Team Lead Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL

To undertake highly specialised comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions of patients, including those with complex physical, psycho-social and cognitive problems using advanced clinical reasoning skills to develop and provide specialist individualised programs of care.

To lead the occupational therapy inpatient team, providing highly specialist and expert advice, teaching and training within and external to the organisation.

To act as an expert resource within the organization and externally regarding the occupational therapy management of oncology and palliative patients

To provide specialist occupational therapy advice and input at MDT meetings, case conferences, best interest meetings and discharge planning meetings.

To assess patients ability to carry out activities of daily living.

To identify barriers to occupational engagement and how they can be overcome ie. Fatigue, breathlessness, pain.

To accept clinical responsibility for patients referred to the inpatient adult occupation therapy service.

To monitor, evaluate and modify occupational therapy treatment plans in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.

To assess for specialist equipment

To liaise between specialist and rehabilitation teams to ensure that care for people with rehabilitation needs are transferred effectively across organisational boundaries.

To carry out risk assessments and provide training and advice on safe moving and handling techniques within the ward environment and offer advice for patients home environment.

To liaise effectively and refer to other National Health, Social Services, Private and Voluntary Agencies to ensure patients needs are addressed to ensure safe and timely discharges from hospital.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous patient documentation in line with local and professional standards, provide accurate reports on patients functional abilities if requested, and be responsible for storage of occupational records in line with HCPC and trust policies on confidentiality and GDPR.

To communicate complex and sensitive patient related information to ensure effective collaborative working between multi-disciplinary team members

To provide 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.

To use advanced personal coping strategies to work with a specialist caseload in the oncology setting. AHPs working in this environment may have exposure to breaking bad news, patients with progressive disease and this who are in the terminal stages of their illness.

To develop competencies to enable cross-working between occupational therapy and physiotherapy to ensure efficient and seamless working, whilst respecting professional boundaries.

To communicate discharge plans and occupational therapy interventions to the MDT, patients, and relatives/carers.

To be responsible for the safe use of occupational therapy equipment within the Trust by staff, patients, and relatives.

To plan and provide highly specialised individual treatment programs incorporating patient focused goals and outcome measures, based on specialist and evidence-based knowledge of techniques and treatment options.

To evaluate clinical outcomes of interventions and to assist other staff in carrying this out.

To use advanced communication skills to work with patients and carers in highly complex/sensitive situations, break bad news and discuss advanced care planning concerns as appropriate.

To use advanced communication skills and expert clinical reasoning to enable the patients and carers to adapt psychologically to disease, role changes and disability, and to set realistic goals.

To communicate highly complex condition-related information from assessment to clients, carers, families, and members of the MDT/other professions.

To advise and support other healthcare staff to develop advanced communication and clinical reasoning skills to work with patients and carers in complex/sensitive situations, enabling them to adapt to the physical, psychological, and emotional impact of their disease.

To motivate and reassure clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

To assess for and issues relevant appliances and/or equipment in line with the Trust Policy ad Medical Device Agency Regulations as appropriate.

To use moderate physical effort, manual dexterity and coordination on a daily basis to assess and treat patients. With more complex patients this may require the considerable physical effort of more than one therapist.

To lead on the development of occupational therapy specialised care protocols/packages relating to a range of issues to improve patient care e.g., development of care pathways.

To develop and progress the occupational therapy service exploring the use of digital skills to deliver some care as well as research and audit to support development

PROFESSIONAL

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients

To be fully aware of and comply with the rules of professional conduct as set by the Royal College of Occupational Therapy and HCPC

To work within guidelines of policies and procedures and standards set by the Christie NHS Foundation Trust

To ensure the health and safety of staff and patients and to report any areas of potential risk to the Rehabilitation Department Manager.

To be responsible for Continued Professional Development as directed by the HCPC.

To be an active member of the in-service training program.

To be flexible around working hours to potentially include 7 day working in the future.

