Occupational Therapist in Palliative Care

Job responsibilities

Clinical

As part of the multi-professional team, carry out holistic assessment of patients in a variety of settings and offer specialist palliative care provision accordingly.

To undertake OT assessment, addressing the patients physical, psychological and functional skills.

Identify the abilities and needs of patients and plan, implement and evaluate appropriate care.

To help patients define their goals and engage them in a treatment/support programme to work towards mutually agreed goals.

Through the provisions of direct intervention, teach specific symptom and lifestyle management techniques (e.g. for pain, relaxation, anxiety, breathlessness and fatigue).

To assess for and provide appropriate equipment and appliances, working in conjunction with statutory services.

To provide advice and support to patients, their family and other carers, teaching and demonstrating the use of equipment.

Communicating clearly, effectively and compassionately with patients, carers and colleagues, including highly complex, sensitive or contentious information.

Promote a culture of patient enablement and rehabilitative palliative care in the multi-disciplinary team.

Liaise with other professionals within the community, to achieve optimum rehabilitation outcomes and to facilitate planned and co-ordinated packages of support across health and social care.

Take a key role within the Hospice in facilitating discharge planning from the inpatient unit, including provision of appropriate equipment, focusing on functional independence.

Maintain high quality electronic patient documentation, as well as writing formal reports, referrals and assessments.

Deliver therapeutic groups, including Living Well therapy and creative groups.

To advise and support colleagues in assessing and managing complex manual handling problems.

To work autonomously in community settings, and assess, manage and document clinical risk.

Assist in audit and service evaluations within the department and Hospice.

Prioritise workloads to meet the changing needs of the service.

Be responsible for the maintenance and safety of all therapy equipment; highlight risks as required.

Education and Development

Ensure professional standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists are met and ensure professional and legal accountability.

Attend mandatory training when required, including completing E-Learning.

Contribute internal and external training programmes

Assess own learning needs and identify opportunities to address these.

Participate in clinical supervision and appraisal programme.

Assist in the development of clinical volunteer roles.

Keep up to date with local and national developments relevant to OT services in palliative care.

Contribute to the development of innovative OT service delivery.

Management

To contribute to the Clinical Governance arrangements, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards and development of relevant policies.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a multi professional context
• Experience of working in a variety of settings, including community and inpatient settings and with a variety of patient groups, including older people, neurological and medical

Desirable

• Experience of working in oncology and palliative care
• Previous hospice experience
• Working with volunteers
• Working with therapeutic groups

Knowledge

Essential

• Working knowledge of occupational therapy in rehabilitation
• Community assessment and rehabilitation
• Delivering therapeutic activities in a group setting

Desirable

• Knowledge of range of palliative conditions, including oncology, respiratory and cardiac conditions
• Fatigue management
• Anxiety management

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Current registration with The Health Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Teaching and mentorship
• Postgraduate education in oncology and palliative care

Communication

Essential

• Good listening and communication skills and ability to communicate with patients and families in distress
• Ability to communicate effectively with MDT staff, across all levels
• Effective written communication

Desirable

• Advanced Communication Skills training

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).