Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of your own work, including the management of a caseload of patients, with indirect supervision. Access to advice and support from specialist/senior occupational therapists is available if required.

To provide OT input to patients on the Orthopaedic wards and in Pre- Operative Assessment Clinics, including the educational Joint Care Workshops, taking an active role in the provision of OT assessment and education of patients.

To carry out home visits as appropriate.

To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex physical and psychological conditions, to provide a clinical diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme in preparation for discharge.

To formulate and deliver individual occupational therapy treatment programmes based on evidence-based practice, using clinical reasoning skills. To evaluate and modify treatment plans according to assessment and patient needs, discharging them when appropriate.

Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To communicate effectively and gain informed consent from patients, carers and other professionals to maximise rehabilitation potential and ensure understanding of condition and/or surgery. This will, on occasions, include complex and sensitive information requiring skills of explanation, motivation and persuasion to overcome physical, emotional, mental and cultural barriers.

To take delegated responsibility from the Team Leader within area of work, including clinical and managerial duties. To delegate appropriately to Students and therapy support staff.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation in line with departmental and COT standards, including communication of assessment and treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.

To represent the Occupational Therapy service and/or individual patients at ward rounds and case conferences where appropriate. Liaise with members of the multidisciplinary team regarding patient care and progress to ensure co-ordinated service delivery.

To act as professional advisor to other hospital staff where appropriate, providing specialist advice, teaching and instruction regarding Occupational Therapy.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of Occupational Therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

Under supervision of a senior OT, to take on a limited caseload of complex patients, to further own knowledge, for professional development and to ensure skill base is constant during periods of leave.

To work off site and at weekends as required.

Professional

To maintain own clinical professional development and portfolio by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, incorporating them into current clinical practice as necessary.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme, through attendance and presentation at tutorials, training and peer review sessions within the Therapy department.

To assist in provision of clinical experience and supervision for undergraduate Occupational Therapy students as appropriate.

To contribute to the supervision and training of therapy support staff as appropriate.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of work and current practices using evidence-based practice, audit, and outcome measures, with more senior therapists.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation, following department and Trust Policies.

To work in accordance with COT, Trust and departmental standards of practice.

Organisational and Managerial

To maintain high professional standards with respect to patients, colleagues, the service, and the environment. Encourage staff under your supervision to follow your example.

Liaise with senior staff as appropriate, with all issues relevant to service delivery and development.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment within your current area of practice by patients, colleagues and student Occupational Therapists through teaching and supervision.

To follow departmental procedure for ordering equipment, delegating to therapy support staff as appropriate.

To maintain security and ensure correct handling of money for OT equipment loan or sale.

To comply with all Health and Safety standards of the Department and the Trust, including prompt reporting of accidents and incidents and ensuring that equipment usage is safe.

To remain up-to-date and attend all mandatory training provided, in line with Trust policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• BSc in Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Validated courses

Other job requirements

Essential

• Good communication
• Shows initiative

Skills

Essential

• Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
• Good team worker

Experience

Essential

• NHS experience (undergraduate level acceptable)
• Acute hospital care experience (undergraduate level acceptable)

Desirable

• Orthopaedic experience; undergraduate and/or postgraduate
• Experience of MDT work; undergraduate and/or postgraduate
• Experience of delivering education and teaching to other professionals and/or patient groups

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of audit & clinical governance

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

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS FT

Bristol Road South

Northfield

B31 2AP

Employer's website

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