Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Specialist Clinical Practice:

Maintain specialist clinical skills and provide expert advice to the TAPS in relation to Community Stroke

To organise and prioritise own workload and to monitor those you clinically supervise within Community Stroke

To independently screen, prioritise and plan interventions for routine and urgent referrals received within Community Stroke

To use sound clinical judgements to prioritise patients within a demanding and unpredictable environment ensuring effective use of resources. To assist staff under your supervision to prioritise their caseloads and advise them on appropriate interventions in response to urgent/and or complex cases on a daily basis

To undertake holistic and comprehensive specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies that change across the caseload. To utilise analytical and clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide accurate management of the condition, these skills may be advanced; interpret facts and select the appropriate treatment and implement rehabilitation programmes

Manage crisis intervention within the community when role demands

To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment

To maintain timely documentation of clinical records and audit the documentation of supervisees, ensuring compliance with standards set down by the Trust, HCPC and relevant professional bodies

Establish and maintain empathetic relationships with patients and carers in order to reassure, support and engage their involvement and co-operation in the rehabilitation process and enable the giving and receiving of sensitive, often highly emotional information.

To effectively communicate complex and often highly sensitive and emotional information regarding diagnosis, rehabilitation aims and expected outcomes of treatment to patients and carers in a manner they will understand. This will involve using a range of verbal, written and demonstration techniques to overcome any barriers to understanding caused by physical disability (e.g., stroke) sensory impairment (e.g., deafness), cognitive impairment (e.g., confusion) or emotional factors

Leader of Clinical Practice:

To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of their condition

To liaise with, refer to and advise the multidisciplinary team and other professionals in regard to the management and discharge of patients in your care.

To take delegated responsibility from more senior therapist in managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing comprehensive therapy assessment and treatment for patients with these conditions in Community Stroke

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work, including management of patients in your care

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service

To participate in the clinical governance procedures including the prompt recording and reporting of incidents, equipment defects and first line management of informal complaints

To deputise for the Band 7 clinical lead therapist in terms of operational issues when asked to do so

Manager of Resources:

Plans and implements a team profile and participates in the recruitment, selection, induction and retention of staff. Ensure that appropriate skill mix is maintained and skills are developed effectively in line with the changing patient/client needs.

Appraise and develop clinical activities within the team through monitoring and reviewing both individual and team performance, addressing performance capability issues where necessary.

To contribute towards the provision of flexible and timely services

To formally supervise lesser experienced staff, and assistants to whom you allocate clinical and non-clinical tasks ensuring their input is within the remit of their role and competencies, and to be responsible for the safe use of equipment as used by self, assistants and students.

To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department

Professional Development

To be responsible for your own Continuous Professional Development evidenced by attendance at relevant courses (in-service and external), achievement of appraisal objectives and maintenance of a professional portfolio, which includes reflective practice

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan as both appraiser and appraisee

To be an active member of the in-service training programme, including attendance and participation in the provision of training to staff; attendance at training sessions in house, external courses, and practising reflective practice

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit, research and outcome measures, either individually or with colleagues, clinical lead or manager

To participate in clinical supervision.

To contribute in identifying own development needs on an annual basis in line with the Trusts appraisal scheme.

To develop a self awareness of interpersonal skills in relation to cultural values and beliefs of others.

To maintain own registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and adhere to codes of conduct as set by the HCPC and relevant professional body.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc/Diploma in Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• Evidence of CPD, including attendance at recent post-graduate courses relevant to the clinical fields in the specialism

Desirable

• An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction, achievements and NHS standing
• Involvement in specific interest groups

Experience

Essential

• Comprehensive and relevant qualified experience in physical rehabilitation including recent general rehabilitation experience and stroke specific experience.
• Experience of collaborative working within multidisciplinary teams
• Evidence of communication skill within a wide variety of settings
• Ability to travel and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis to fulfil the requirements of the post

Desirable

• Experienced in staff appraisal
• Experienced in working in a variety of settings

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• In depth and up to date knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of physical disabilities
• Understanding of, and the ability to manage mental health and psychosocial issues relating to rehabilitation
• Remain updated with professional practice and new research
• Understand clinical governance and its implications for services, including experiences of quality issues and audit
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trusts policies of data protections, equal opportunities and health and safety. To meet the differing needs of patients.
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and deal with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
• Ability to work independently and organise , prioritise and delegate workload to meet service demands
• Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession.
• Able to organise, prioritise and delegate
• Evidence of self-directed learning and critical appraisal skills

Desirable

• Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery
• Presentational skills
• Competent IT skills (e.g. for electronic record keeping, emails)
• Evidence of participation in research/audit
• Clinical supervision of other therapy staff, assistants and students
• Clinical educator experience.
• Attendance at a recognised clinical educators course
• Ability to challenge professional boundaries

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis to fulfil the requirements of the post
• Car driver with own car

Desirable

• Ability to meet physical demands of the post
• Commitment, motivation and ability to work flexibly within a multidisciplinary service

Statutory Registration

Essential

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Member of RCOT

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).