Job summary
Surrey Downs Health & Care
As an Occupational Therapist at Surrey Downs Health & Care, you will deliver comprehensive and coordinated specialist occupational therapy services within community settings. Your primary focus will be to maintain or improve individuals' health, independence, and quality of life. Working as an integral part of a multidisciplinary/multi-agency team, you will apply specialist knowledge and skills to address a diverse range of complex health conditions.
Main duties of the job
To provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated range of specialist occupational therapy therapeutic and preventative services in community settings, which maintain or improve people's health, independence and quality of life.
Applying specialist knowledge and skills across the total range of complex health conditions, procedures and practices gained through practical experience, underpinned by theoretical knowledge.
Care group includes frailty, complex co-morbidities, discharge to assess and admission avoidance.
To assess and implement specialist treatment programmes as an autonomous practitioner, maintaining associated clinical records.
To work unsupervised reporting back to the clinical lead on a regular basis and to work as part of the wider MDT.
To participate in the day-to-day management of the service provision undertaking tasks as delegated by leadership, supporting new graduates and less experienced therapists, and non-registered staff members on a daily basis.
To provide formal supervision to nominated staff members and students.
About us
Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.
Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:
- The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
- CSH Surrey
- Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Surrey Council County
Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.
It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.
In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To carry and prioritise own patient caseload and other ongoing tasks, allocating appropriate work to technical instructors and students.
2. To carry out assessments and treatment in the most appropriate setting for the patients needs, whether this in the patients home, Residential/Nursing Home, Surrey Downs area, appropriate community setting, or tertiary unit.
3. To perform specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning skills to analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex facts or situations.
4. To develop specialised programmes of care, treatment and advice to patients and their care givers, based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and the range of treatment options and/or adaptive techniques and/or equipment provision, and/or care services.
5. To incorporate the appropriate standard assessment tools and outcome measures with patients, and apply additional relevant skills such as therapeutic handling, moving and handling risk assessment and hand related treatment strategies / equipment for housebound patients.
6. To communicate sensitively and reassuringly on complex conditions and functional risk/limitation. To gain consent to and co-operation in assessment and treatment, and in giving specialist advice to patients/carers regarding their options for ongoing care needs.
7. Being aware at all times of the sensitive nature of some recommendations, and the potential for patients/carers to have special communication needs resulting in barriers to understanding.
8. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings as the occupational therapist representative for individual patients, to inform complex discussions, gain a full range of information prior to planning person centred goals, analyse options for meeting goals and participate in the clinical decision making process and development of comprehensive MDT plans for discharge.
9. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
10. Work closely with the PCN MDT, patients/carers and wider service providers to ensure effective communication of information and co-ordination to achieve all agreed goals and safe appropriate discharge. Act as discharge key worker for individual patients.
11. To undertake pre-discharge home risk assessments where appropriate to inform discharge planning. Make arrangements to reduce risks and maximise potentials at home, including making referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies for specialist support and services, as appropriate. Having gained patient consent to sharing information.
12. Liaison with the local Equipment provider for provision of daily living equipment and adaptations for patients homes where appropriate. To be aware of resource implications when considering options for prescription to meet patients needs.
13. To manage clinical risk in relation to your own caseload, seeking guidance and help from senior therapist, as appropriate.
14. To maintain accurate, legible and complete clinical records of all patient related interventions, in line with the Information Governance Policy and Guidelines. To include the use of EMIS and Systm1 patient record systems.
15. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own professional and clinical work. Ensuring that assessments and interventions are carried out in accordance with the ESTH/ Surrey Downs policies, College of Occupational Therapy standards and code of conduct, and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards to guide your practice. Monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate. Seek guidance as necessary.
16. To deliver competency training for new members of staff, the wider team and support with the ongoing review of competencies within the wider team.
Organisational - To undertake delegated responsibility for the triaging, prioritisation and allocation of cases within the clinical area along with the clinical lead.
- To provide formal monthly supervision of nominated staff, ensuring their practice meets the required professional standards.
- To provide regular teaching sessions and contribute to the performance assessment of new graduate/rotational therapy staff and rehabilitation assistants.
- To provide training sessions to staff from other teams and agencies, either on request or on a regular basis.
- To keep accurate statistical information to assist in the monitoring and management of the service.
- To participate in ongoing data collection for clinical audit and departmental research, and occasionally lead clinical audit within the occupational therapy department or as part of the MDT.
- Undertake literature searches and other research activities to support the development of evidence based services. Undertake clinical projects/pilots under guidance.
- Attend relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings and actively contribute to the development of policies & procedures for clinical or service provision, and implement as appropriate.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties and to adhere to departmental policies and guidelines to ensure safe use of equipment by self and others. To report any defects or difficulties to Head Occupational Therapist.
- To advise the senior therapist of any therapeutic equipment/materials needed for the service.
- To utilise information management and technology (IM&T) systems to improve the efficiency of the service.
- To share responsibility for departmental tidiness, maintenance and administration.
Professional
- To be responsible for teaching student Occupational Therapists to graduate level on therapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.
- To promote a culture of providing Occupational Therapy clinical placements, assisting fieldwork educators and NVQ assessors by supervising students/Technical Instructors clinical work and providing training sessions.
- To actively participate in the in-service training programme by attending and contributing to discussions, and in providing sessions.
- To maintain and further develop current specialist knowledge, skills and evidenced based practice, incorporating them as appropriate into clinical work.
- To participate in formal supervision process as a supervisee and supervisor.
- To participate in the SDHC appraisal scheme and formulate a personal development plan in line with the knowledge and skills framework.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To carry and prioritise own patient caseload and other ongoing tasks, allocating appropriate work to technical instructors and students.
