Job responsibilities
Purpose
To work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary
team to provide high quality, patient centred occupational therapy service to
patients with life-limiting / neurological conditions.
To provide specialist, therapeutic intervention,
rehabilitation within the limitation of their condition, provide strategies to
promote independence to optimise the individuals quality of life for patients in
their own home, Inpatient unit or attending the Wellbeing and Supportive Care
service.
Act as expert
resource, provide specialist advice to Hospice staff and the wider community of
health and social care professionals.
Clinical
1.
Manage
a caseload of patients with life-limiting, using patient centred evidence-based
principles; to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
2.
Use
clinical judgment in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinical
guidelines and protocols.
3.
Demonstrate
a broad level of knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions.
4.
Utilise
assessment skills to make clinical decisions utilising expert knowledge and
clinical reasoning.
5.
Undertake
holistic assessments and work with patients to agree the best management plan
and evaluate the effect of occupational therapy interventions for patients
living with a life limiting condition.
6.
Proactively
manage patients using palliative based assessments and interventions, offering
support to patients and their carers to improve and optimise the patients
quality of life dependent upon their need.
7.
Assess
complex care needs and co-ordinate a team approach to try and address these
needs more effectively to support patients.
8.
Work
with patients and/or carers to identify goals as part of an overall care plan
in co-operation with the multi professional team using recognised goal setting
documentation.
9.
Devise
a treatment plan for each patient, agreed with the patient and communicated to
the family and multi-disciplinary team, to maximise independence and quality of
life.
10.
Monitor
progress and evidence the effectiveness
of the intervention, using outcome measures and modify treatment where
appropriate.
11.
Advise,
recommend, make provision for the installation of appropriate aids and
adaptations to the patients social and physical environment
12.
Carry
out home visits with or without the patient, to assess environmental risk and
functional ability at home
13.
Assess
need and risk factors for hoist and wheelchair provision.
14.
Delegated
responsibility for identifying necessary resources / equipment needs, monitoring
usage, maintenance and reporting defects or deficits to the Physiotherapist / Community
Services Manager.
15.
Prescribe
and source equipment for patient use.
16.
Demonstrate
effective communication skills; explanation, persuasion, motivation, empathy,
reassurance and empowerment with patients to achieve their optimum level of
independence, convey highly sensitive and complex information or deal with
difficult or challenging situations, such as managing patient and professional
unmet expectation.
17.
Convey
information in a sensitive and appropriate manner on diagnosis, prognosis and
treatment plans in a range of verbal and non-verbal forms that
patients/relatives can understand.
18.
Educate
patients, loved ones, and carers in conditions and their effects in order to
adapt to an appropriate lifestyle.
19.
Use
communication skills to facilitate advance care planning.
20.
Demonstrate
effective communication and joint working with the Hospice clinical team,
external / other professionals as appropriate.
21.
Liaise
with external Neuro-rehab specialist OTs in order to support patients with compensatory
palliative occupational therapy.
22.
Contribute
to the work of the multi-disciplinary clinical team, ensuring safe and
effective care and discharge arrangements for Inpatients. Co-ordinate the provision
of specialised interventions or equipment.
23.
Attend
and participate, where appropriate, in case conferences relating to patient
discharge planning.
24.
Refer
on to appropriate agencies for the continuation of treatment, reassessment,
monitoring and provision of further equipment / adaptations.
25.
Demonstrate
expertise in multi-professional meetings, acting as patient advocate and
representing the Hospice from a palliative rehabilitation perspective.
26.
Actively
network across the borough to seek key partner health care providers /
services, to ensure the Hospice has a good knowledge of and effective
relationships with to ensure patients have access to the appropriate care when
needed.
27.
Attend
Gold Standard Framework (GSF) meetings as required to network with the wider
multi-disciplinary team and educate other health care professionals about the
service.
28.
Ensure
that patient records are maintained in accordance with both statutory and
Hospice requirements.
29.
Report
any incidents, complaints, near misses and untoward incidents, following
Hospice policy.
30.
Maintain
up to date activity data in accordance with professional and hospice standards.
31.
Collate
and evaluate data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality.
32.
Prepare
or support the Community Services Manager with high quality clinical reports
demonstrating objective assessment and outcomes.
33.
Contribute
to the development of the service; identify and implement quality improvements
and initiatives, participate in clinical audit, evaluation of patient outcomes
within your clinical area, policy and protocol review within scope of role.
Professional
1.
Actively
participate in the day-to-day management of complex palliative patients, planning
own workload / visit allocation and work and closely with the physiotherapist
to develop the AHP provision.
2.
Be
accountable for professional decisions as a lone occupational therapist.
3.
Provide
leadership, management and development of all staff and volunteers within area
of responsibility.
4.
Demonstrate
continuous evaluation and reflection on own practice and performance through
effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance review
in order to further develop OT provision.
5.
Act
as a resource and adviser promoting evidence-based practice and best management
of palliative occupational therapy care. Provide specialist advice to GPs,
Practice Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and other community health workers across
the borough.
6.
Develop
effective working relationships with Allied health professionals in local NHS
Trusts, other community teams and Hospices.
7.
Ensure
professional registration is up to date and uphold the Royal College of
Occupational Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council Code of Conduct
at all times to ensure the safety of patients.
Education
1.
Ensure
attendance at all mandatory training and professional development sessions
required by Springhill hospice.
2.
Participate
in individual performance review and the use of personal development plan.
3.
Take
responsibility for identifying own personal and professional development
requirements and communicating these to the line manager.
4.
Maintain
own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a professional
portfolio, providing evidence of self-development.
5.
Keep
up to date with research and developments within own field of practice to
ensure evidence-based practice.
6.
Provide
specialist education and advice to other professionals (internally and
externally) involved in patient care about the role of occupational therapy in palliative
care.
7.
Provide
supervision and support for all learner grades of staff including external
students on placement.
8.
Delegated
responsibility for Occupational Therapy students on placement; negotiate
learning contracts, set objectives, supervise placement practice and evaluation.
9.
Contribute
to the development of patient and community focused education including
coaching patients and their families and carers.
Personal
1.
Ensure
compliance with Springhill Hospice policies and procedures at all times.
2.
When
working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner
with telephone support if required.
3.
Attend
and participate in all relevant meetings, both within the Hospice and
externally, as appropriate and as agreed with line manager.
4.
Ensure
continued support and encouragement to colleagues within the clinical team and
the wider Hospice team at all times.
5.
To
exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable
attendance.
6.
Develop
new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.
General
1.
Read,
understand and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures, applying the
principles appropriate to the role.
2.
Demonstrate
awareness of specific individual responsibilities in respect of the
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults, in relation to the role.
