Advanced Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

To deliver a high standard of Occupational Therapy intervention and maintain service delivery by flexible, effective and efficient prioritisation based on specialist clinical and professional judgement.

To have knowledge of and apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act in order to gain consent for intervention for those patients who have capacity or best interest decision for those who lack capacity to consent.

To negotiate with client / carer to identify and formulate client centred, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART) goals using the specialist assessment information and to complete designated outcome measures.

To select and apply standardised and non-standardised Occupational Therapy and other professional assessment tools.

To plan, implement and review patient centred individual and/or group assessments, interventions, using meaningful graded activity based on advanced knowledge of best practice, clinical reasoning and knowledge of Occupational Therapy models of practice.

To interpret and analyse complex clinical, social and environmental factors to recommend the best course of intervention, and the development/review of treatment and discharge plans.

To have a detailed working knowledge of relevant external agencies eligibility criteria and Trust policies and procedures to be able to effectively refer the patient to these services.

To have an extensive knowledge and be safe and competent in the use of all equipment for daily living, evidenced in the individual Medical Devices Log and to be responsible for ensuring all staff and clients / carers attain competency prior to use

To have detailed knowledge of appropriate legislation and comply with the Professional Code of Ethics, Conduct and Standards for Occupational Therapy and ensure that all staff are aware of these.

To take a lead role in developing a specific area of service delivery in conjunction with the Principal Occupational Therapist.

To inform and work closely with all Occupational Therapy Management to ensure there is an optimal workforce to support the effective delivery of Adult Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair Services.

Measurable Result Areas

To comply with Health and Safety guidelines, Medical Devices Policy and maintain safe environment, equipment and working practices, ensuring that all staff within the specialist area are aware of their obligation to comply. To carry out the risk assessments and implement the outcomes in designated therapy areas.

To ensure verbal and non-verbal, written and electronic patient records, reports and activity data including those of all staff are maintained, contemporaneous and reported back in appropriate forums, in accordance with professional and Trust record keeping standards.

To contribute to and monitor compliance with the Key Performance Indicator targets and ensure that they are recorded for the designated speciality area in line with the Trust policies and service protocols.

To prescribe and order equipment for daily living in line with the policies and procedures of the Integrated Community Equipment Service within the authorised budgetary limit.

To identify stock and non-stock to maintain departmental resources and assist in the annual stock take in line with OT service procedures and Trust financial instructions.

To participate in research opportunities, demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research and apply to practice disseminating findings at a local level.

To assist in the development and implementation of Occupational Therapy objectives in line with Divisional and Trust Objectives.

To coordinate the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

Communications and Working Relationships

To use an advanced range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships, engage effectively, network with and represent Occupational Therapy or Allied Health Professionals at local forums.

To be an accredited Occupational Therapy fieldwork educator and to provide and support Occupational Therapy fieldwork placements

To coordinate, provide and support opportunities for teaching and training of staff, other students for example medical, nursing, work experience and other professionals.

To lead the induction of new Occupational therapy staff and students.

To facilitate the identification of training needs of all Occupational Therapy staff through appraisal and assist the Principal Occupational Therapist in the development, formation and delivery of the Occupational Therapy training plan.

To notify the Manager for Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair Services of staff absences when the Principal Occupational Therapist is not available.

To deputise day to day operational management for the Principal Occupational Therapist in their absence within the designated speciality area.

To provide Occupational Therapy expertise at appropriate local and regional working parties or meetings to develop, implement and redesign service delivery.

To respect the equality, dignity and diversity of the individual, and be responsible for the provision of a service which is sensitive to these needs.

Qualification

Essential

• Degree/ Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• State Registration with Health Care Professions Council
• Advanced postgraduate experience/ training in clinical speciality
• Management training
• Accredited Fieldwork Educator

Desirable

• Member of Professional body (COT)

Experience

Essential

• Advanced post graduate experience including at least 2 years within speciality
• Management experience and taking team leader role
• Experience of working in a range of Health / Social care OT settings
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of supervising OT staff
• Experience of supervising students on placement
• Experience of clinical audit and /or lead a clinical project
• Experience of providing clinical education to all OT staff and students
• Experience of Health & Safety legislation /risk assessments

Skills

Essential

• Advanced specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions relevant to speciality
• Comprehensive clinical experience & knowledge of OT models of practice and outcome measures
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills and an ability to prioritise own workload
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities and manage an independent caseload of complex cases
• Ability to analyse and respond efficiently to complex information / professional and ethical issues
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies and procedures, including data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety
• Detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and national priorities and current professional issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Sound understanding of the OT role and service needs
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
• Ability to monitor and evaluate own performance and initiate changes to work practice
• Presentation and training skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to build effective working relationships within multi-disciplinary team and with other professionals
• Ability to work as a team member and as a team leader
• Understanding of professional conduct
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service
• Ability to implement change
• Ability to organise and manage self and others
• Ability to manage difficult and distressing clinical situations

Other

Essential

• Willingness to work in a variety of locations
• Independent means of transport
• Evidence of CPD and commitment to personal development
• Physically able to carry out the duties of the post

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).