2. To carry out assessments and treatment in the most appropriate setting for the patients needs, whether this in the patients home, Residential/Nursing Home, Surrey Downs area, appropriate community setting, or tertiary unit.
3. To perform specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning skills to analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex facts or situations.
4. To develop specialised programmes of care, treatment and advice to patients and their care givers, based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and the range of treatment options and/or adaptive techniques and/or equipment provision, and/or care services.
5. To incorporate the appropriate standard assessment tools and outcome measures with patients, and apply additional relevant skills such as therapeutic handling, moving and handling risk assessment and hand related treatment strategies / equipment for housebound patients.
6. To communicate sensitively and reassuringly on complex conditions and functional risk/limitation. To gain consent to and co-operation in assessment and treatment, and in giving specialist advice to patients/carers regarding their options for ongoing care needs.
7. Being aware at all times of the sensitive nature of some recommendations, and the potential for patients/carers to have special communication needs resulting in barriers to understanding.
8. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings as the occupational therapist representative for individual patients, to inform complex discussions, gain a full range of information prior to planning person centred goals, analyse options for meeting goals and participate in the clinical decision making process and development of comprehensive MDT plans for discharge.
9. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
10. Work closely with the PCN MDT, patients/carers and wider service providers to ensure effective communication of information and co-ordination to achieve all agreed goals and safe appropriate discharge. Act as discharge key worker for individual patients.
11. To undertake pre-discharge home risk assessments where appropriate to inform discharge planning. Make arrangements to reduce risks and maximise potentials at home, including making referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies for specialist support and services, as appropriate. Having gained patient consent to sharing information.
12. Liaison with the local Equipment provider for provision of daily living equipment and adaptations for patients homes where appropriate. To be aware of resource implications when considering options for prescription to meet patients needs.
13. To manage clinical risk in relation to your own caseload, seeking guidance and help from senior therapist, as appropriate.
14. To maintain accurate, legible and complete clinical records of all patient related interventions, in line with the Information Governance Policy and Guidelines. To include the use of EMIS and Systm1 patient record systems.
15. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own professional and clinical work. Ensuring that assessments and interventions are carried out in accordance with the ESTH/ Surrey Downs policies, College of Occupational Therapy standards and code of conduct, and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards to guide your practice. Monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate. Seek guidance as necessary.
16. To deliver competency training for new members of staff, the wider team and support with the ongoing review of competencies within the wider team.
Organisational - To undertake delegated responsibility for the triaging, prioritisation and allocation of cases within the clinical area along with the clinical lead.
- To provide formal monthly supervision of nominated staff, ensuring their practice meets the required professional standards.
- To provide regular teaching sessions and contribute to the performance assessment of new graduate/rotational therapy staff and rehabilitation assistants.
- To provide training sessions to staff from other teams and agencies, either on request or on a regular basis.
- To keep accurate statistical information to assist in the monitoring and management of the service.
- To participate in ongoing data collection for clinical audit and departmental research, and occasionally lead clinical audit within the occupational therapy department or as part of the MDT.
- Undertake literature searches and other research activities to support the development of evidence based services. Undertake clinical projects/pilots under guidance.
- Attend relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings and actively contribute to the development of policies & procedures for clinical or service provision, and implement as appropriate.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties and to adhere to departmental policies and guidelines to ensure safe use of equipment by self and others. To report any defects or difficulties to Head Occupational Therapist.
- To advise the senior therapist of any therapeutic equipment/materials needed for the service.
- To utilise information management and technology (IM&T) systems to improve the efficiency of the service.
- To share responsibility for departmental tidiness, maintenance and administration.
Professional
- To be responsible for teaching student Occupational Therapists to graduate level on therapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.
- To promote a culture of providing Occupational Therapy clinical placements, assisting fieldwork educators and NVQ assessors by supervising students/Technical Instructors clinical work and providing training sessions.
- To actively participate in the in-service training programme by attending and contributing to discussions, and in providing sessions.
- To maintain and further develop current specialist knowledge, skills and evidenced based practice, incorporating them as appropriate into clinical work.
- To participate in formal supervision process as a supervisee and supervisor.
- To participate in the SDHC appraisal scheme and formulate a personal development plan in line with the knowledge and skills framework.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oDiploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT)
- oHCPC Registration
- oPost graduate training
Desirable
- oFurther specialised courses
Knowledge
Essential
- oSound knowledge of complex frailty conditions and rehabilitation
- oClinical knowledge of all areas within remit of post
Desirable
- oBroad background of Occupational therapy skills
Experience
Essential
- oDemonstrable experience working as a community OT
Desirable
- oExperience of staff supervision
- Knowledge of pathways within job remit - community teams and urgent care response
Skills
Essential
- oGood communication skills both written English and verbal
- oAble to work within a team and supervise staff
- oFlexibility
- oBasic IT skills
- oPhysically capable of completing moving and handling within a rehab based service
Other
Essential
- oFull UK driving license
- oCar driver/owner with car available for work purposes
- oFit enough to perform clinical duties
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oDiploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT)
- oHCPC Registration
- oPost graduate training
Desirable
- oFurther specialised courses
Knowledge
Essential
- oSound knowledge of complex frailty conditions and rehabilitation
- oClinical knowledge of all areas within remit of post
Desirable
- oBroad background of Occupational therapy skills
Experience
Essential
- oDemonstrable experience working as a community OT
Desirable
- oExperience of staff supervision
- Knowledge of pathways within job remit - community teams and urgent care response
Skills
Essential
- oGood communication skills both written English and verbal
- oAble to work within a team and supervise staff
- oFlexibility
- oBasic IT skills
- oPhysically capable of completing moving and handling within a rehab based service
Other
Essential
- oFull UK driving license
- oCar driver/owner with car available for work purposes
- oFit enough to perform clinical duties
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).
