Knowledge and experience of using self-management techniques with patients.
• Demonstrates patient centred holistic goal setting with consideration of the WHO ICF model.
• Understanding of issues related to working within a multi cultural community
• Effective negotiating skills.
• Knowledge of assessment and provision of ADL equipment and minor adaptation.
• An understanding of and commitment to maintaining client confidentiality.
• Understanding of manual handling and Health and Safety issues related to community working.
• Ability to demonstrate skill-sharing and collaborative working at a variety of levels.
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance and evidence based practice.
• IT skills including - Patient online notes, Microsoft Word and Excel.

Desirable

• Developed expertise within a relevant speciality
• Knowledge of orthotics
• Knowledge / use of AMPS.

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).