Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary A new, exciting and innovative role has been created by Mid Dorset PCN to support the care of our patients, specifically those in our more rural practices where access to core services is sometimes difficult to access. The post holder will work closely with staff at three of our GP surgeries who have integrated nurse teams delivering both general practice and community nursing.

Mid Dorset Primary Care Network has a population of around 49,000 patients, with around 13,000 being registered at our three rural practices.

Job Responsibilities Key responsibilities include:

a) Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans, with an aim to increase patients’ productivity and self-care.

b) Work with patients through a shared decision-making approach to plan realistic, outcomes-focused goals.

c) Undertake both verbal and non-verbal communication methods to address the needs of patients that have communication difficulties.

d) Work in partnership with multi-disciplinary team colleagues both inside and outside of the practice teams in treatment planning to aid rehabilitation. This includes working with other PCN ARRS (Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme) roles, including First Contact Physiotherapist, Social Prescribers and Care Coordinators.

e) Where appropriate, support the development of discharge and contingency plans with relevant professionals to arrange on-going care in residential, care home, hospital, and community settings.

f) Periodically review, evaluate and change rehabilitation programmes to rebuild lost skills and restore confidence.

g) As required, advise on home, school, and workplace environmental alterations, such as adjustments for wheelchair access, technological needs, and ergonomic support.

h) Advise patients, and their families or carers, on specialist equipment and organisations that can hep with daily activities.

i) Help patients to adapt to and manage their physical and mental health long-term conditions, through the teaching of coping strategies.

j) Develop, implement and evaluate a seamless occupational therapy support service across the PCN, working with community and secondary care where appropriate, and aimed at continuously improving standards of patient care and wider multi-disciplinary team working.

k) Provide education and specialist expertise to PCN staff, raising awareness of good practice occupational therapy techniques.

l) Ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives.

Operational Responsibilities Include:

a) Attend in-house governance, educational and staff meetings as appropriate

b) Understand own role and scope in the organisation and identify how this may develop over time

c) Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

d) Accept delegation from senior staff, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time management strategies are embedded in own practice

e) Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance

f) To manage and prioritise changing workloads that includes frequent interruptions and unpredictable work patterns, including an element of unsociable hours as and when required

g) Recognise own ongoing training needs to develop existing skills

h) Recognise and work within own competence and professionalism

Confidentiality In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health & Safety The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health and Safety Policy, to include:

· Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines

· Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

· Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

· Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards

· Reporting potential risks identified

Equality & Diversity The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

· Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, Practice values and current legislation

· Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

· Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights

Personal/Professional Development The post holder will participate in any training and development programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, to include:

· Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

· Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

· Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

· Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

· Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance

· Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs

· Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

· Communicate effectively with other team members

· Communicate effectively with patients and carers

· Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services The post holder will:

· Apply Practice policies, standards and protocols

· Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work

· Participate in audit where appropriate

This is a new role and will evolve with the development of the PCN, therefore this list is representative, not exhaustive.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in or pre-reg MSc in Occupational Therapy under a training programme approved by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Desirable

• Experience of research and audit.

Experience

Essential

• Able to operate at an advanced level of practice.
• Demonstrable experience in dealing with people, and sensitive and confidential information.
• Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection.
• Relevant post registration experience as an OT to achieve knowledge and skills applicable to this post, preferably in an NHS primary/ community care.

Membership

Essential

• A registered member of the Health and Care Professionals Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapists.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Cerne Abbas Surgery

Address

51 Long Street

Cerne Abbas

Dorchester

Dorset

DT2 7JG

Employer's website

https://www.cerneabbassurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)