Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. Ensure the patients, relatives and those the therapist comes into contact with are aware of the role of the Occupational Therapist and components of the Occupational Therapy treatment programme.

2. Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any treatment.

3. Select from a wide range of standardised and non-standardised assessments to assess and aid diagnosis of cognitive, perceptual, behavioural, physical and social functioning of the patients referred. This includes, but is not limited to social environmental interview, cognitive, perceptual and mood screens, personal care, kitchen assessments, feeding assessments and group therapy sessions.

4. Make reliable interpretations of the assessment results, in order to inform other professionals in the diagnosis and management of the patients. Also to guide the Occupational Therapy treatment plan, and for the recommendation of the discharge destination/placement.

5. Plan, deliver and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and family in accordance with any consent given. Addressing areas such as disease management, sensory, motor, splinting, psychosocial needs and functional abilities.

6. Carry out environmental home assessments, pre-discharge home assessments, discharge home assessments and follow-up visits, as required. Assess the patient carrying out functional skills to maximise independent living, arranging equipment provision, adaptations and support services as required. Assess for disability access and safety, also ensuring access to community resources and assessing carer needs.

7. Assess for and provide aids and adaptive equipment to increase / enable independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required. These include but are not limited to feeding, dressing, leisure activities and employment. Responsible for providing information and instruction for the safe use of the items provided.

8. Rise requisitions for minor adaptation on behalf of Social Services; and OT equipment on behalf of the OT Department, Derriford Hospital, per referral.

9. Assess for wheelchairs, specialist seating and positioning needs treating as appropriate, referring on to wheelchair and seating clinics as required.

10. Responsible to plan, deliver and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and family in accordance with any consent given.

11. Provide specialised Early Phase Rehabilitation for patients with stroke specific and other neurological problems. This can involve: personal activities of daily living, kitchen and eating practice, desensitisation programmes for patients with hypersensitivity, remedial activities to promote overall functioning cognitively, perceptually or physically.

12.Assess, fabricate and monitor thermoplastic and off the shelf splints for patients as appropriate with care plans.

13.Review, record and report regularly on patients treatment and progress to the multi-disciplinary team in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas, whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times.

14. Complex discharge planning, which involves identifying patients and carers needs, and the co-ordination of services in the community, to address the diverse and complex presentation and needs of patients, e.g. arranging the provision of hoist for discharge.

15. Actively participate, liaise and ensure good communication with the MDT, carers, Integrated Community Stroke Pathway, social services, statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive discharge package to ensure continuation of care in the community. This includes providing written communication to support the need for services and equipment and online referrals.

16. Liaise effectively with SRU, other hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community teams etc. as necessary, when patients are transferred, completing appropriate referrals online.

17. Provide Patient/Carer Education/Advice. Ensuring patients understand the detail or complexity of the impact of disease and physical and emotional deficits on patients safety and independence in the hospital, home, leisure and workplace.

18. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g. patient may be depressed, deaf, or who may be unable to accept the diagnosis/prognosis

19. Utilizing interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and involving patients in their treatment, in order to achieve the treatment goal.

20. Provide appropriate advice and support to patients following terminal diagnosis in liaison with the MDT and specialist services including Palliative Care Teams.

21. Impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers, which could have life changing consequences, in conjunction with multi-disciplinary team. Demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding to the effect of hospitalisation and disability.

22. Attend and participate in case conferences, daily whiteboard meetings, therapy huddles and Stroke Pathway Meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.

23. Responsible to maintain competence in the use of moving and handling techniques and equipment, required for the management of highly dependent patients.

24. Prioritise day-to-day management of own caseload, delegating activities to junior staff where appropriate.

25. Undertake responsibility of the line management of specific staff. Assist and take responsibility for the organising, support and supervision of Band 5 Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Students and support staff within the Team, as required.

26. Responsible for the allocation and organisation of workload within this Team, when the Team Leader is off duty.

27. Adopt a flexible approach in the provision of clinical cover during the absence of other therapists within the team or department.

28. Responsible to take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service, and report the defects to the OT Manager.

29. Contribute to the evaluation and introduction of assessment / treatment media / equipment / tools being used within the team.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oDiploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• oTo be registered as required with HCPC.
• oEvidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses.

Desirable

• oWheelchair accredited.
• oMembership of appropriate clinical interest groups.
• oAccredited Fieldwork Educator
• oPost-graduate training relevant to clinical area
• oCurrent valid UK driving license and Car driver

Knowledge

Essential

• oTo have extensive demonstrable experience as an Occupational Therapist in the physical fields.
• oTo have specific experience in the field of Stroke/Neurology.
• oTo have specialist proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of OT assessments and treatments in this specialty.
• oTo have proven knowledge of a wide range of OT equipment and minor adaptations.
• oExperience of working as part of a Therapy team and the wider MDT.
• oTo have good verbal and written English skills.
• oTo have training, supervisory and /or teaching demonstrable experience.

Desirable

• oTo have demonstrable experience of supervising student occupational therapists and staff at all grades.
• oTo have demonstrable experience of staff appraisals.
• oTo have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings.
• oTo have demonstrable experience in delivering patient education.

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential

• oProfessional manner
• oTo have demonstrable experience to be able to prioritise complex caseload and allocate workload to the team.
• oTo have good time management skills.
• oLeadership qualities

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION

Essential

• oTo have a co-operative nature and be able to get on well with others, work as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• oBe steady and dependable and able to persist in difficult situations without being distracted
• oRecognise own limitation.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)