Senior Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive Occupational Therapy service to disabled adults, children and young people, carers and community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

Core Responsibilities

• To undertake a range of complex Occupational Therapy assessments. Assessments should have an occupational focus and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion.

• To undertake reablement assessments which have an occupational emphasis. To be responsible for the care planning for the whole process.

• To manage and monitor a workload of complex and diverse cases within the parameters of agreed policies and practices together with professional guidance and support from team managers to safeguard and promote the welfare of individuals, families and carers.

• To develop, implement and review outcome focussed Occupational Therapy intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent well-being and inclusion within delegated levels of responsibility.

• To identify specialist housing needs of disabled people and their families and support them in accessing suitable housing/adaptations
• To organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.

• To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence, for example, recommendations for major adaptations and specialist/bespoke equipment.

• To complete moving and handling and hoist training, and then carry out complex moving and handling assessments, and provide subsequent advice and training to disabled people, carers and staff as appropriate.

• To carry out complex moving and handling assessments, make appropriate recommendations for specific equipment, to reduce the risk for carers.

• To deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.

• Following assessment provide/recommend complex and bespoke services to disabled adults, older people, children and young people which remove barriers to social inclusion, to improve quality of life for disabled people and their carers.

• To obtain the views of the disabled person during the assessment process and take into account their views when making recommendations for service provision.
• To take a lead for the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services.
• To provide comprehensive knowledge of specialist equipment and complex adaptations to users, carers and less experienced members of the team.

• To provide expert advice, support and guidance on casework to less experienced team members, both registered and unregistered.

• To provide support and professional supervision to new graduate OTs, OTs and unregistered staff and to ensure the person achieves the appropriate skills and competencies.

• To attend regular personal and professional Supervision with identified Supervisor.

• To provide practice education for OT students, including student placements and other student related activities.

• To maintain up to date accurate case notes and other records, write reports as required.

• To assist with recruitment and selection of new graduate OTs, Community OTs and unregistered staff.

• To contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

• To use management information systems, keep them up to date and be able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.

• To be responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.

• To work with other services within the council to deliver efficient and effective solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.

• To work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal

• To disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.

• To develop and maintain effective relationships with disabled people, their families and carers: provide advice and support, promote independence and early intervention, as necessary; help resolve conflict, where appropriate.

• To work with individuals, families, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.

• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of disabled adults, older people, children and young people.

• To contribute to safeguarding investigations, of disabled adults, older people, children and young people., in accordance with legislative requirements and Multi-agency Safeguarding procedures.

• Undertake risk assessments, identify needs and options.

• To identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures seeking guidance if required.

• To appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.

• To work to and within the prescribed standards of the College of Occupational Therapists and be responsible for promoting awareness of these.

• To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the Council.

• Be responsible for the development of practice by maintaining a knowledge of related theories and legislation and using evidence on which to base professional practice.

• To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.

• To be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures. Maintain an awareness of related theories and legislation

• Maintain up to date personal CPD folder in order to retain registration with the HCPC.

• Under the direction of the team manager undertake specific pieces of work in relation to customer feedback, representations, complaints, multi-agency projects or service developments and make recommendations or action plans to implement these to improve service delivery.

• To deputise for the Disability Team Manager as and when required.

• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.

• To actively promote and support Leeds City Councils and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.

• To undertake and other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate.

Specific Responsibilities for Integrated Reviewing Team

• To be part of a citywide integrated reviewing team to customers who have 2 paid carers and large packages of care.
• To undertake complex moving and handling risk assessments with customers and carers both paid and unpaid, and make recommendations to reduce the packages of care either by change in process or equipment.
• To provide detailed moving and handling plans to care providers and provide expert advice, support and guidance.
• To work with care agencies to ensure staff are competent to undertake single handed care.

Priorities will be:

• people who have been discharged from hospital, with a new package of care, where there are two carer staff members
• people who, have a large package of care, would benefit from a full functional assessment, with an aim to reduce the package of care where:
• They have not seen an occupational therapist before
• Where the person has no equipment to support them
• The Occupational Therapists will work closely with social workers in the Integrated Reviewing Team
• To work to agreed KPIs for numbers of assessments to be completed on a weekly basis
• To provide detailed performance information on a weekly basis to evidence savings made, and any expenditure spent on equipment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy, Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement of the post and maintain yearly registration.

Experience

Essential

• Able to use a range of Occupational Therapy interventions
• Ability to effectively plan, prioritise and time manage a complex workload.
• Ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessments of people with complex needs and develop, implement and manage planned recommendations.
• Ability to carry out safe functional assessments and give physical assistance to disabled people where necessary
• Ability to move and handle equipment for assessment and provision
• A high level of effective written and verbal communication and the ability to pass information accurately and concisely with a range of partners and disabled people, carers and colleagues
• Able to deal constructively with, and to exercise assertiveness in appropriate situations when working with individuals, families, carers and other agencies
• Ability to negotiate, challenge and manage conflict.
• Ability to innovate and problem solve with the ability to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions in order to promote positive change
• Ability to devise, implement review and evaluate service and support plans
• Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person centred approach
• Ability to exercise individual judgement and consult where and when necessary
• Ability to be flexible, creative and use own initiative
• Be competent in the use of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email,
• Ability to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure
• Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology
• Able to develop self and others including mentoring, supervision and development of student placements and other Disability Services staff
• Able to lead and motivate others
• Car driver
• Appropriate Occupational Therapy professional qualification- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Recent relevant professional development
• Knowledge and understanding of a broad range of physical and mental health conditions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework appropriate to the needs of disabled people from a wide range of backgrounds
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Knowledge of current, trends, policies, legislation and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with people potentially at risk of harm.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• A good understanding of the challenges of working within a multi-agency environment
• Extensive relevant experience of working in a statutory/voluntary setting
• Experience of fieldwork education
• Experience of working in a multi professional teams
• An in-depth knowledge of specialist equipment and complex major adaptations
• An in-depth knowledge of complex moving handling issues and appropriate solutions
• Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems
• Experience of working within and implementing a person centred focused approach
• Experience of supervising, supporting, encouraging and advising registered and unregistered staff
• Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning
• Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function
• Managing a high level, complex and diverse caseload within agreed parameters, policy and procedure
• Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments
• Experience of advocacy and user involvement
• Experience of using initiative
• Experience of developing services to meet customer need

Desirable

• Ability to contribute to service planning Knowledge of the range of services available to users, families and carers. Experience of working with a wide range of user groups Experience of moving and handling

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).