Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 CLINICAL

1.1 To provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate, evidence based assessments for service users within the team to establish and meet their occupational needs.

1.2 To select and use validated standardised assessment tools and routinely and in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments.

1.3 To apply clinical knowledge and expertise to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in a groups which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches and in line with the Trusts research and development strategy.

1.4 To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work.

1.5 To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and that they reflect recovery goals. These should be strengths-based and orientated towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing social values.

1.6 To monitor and evaluate effectiveness of occupational therapy therapeutic interventions against clear aims and objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.

1.7 To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of cognitive impairment and mental illness in order to provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.

1.8 To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and they reflect recovery goals. These should be strengths-based and orientated towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing social roles and values.

1.9 To lead on the promotion of assistive technologies and telecare within the Brent Memory Service.

1.10 To determine the impact of mental and physical health conditions on service users functional ability and undertake assessment/ make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment /aids and adaptations.

1.11 To follow local protocol and obtain recommended equipment and/or liaise with local providers of equipment to ensure provision as appropriate.

1.12 To provide comprehensive generic and OT specific assessments for clients living in the community using appropriate, evidence based, assessment tools as part of the BMS.

1.13 To be aware of medication issues in line with the CNWL OT medication management guidelines.

1.14 To proactively undertake and ensure rigorous risk assessment & risk management strategies are applied. To ensure maximum risk tolerance facilitates the individuals recovery, in line with risk policies and local guidelines.

1.15 To communicate with, and where appropriate joint work with, the multidisciplinary team, informal carers and people from external agencies involved in the care and support of clients on their caseload.

1.16 For practitioners to be aware of and sensitive to the safeguarding needs of children and vulnerable adults in their work, and knowledgeable both about potential indicators of abuse or neglect and about what to do if they had concerns about a childs or adults welfare.

1.17 To identify carers needs in line with CNWL policy and national requirements

1.18 To provide OT consultation to other professionals within the team

1.19 To complete the HONOS screening clustering tool and implement subsequent OT identified care package.

1.20 To be responsible for the effective use of physical resources and supplies.

1.21 To assist with routine administration and liaise with the Memory Service manager in ordering equipment and materials.

1.22 To contribute, as a member of the multi-disciplinary team to the operational design and delivery of team objectives.

1.23 To participate in the implementation of annual OT Research and Development Objectives.

1.24 To adhere to policies and guidance required by CNWL directorate and occupational therapy department and professional lead

2 Communication

2.1 To demonstrate excellent communication skills and form positive therapeutic relationships using warmth and empathy and enable service user empowerment.

2.2 To ensure that up to date accurate, informative records of clinical assessments and interventions (paper/electronic records) are written and maintained in the service users notes.

2.3 To provide timely comprehensive occupational therapy reports on service users assessments and treatments.

2.4 To ensure all written OT notes, assessments and reports comply with the CNWL Trustwide and occupational therapy service standards and policies- including e-MOHO recording.

2.5 To establish and maintain effective communication networks with service users, carers and other professional and agencies in order to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach to client care.

2.6 To provide and receive highly complex/sensitive, condition related or distressing/unwelcome information to service users and carers demonstrating empathy and reassurance.

2.7 To demonstrate skills and resourcefulness in communication when barriers to understanding are present, including utilising interpreters.

2.8 To support the Memory Service manager and local Head Occupational Therapist in agreed team management and professional matters.

2.9 To co-ordinate the day-to-day activities of junior staff, support staff and students as appropriate within the BMS.

2.10 To work with local services to ensure that local and national targets are met, ensuring Occupational Therapy input into service developments.

2.11 To develop and maintain knowledge of statutory and voluntary organisations relevant to the needs of the patients and to establish and maintain contact with those agencies having particular relevance to the teams work.

2.12 To promote the role of OT within the team, representing an OT clinical perspective in all clinical meetings.

2.13 To contribute to ongoing service reviews and audits in order to develop a service that is patient centred, evidence based and needs led.

3 LEADERSHIP, SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3.1 To apply skills and knowledge to demonstrate professional competence and fitness to practice as an occupational therapist. This is a requirement of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

3.2 To maintain professional registration through the HCPC.

3.3 To keep abreast of changing clinical practice and to undertake activities of Continuous Professional Development including identifying own learning needs and recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

3.4 To participate in local and Trust wide OT service activities that promote and contribute to the building of knowledge and evidence base for the benefit of the professional body of occupational therapy, e.g. Link forums, R&D clinical sub groups, etc.

3.5 To participate in training and education of multidisciplinary students as required

3.6 To provide regular and qualitative supervision and appraisal for junior staff, ensuring that areas of concern are brought to the attention of the Head Occupational Therapist and Memory Service manager as appropriate.

3.7 To actively participate in clinical and managerial supervision.

3.8 To participate in performance objective setting/appraisal and develop a professional development plan.

3.9 To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of OT students for a minimum of 15 weeks per year (students on practice placement) or as directed by the Trusts Professional lead for Occupational Therapy.

3.10 To act as a practice placement educator for OT students, attending all relevant meetings and liaising with universities as appropriate

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Evidence of relevant CPD

Desirable

• Students Supervisors Course
• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapy.
• Member of College of OT Older People Specialist section
• Training and/or previous experience in Model of Human Occupation theory and assessments

Experience

Essential

• Relevant pre-qualifying and/or post qualification experience of working in at least 3 different clinical settings.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural context and being aware of equality and diversity needs.
• Pre-qualifying and/or post qualifying experience of working with older adults those with dementia.nd learning disabilities.
• Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
• Experience of facilitating relevant assessments, individual and groupwork in line with risk management plans, procedures and policies.
• Experience in managing resources e.g. financial, stock, equipment.
• At least 2 years post qualified.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering specific OT focused in-service training to the MDT and junior staff.
• Experience in service user involvement projects
• Experience of supervising therapy assistants and/or facilitating practice placements for students.

Personal and Professional

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities in line with service needs.
• Evidence of self-directed learning, reflective practice and commitment to personal development
• Ability to reflect upon and critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to use supervision effectively.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Highly developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs.
• Experience of undertaking specialist OT assessments and writing specialist OT reports including ADL and Neuro.
• Experience of leading and running evidence based-group activities for service users with complex and diverse needs.
• Proficient standard of written communication skills
• Proficient in IT skills
• Ability to promote and maintain the profile of OT within the MDT and wider organisation.
• Experience in the provision of physical health interventions including psychoeducation in line with NICE Guidelines, assessment and provision of minor aids and adaptations, moving and handling skills.
• Ability to and experience in assessing and managing risks in relation to tasks and workplace.
• Ability to develop and implement OT specific/clinical protocols as appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge aware of the Code of Ethics and Professional conduct and is able to apply them to practice.e of Mental Health legislation and National Guidelines as it relates to this client group.

Desirable

• Delivery of formal presentations and teaching to a range of disciplines
• Auditing skills
• Ability to act as a preceptor to support the transition and development of newly qualified staff through acting as part of Preceptorship programmes.

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).