Occupational Therapist - Dementia Outreach

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To undertake specialist assessments on how to maximise the physical and social environments to help people engage in activities of daily living and contribute to multi-disciplinary treatment planning.

To be responsible for continuing the ongoing development of high standards of clinical practice and expertise within the service contributing to implementation of specific changes to practice and service protocols and making a professional contribution to the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

To advise and support care home staff in maintaining a residents wellbeing and engagement despite their skills declining.

To manage/care coordinate a caseload of patients and will provide advice, education, and teaching sessions to providers of residential/nursing care for people with dementia.

Dimensions

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your work, including the management of clients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the clients under occupational therapy management and support junior staff to do likewise.

To determine by assessment and liaison with other relevant agencies the advice, education, and treatment requirements of each patient. This may include dealing with complex and conflicting opinions within the multi-disciplinary multi-agency team.

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of clients, including those with a complex and/or chronic presentation using investigative and analytical skills through standardised and non-standardised assessments. To formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and using a wide range of treatment skills and options to devise a specialised programme of care.

To set occupational therapy goals and carry out treatment interventions.

To carry out manual handling assessments of clients living in care homes where there is a primary mental health concern.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of clients and to organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training to other members of the Integrated Team and other agencies regarding the occupational therapy management of clients with problems related to ageing and dementia.

To train, supervise and manage more junior staff, support staff and students. To supervise, educate and assess the performance of undergraduate occupational therapy students as required to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.

To have the ability to gain valid informed consent and to identify through assessment clients who lack capacity and work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

To work as a lone practitioner with supervision from a band 7 Physiotherapist, the Team Leader will also provide support as required.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to clients, carers, and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to client care.

To assess advice and, where appropriate, provide mobility aids including teaching clients/carers in their use.

Professional

To participate in the development of good practice for occupational therapists within Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC under the guidance of the Professional Lead

To demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice

To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development under the supervision of the professional lead, keeping abreast of new trends and developments, incorporating them into your work as necessary. Attend relevant conferences and internal/external training courses. Support more junior staff to do likewise.

To maintain a high level of occupational therapy standards and work to the occupational therapy Code of Professional Conduct.

To actively participate in the services training strategy, including in-service training, Trust, and multi-agency training. To participate by attendance and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, and training sessions.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

To assist with development and participation in the teams audit projects, evidence-based practice projects and outcome measures, either individually or with other senior therapists. To make recommendations for change.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development plans as both appraiser and appraise.

To contribute to the evidence base for occupational therapy for older people with mental health needs as appropriate through dissemination of research and audit findings.

Organisational

To support the Team Manager in implementing targets and objectives to assist in the ongoing development of the service. To participate in service evaluation and advice on the service needs of the client population.

To be responsible for management duties when requested by senior staff.

To be involved with the day-to-day delivery of the occupational therapy service within the Integrated Service including prioritisation of support staff duties. Also organising own diary and time management. (Arranging assessments and appointments for own caseload)

To ensure the health and safety of staff and clients always in accordance with Health & Safety Legislation and Organisational Policy and Procedures. To adhere to all other Organisational Policies and Procedures.

To attend team meetings and meetings with other agencies as required.

To use information technology on a daily basis and participate in identified data collection and statistics and to maintain clear, consider and timely records in line with the service policy.

To actively participate in Lone Worker Tracking procedures.

To have and promote a positive attitude to change and change management.

To play an active role in supporting and facilitating change where appropriate

To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required.

To be part of a multi-disciplinary Integrated Care Homes Service, responsible for the delivery of an occupational therapy service to residents with mental health problems related to old age, particularly those with dementia.

To supervise less experienced staff and students working with the Post Holder. To supervise, educate and assess the performance of undergraduate Occupational Therapy students as required ensuring the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.

To increase the capacity, confidence, competence, and willingness of partner organisations to provide the right level of care to this vulnerable client group and by doing so increase standards of care, improve quality of life, increase independence and choice.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

• Car driver in possession of current full driving licence
• Double vaccination for Covid

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Clinical Educators/ Practice Teaching Course
• Relevant post-graduate experience

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post graduate NHS experience as an occupational therapist, working with people with dementia
• Experience in older adult mental health care in the community
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and/or multi-agency working
• Competence in individual caseload and time management

Desirable

• Clinical Educators/Practice Teaching Course
• An understanding of the occupational therapy needs of older people with dementia living in care home

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Evidence of achievement of appropriate competencies for clinical grade.
• Working knowledge of dementia and caring for people with dementia
• Working knowledge of the Occupational Therapy process and the unique contribution of Occupational Therapy to the care of people with dementia.
• Understanding of the importance of posture and positioning for the wellbeing of people with dementia
• Appropriate understanding of risk management, particularly with people with dementia
• Awareness of current Local and National Policy Developments and remains update with professional practice and current best evidence and research
• Occupational therapy diagnosis/assessment and treatment skills
• Awareness, understanding and commitment to the pursuit of equality and diversity in terms of service delivery and employment practice
• Competent use of information technology appropriate to role
• Supervision, appraisal, and contribution to clinical education of less experienced qualified staff and student/support workers
• Excellent communication skills demonstrating an ability to communicate to a variety of audiences and levels e.g. 1:1 and in groups
• Flexible, adaptable, innovative, and self-reliant with a positive attitude
• Good organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate

Desirable

• Evidence of ongoing CPD appropriate for role
• Understanding of and ability to assess the sensory needs of people with dementia
• Evidence of achievement of competencies for role
• Knowledge of models for supervision, experience of supervisions and appraisals
• Effective teaching skills 1:1 in groups
• Evidence of audit/organisational projects
• Advanced clinical reasoning skills
• ECDL or equivalent

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

Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC

Address

Aspect House, Aspect Business Park

26 Bennerley Road

Bulwell

Nottinghamshire

NG6 8WR

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamcitycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)