Job summary
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has 300+ therapy staff from occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. Each service has a head of profession accountable to the chief of therapies who represents therapies across the trust. We focus on equitable provision and shared decision making with our patients.
We value continuing professional development and promote access to internal and external learning opportunities including the on-site training facilities and medical school library. This ensures all staff develop skills and knowledge to reach their full potential.
The Band 6 Occupational Therapist post in the Health and Ageing Unit (HAU) at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill site, would suit a senior occupational therapist with experience of assessment and rehabilitation of older adults, particularly management of delirium and dementia and complex discharge planning.
The HAU provides acute intervention for older patients with increased frailty, dementia or delirium. Multi-disciplinary working is well established across the team and we require an enthusiastic occupational therapist to work alongside the team lead to aid the development of occupational therapy within the service. You will work within our supportive therapy teams to provide high quality occupational therapy assessments and interventions and promote development and improvement of our services.
Main duties of the job
As a leading teaching hospital, King's is a dynamic place to work. We pride ourselves on delivering good quality patient care and you will be expected to provide best-practice interventions through evidence-based practice, keeping up-to-date with research and ensuring compliance with trust and national policies and procedures. We have a well-established peer support provision. You will identify your learning needs and access training or supervision. You will supervise and motivate junior members of staff and students to do the same. You will proactively participate and have the opportunity to lead journal clubs and in-service skills training. You will be forward-thinking and identify areas for service development and completing projects.
The work environment is fast-paced and you will be responsive to the changing needs of the service. You will maintain a high standard of autonomous working, completing prioritisation of a caseload and complex assessment and treatment of patients. You will display excellent communication skills and partnership working with patients, their families/carers, multi-disciplinary teams, social services and intermediate care.
You will relish the opportunity to develop specialist skills in providing the best quality occupational therapy input for older adults and support their quality of life through holistic discharge planning.
You will have a flexible approach and a commitment to working weekends on a 7-day rota.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
- To identify, prioritise and manage patients who require occupational therapy input. Including education of the MDT to promote appropriate referrals for both discharge planning and rehabilitation.
- To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
- To be competent in the administration of specific occupational therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and occupational areas.
- To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial, compensatory and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial needs and occupational performance.
- To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of therapeutic manual handling techniques and the lone working policy and document this accurately.
- To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
- To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
- To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
- To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
- To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
- To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
- To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
- To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
- To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
- To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
- To assist with planning and prioritisation of the team and departments workload in the event of staff absence to ensure the occupational therapy priority services are maintained.
- To comply with all relevant trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to equal opportunities, health and safety and confidentiality of information.
COMMUNICATION
- To communicate complex information to patients and family/ carers who may have barriers to understanding.
- To actively participate in team meetings within occupational therapy and with the MDT, including weekly MDT meetings, case conferences and best interest meetings and to delegate for specialist or team lead occupational therapist as required.
- To be skilled in communicating reasoning and motivating patients to participate in sessions.
- To communicate professionally in person and by telephone with families/ carers and other professionals.
- To manage differences of opinions and difficult conversations within the team, MDT and with patients, families/ carers.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
- To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.
- To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.
- To contribute to the hospitals clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
- To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the occupational therapy services with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.
- To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.
- To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
- To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
- To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
- To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
- To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
- To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.
- To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
- To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
- To participate in and present on the in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
- To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.
All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by;
- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
- familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
- reportingany safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
- To identify, prioritise and manage patients who require occupational therapy input. Including education of the MDT to promote appropriate referrals for both discharge planning and rehabilitation.
- To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
- To be competent in the administration of specific occupational therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and occupational areas.
- To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial, compensatory and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial needs and occupational performance.
- To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of therapeutic manual handling techniques and the lone working policy and document this accurately.
- To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
- To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
- To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
- To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
- To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
- To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
- To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
- To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
- To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
- To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
- To assist with planning and prioritisation of the team and departments workload in the event of staff absence to ensure the occupational therapy priority services are maintained.
- To comply with all relevant trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to equal opportunities, health and safety and confidentiality of information.
COMMUNICATION
- To communicate complex information to patients and family/ carers who may have barriers to understanding.
- To actively participate in team meetings within occupational therapy and with the MDT, including weekly MDT meetings, case conferences and best interest meetings and to delegate for specialist or team lead occupational therapist as required.
- To be skilled in communicating reasoning and motivating patients to participate in sessions.
- To communicate professionally in person and by telephone with families/ carers and other professionals.
- To manage differences of opinions and difficult conversations within the team, MDT and with patients, families/ carers.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
- To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.
- To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.
- To contribute to the hospitals clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
- To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the occupational therapy services with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.
- To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.
- To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
- To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
- To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
- To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
- To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
- To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.
- To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
- To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
- To participate in and present on the in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
- To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.
All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by;
- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
- familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
- reportingany safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied
Person Specification
Clinical and Non-clinical
Essential
- Experience of working as a Band 5 occupational therapist in an acute physical setting
- Effective communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
- Demonstrates an interest working with Older Adults
- Demonstrate an understanding of hospital systems for the management of patient assessment and treatment
Desirable
- Member of Specialist Section or special interest group
- Experience of presenting to small and large audiences
- Completed PPE
Person Specification
Clinical and Non-clinical
Essential
- Experience of working as a Band 5 occupational therapist in an acute physical setting
- Effective communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
- Demonstrates an interest working with Older Adults
- Demonstrate an understanding of hospital systems for the management of patient assessment and treatment
Desirable
- Member of Specialist Section or special interest group
- Experience of presenting to small and large audiences
- Completed PPE
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).