To comply with The Christie values and behaviours

MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP

To manage, lead and be a role model for the Christie NHS Foundation Trust Occupational Therapy Service

To train supervise and manage junior occupational therapy staff, assistants, and students.

Act as a role model for excellent advanced communication skills and expertise, demonstrating fairness, transparency and consistency with management decision making.

The nature of this management role will require a level of emotional resilience associated with dealing with staff issues.

To take an active role in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for the appraisal of junior staff members as an Appraiser.

To be responsible for the operational performance of the occupational therapy team to include: patient flow and activity data, annual leave, staff sickness, recruitment, mandatory training and performance management.

To be responsible for setting and agreeing a personal and departmental development plan with line managers.

To be responsible for devising, implementing, auditing, and amending departmental policies and procedures

To be responsible for interpreting the consequences of national and government guidelines and policy on the occupational therapy service at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

To disseminate expert knowledge of occupational therapy in an oncology/palliative care setting at courses, study days and conferences locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

To evaluate and update existing clinical standards in line with evidence-based practice.

To provide statistical information required to evaluate services.

To ensure that high standards of documentation are maintained to professional and departmental standards

To take responsibility for the maintenance of a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff and ensure compliance with health safety regulations. Report hazards and unsafe practices in line with agreed departmental/Trust policy and procedures.

EDUCATION

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities including research, audit and improving digital competencies and the maintenance of a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To facilitate and provide education, support, .and clinical supervision to enable occupational therapy staff to develop their skills in assessment, clinical reasoning, appropriate goal setting and the information of treatment plans for patients.

To facilitate reflective practice with individuals and within the department where appropriate.

To prepare and present formal and informal education sessions to increase the profile and voice of the occupational therapists

To provide and receive peer support from/to other healthcare professionals.

CLINICAL AUDIT, RESERCH AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

To participate in clinical academic careers

To initiate and actively participate in the process of clinical governance in line with trust and national drivers.

To encourage and enable staff participation in the clinical audit process within the trust

To take a lead role in the implementation of outcomes of clinical audit and evidence-based research and practice

To oversee the management of specific clinical issues and ensure appropriate referral pathways across service areas are developed and evaluated.

To promote the role of occupational therapy in oncology, palliative care, and end of life care locally, nationally and internationally.

To prepare papers and articles for submission to professional journals.

To lead on the development of objectives or policies relating to occupational therapy ensuring these reflect local health and social care priorities.

To contribute to the development of patient information.

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised BSC Honors degree in Occupational therapy or equivalent
• Post registration clinical educators certificate
• HCPC Registration.
• Evidence of postgraduate training in recognised specialist courses

Desirable

• Management/Leadership training
• Recognised Postgraduate qualification in Oncology and/or Palliative care

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 4 years post registration experience in a range of settings including oncology
• Experience of team management
• Experience of providing occupational therapy assessment intervention to support individuals with an oncology, palliative or end of life diagnosis, including symptom management
• In-depth experience in the Occupational Therapy management of patients with multiple and complex presentations.
• Experience of delivering psychological interventions
• Previous involvement in clinical effectiveness and audit projects
• Experience of managing qualified and unqualified Occupational Therapists

Desirable

• Experience in the Occupational Therapy management of patients with neurological problems
• Experience of managing change

Skills

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced clinical reasoning and analytical skills.
• Leadership and motivational skills
• Conflict management skills
• Teaching skills
• Excellent organizational/planning/prioritizing skills
• Presentation skills
• Basic IT skills
• Counselling skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of cancer and its treatment on occupational engagement.
• Knowledge of government policy and current drivers in cancer services e.g. NICE guidance and how these impact on services
• Knowledge of the role of occupational therapy across the cancer care pathway.

Desirable

• Knowledge of local community teams and referral processes

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

• Ability to motivate others
• Ability to work autonomously and as an effective team member
• Excellent inter-personal skills - flexible, empathetic, reliable and having the ability to problem solve
• Self-motivated

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).