Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical or technical

To assess patients with complex problems including using highly skilled assessments and to make referrals to other disciplines and agencies as appropriate

To support other less experienced staff with their patient caseload

To be responsible as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical caseload and use excellent clinical reasoning skills to utilise a wide range of treatment options and skills to formulate a specialised programme of care

To achieve and maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence based practice, keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research, discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice and encouraging this throughout the team

To be responsible for setting and monitoring of standards and policies of clinical practice in the team evaluate outcomes

To take responsibility for the writing of evidence based clinical guidelines and protocols as appropriate to the speciality and for regularly reviewing and updating those guidelines

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional activities working within codes of practice and professional guidelines

To use ongoing investigative and analytical skills, assessment techniques and diagnostic procedures to assess complex patients

To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans

To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care and manage this within own patient case load

To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessments and interventions including manual and therapeutic handling techniques. This post involves frequent light to moderate physical effort

To maintain accurate records in line with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy standards and Trust and service standards and policies

To attend relevant board rounds and meetings as required, in order to ensure appropriate management and effective and timely discharge of patients

Leadership or managerial

Work in close conjunction with Clinical Lead for Cardiorespiratory services and other Band 7 Team Leads

Act as a role model and resource, providing information and promoting high standards of patient care, whilst working closely with other professionals

Supervise junior and senior staff where appropriate, and specifically B6 Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants

Effectively plan the daily management of a caseload of patients by prioritising clinical work, responding to urgent referrals and frequently unpredictable work patterns

Maintain the high standards of the service by contributing to the individual team and service objectives

Ensure team working within Ashford and St Peters Hospitals, assisting other members to effectively prioritise, plan and manage their caseloads

Demonstrate ability to manage potentially stressful and upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner

Demonstrate ability to prioritise clinical and managerial work and balance other patient related and professional activities as the department requires

Participate in the appraisal scheme as an appraiser and to be appraised

Contribute to the overall strategic view of the inpatient cardiorespiratory services at ASPH, by monitoring and evaluating activity

Demonstrate a high level of understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk

Initiate and lead projects to develop services in line with recent NHS initiatives and guidance and in response to local demand

Communication

Demonstrate ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their rehabilitation potential and gaining consent for treatment

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

Demonstrate ability to motivate patients to comply with extended periods of treatment

Maintain accurate records in line with RCOT, Trust and service standards and policies

Ensure that records of directly managed staff also comply with these standards

Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in order to progress treatment programmes. This may include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating

Communicate any changes in care plan or treatment approach to other Occupational Therapists / MDT colleagues as necessary

Attend staff meetings and actively participate ensuring understanding of information imparted

Take responsibility for leading/supporting local team meetings to ensure accurate and timely information giving and receiving

Initiate and maintain good contact with local service both internally and externally

Provide advice to other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to care

Ensure timely and effective communication with the Therapy Manager and Clinical Leads on all operational or professional matters

Communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patients care, both those from within the organisation and those outside, to ensure efficient multidisciplinary working

Education

Supervise and lead on the professional development and training of Occupational Therapists and other members of the team in the specialist field

Undertake regular supervision with individuals to support clinical reasoning and to undertake joint problem patient sessions as facilitator and participant

Participate in any training sessions as a recipient and facilitator

Disseminate any training received to other staff and healthcare professionals

Be actively involved in special interest groups in order to share and disseminate knowledge to colleagues

Information and reporting

Ensure all Trust IT systems are used effectively, particularly the use of Evolve is implemented and used to record patient notes and activity

Collect & record data accurately in accordance with professional guidelines and ASPH Values

. Research and Development

Demonstrate the use of relevant information and research findings to support and promote evidence-based practice within the clinical area

Promote clinical excellence through initiating & participating in setting, maintaining and monitoring standards of care within a clinical governance framework

Participate in both clinical and organisational audit to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the service

Feedback to appropriate stakeholders on the results, trends of audits and research undertaken

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• HCPC Registration in Occupational Therapy
• CPD activity demonstrated in ICU care
• ICU experience as an Occupational Therapist
• Experience in Leading a team

Desirable

• Educator course
• Management courses

Knowledge

Essential

• Strong understanding in role of OT in ICU
• Evidence of use of audit and its use to improve interventions/service

Desirable

• Trust vision, values, strategic objectives and key work programmes

Skills

Essential

• Advanced clinical reasoning skills that guide interventions (i.e. risk assessment and discharge planning, management of complex disability
• Teaching and communication skills to promote the role of occupational therapy and physiotherapy with patients and the MDT
• Manage and be accountable for own and team workload prioritisation
• oGood understanding of their communication, physical & emotional needs; can identify their individual needs and preferences, their changing needs and recognise and promote their independence.

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

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

ST Peters Hospital

chertsey

KT16 0PZ

Employer's website

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