Job summary
This rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to gain experience in a specialist intensive inpatient rehabilitation service in our functional neurological disorders and cognitive rehabilitation/acquired brain injury occupational therapy service for inpatients.
The FND service is a national, quaternary service where you will gain experience of managing functional motor symptoms such as functional weakness, functional tremor and functional dystonia, as well as non-epileptic seizures and other FND symptoms, working in an integrated team using a biopsychosocial approach and psychological formulation.
The cognitive rehab service admits people with traumatic brain injuries with primary cognitive presentations and with this group you will gain experience in values based goal setting, insight building and cognitive rehabilitation strategy application.
You will be supported on site by senior colleagues and therapy technicians. Also linked with the team is the FND Virtual Outreach Team and the nationally significant FND physiotherapy service located at St George's Tooting, as well as wider FND services across South West London. The inpatient service is one of only three publicly funded inpatient units for FND in Greater London.
The post would suit a therapist with significant neuro-rehabilitation experience who enjoys working within a psychological formulation, or an experienced mental health OT with skills in neuro-rehabilitation, including cognitive rehabilitation.
Main duties of the job
Undertakes specialist neurological assessment of own workload of patients, who may have complex presentations, and from this assessment formulates a treatment plan and carries out this treatment as an autonomous practitioner
Supervises and teaches peers, recently qualified Occupational Therapists/technical instructors/therapy assistants/students, and involved in teaching MDT staff
Undertakes evidence-based projects, including making recommendations for change in practice and participating in departmental research and audit as appropriate.
Deputises for Occupational Therapy team leaders in operational management
About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find further detail in supporting documents attached. Please refer to supporting documents when submitting applications and ensure skills match person specification.
Proposed interview date: 17th June
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find further detail in supporting documents attached. Please refer to supporting documents when submitting applications and ensure skills match person specification.
Proposed interview date: 17th June
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of Continued Professional Development including evidence of reflective practice, attendance at recent post graduate courses relevant to the clinical field of neurology
- Fieldwork Educators Course
Desirable
- Post graduate course in management
- Master's degree or evidence of working at an equivalent level
- Post graduate courses in cognitive rehabilitation
- Post graduate courses in functional neurological disorder
- Mental health qualification or courses
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience
- Considerable experience in neurosciences including neurorehabilitation
- Experience of working in mental health or in a setting underpinned by psychological formulation
- At least 1 year's previous NHS experience either as a qualified Occupational Therapist (substantive or locum) or as an undergraduate Occupational Therapy Student.
- Knowledge and experience of cognitive rehabilitation
- Knowledge and experience of working with functional neurological disorders
- Staff/student supervision/IPR
Desirable
- Experience of service management and change management
- Recruitment and selection experience
- Team leadership experience
- Experience pf clinical audit / research
Skills
Essential
- Team leadership skills
- Experience of operational and staff management
- Awareness of skill mix and service needs
- Excellent communication skills
- Remains updated on professional practice and government initiatives
- Ability to teach OT skills in Neurology
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate to a high level
- Working knowledge of roles and interactions with other core members of the MDT
- Working knowledge of high level cognitive and perceptual assessments
- Working knowledge of wheelchair and specialist seating systems
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to work at moderate to high levels of physical activity involving the delivery of manual therapy, therapeutic handling of patients and the assessment, demonstration and installation of adaptations and equipment.
- Ability to lead and motivate others
- Ability to work under pressure / accept responsibility
- Good team player
- Flexible working approach
- Good time management skills
- Competent IT skills
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Working knowledge of splinting / casting / orthotic management in Neurology
- Experience of occupation-focussed models of assessment and treatment for cognitive impairment secondary to brain injury
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of current OT and Government initiatives.
- Understand the legal responsibilities of working as a healthcare professional
- Have a good understanding of Clinical Governance and implications for Occupational Therapy practice including experience of quality issues and audit
- Able to work within Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the needs of the patients
Other
Essential
- RCOT membership
- Member of SSNP
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of Continued Professional Development including evidence of reflective practice, attendance at recent post graduate courses relevant to the clinical field of neurology
- Fieldwork Educators Course
Desirable
- Post graduate course in management
- Master's degree or evidence of working at an equivalent level
- Post graduate courses in cognitive rehabilitation
- Post graduate courses in functional neurological disorder
- Mental health qualification or courses
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience
- Considerable experience in neurosciences including neurorehabilitation
- Experience of working in mental health or in a setting underpinned by psychological formulation
- At least 1 year's previous NHS experience either as a qualified Occupational Therapist (substantive or locum) or as an undergraduate Occupational Therapy Student.
- Knowledge and experience of cognitive rehabilitation
- Knowledge and experience of working with functional neurological disorders
- Staff/student supervision/IPR
Desirable
- Experience of service management and change management
- Recruitment and selection experience
- Team leadership experience
- Experience pf clinical audit / research
Skills
Essential
- Team leadership skills
- Experience of operational and staff management
- Awareness of skill mix and service needs
- Excellent communication skills
- Remains updated on professional practice and government initiatives
- Ability to teach OT skills in Neurology
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate to a high level
- Working knowledge of roles and interactions with other core members of the MDT
- Working knowledge of high level cognitive and perceptual assessments
- Working knowledge of wheelchair and specialist seating systems
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to work at moderate to high levels of physical activity involving the delivery of manual therapy, therapeutic handling of patients and the assessment, demonstration and installation of adaptations and equipment.
- Ability to lead and motivate others
- Ability to work under pressure / accept responsibility
- Good team player
- Flexible working approach
- Good time management skills
- Competent IT skills
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Working knowledge of splinting / casting / orthotic management in Neurology
- Experience of occupation-focussed models of assessment and treatment for cognitive impairment secondary to brain injury
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of current OT and Government initiatives.
- Understand the legal responsibilities of working as a healthcare professional
- Have a good understanding of Clinical Governance and implications for Occupational Therapy practice including experience of quality issues and audit
- Able to work within Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the needs of the patients
Other
Essential
- RCOT membership
- Member of SSNP
Desirable
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.
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).
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.
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).
