Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To work as required within the Urgent Community Response and Integrated reablement team, responding to health and social care referrals with the aim of preventing admission to hospital or a care home and promoting independence

To work as an autonomous practitioner, you will undertake clinical triage to facilitate hospital discharges to a community bed or home (via Community Triage Hub/Transfer of Care hub) and comprehensive assessments to identify the appropriate service for the clients referred

To carry out profession specific, and holistic, assessments and evaluation as required.

To assist the multi-disciplinary team to plan and develop a goal focused rehabilitation/reablement programme for adults with a wide variety of complex physical and mental health needs either in a community bed or in their own homes.

To be responsible for continuing the ongoing development of high standards of clinical practice with evidence-based focus.

Dimensions

This post has no budgetary responsibility however the post holder is responsible for demonstrating cost consciousness.

You may be required to work across different bases and community settings within Nottingham City

You will be responsible for managing the triage caseload; You must have excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills, and be able to respond pragmatically to rapidly changing demands and circumstances.

You will be required to participate actively in CityCares training requirements.

You will supervise, educate and assess the competency of junior staff, support staff and students.

Key Responsibilities

You will need to demonstrate high standards of evidence based clinical practice, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be able to prioritise your workload, manage your time effectively, and work flexibly within the team.

You will carry out profession specific, and holistic, assessments and evaluations as required to promote independence and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.You will be part of the multi-disciplinary team; planning and developing goal focused rehabilitation/reablement programme for adults with a wide variety of complex physical and mental health needs either in a community bed or in their own homes.

Within the team we also manage the community triage hub which facilitates all hospital discharges to our community rehab and assessment beds, and coordinates home discharges for patients who need short term support from the team.

You will use your clinical skills to triage referrals, liaise with wards, community bed staff and hospital discharge teams to facilitate timely discharges from the acute setting, and support the flow of patients through the system.

Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills are required, and you should be able to respond pragmatically to rapidly changing demands and circumstances.

You will;

• 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 and work within your Professional Code of Conduct.
• Gain valid informed consent and to identify through assessment clients who lack capacity. To work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
• Undertake advanced comprehensive assessment and evaluation of adults presenting with a wide variety of complex physical and mental health needs, utilising a high level of investigative and analytical skills.
• Be responsible for carrying a client caseload and to provide highly specialist clinical reasoning in assessing, devising and evaluating individualised rehabilitation programmes with clients.
• Be responsible for coordinating the safe and timely discharge process from a variety of community settings, including community beds.
• Risk assess, advise and where appropriate provide equipment including teaching clients / carers in its use
• Provide highly specialist advice, education and mentorship to the other staff and colleagues within the Reablement team and other multi-professional teams around current best practice and evidence based practice regarding the clinical management of clients. To drive quality, clinical service improvement and clinical excellence.
• Be responsible for your own continuing professional development keeping abreast of new trends and developments. Attend relevant conferences and training courses, supporting junior staff to do the same. Incorporate new developments into clinical practice.
• Participate in the supervision framework as a supervisee and a supervisor, including the appraisal process. To be able to set own objectives and evaluate own learning and that of more junior staff.
• Be a clinical educator for undergraduate students on University placements, supervising, educating and measuring their performance against the standards set by the degree level qualification.
• Maintain a high standard of care to clients and carers including accurate and detailed documentation
• Contribute to Clinical Governance agenda and apply Risk Management strategies.
• Support the Team Manager in implementing and evaluating targets and objectives to assist in the ongoing development of the whole service and contribute to implementation of service development and change as appropriate
• Ensure the health & safety of self and others at all times in accordance with Health & Safety legislation and City Care policy and procedures including following the Lone Worker Tracking procedure as applies to the team.
• Use information technology on a daily basis and participate in identified data collection and statistics and to maintain clear, concise and timely records in line with the service policy.
• Demonstrate flexibility, prioritise effectively and time manage self, supporting others to do the same. Be able to delegate appropriately.
• Act as duty clinician for the process of referrals
• Undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required
• Manage complex, sensitive and/or difficult information via a variety of means and may be required to deal with aggressive, emotional or people with mental health needs.
• Communicate effectively within the MDT, showing a comprehensive understanding of the roles of all the team members.
• Communicate effectively in various ways with a wide variety of people from diverse settings and backgrounds.
• Use advanced communication skills to manage conflict and gain co-operation to achieve the best outcomes

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post graduate experience at Band 5
• Relevant experience of rehabilitation with adults
• Community experience
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of supervising junior, unqualified staff and students
• Experience of managing change

Desirable

• Experience working within intermediate care services
• Experience of working with clients with mental health needs

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of wide range of approaches in the management of complex long-term conditions.
• Evidence of achievement of appropriate competencies for clinical grade.
• Models of supervision Evidence of continuing professional development based on best practice.
• Awareness of current local and national developments in health and social care
• Ability to carry out comprehensive assessments and the development and evaluation of treatment plans
• Able to work independently recognising own limitations
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to relate well to all groups of people and to create and maintain effective working relationships within the team and externally
• Skills supervising junior staff and students.
• Ability to assess and manage risk.
• Prioritisation and time management skills.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Leadership experience

Desirable

• Highly developed leadership and change management
• Evidence of audit/organisational projects.
• Advanced clinical reasoning skills.
• SystmOne and IT experience

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered

Desirable

• Evidence of further Professional Development
• Leadership qualification
• Student Mentor
• Recognised Teaching qualification

Special Requirements

Essential

• All appointments are subject to satisfactory medical clearance and the ability to cope with the demands of the role.
• This post requires shift working between 8am-4pm, 12-8pm and 2pm-10pm 5 days over 7 including weekend and bank holidays and the ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service
• Full driving licence with business insurance and the ability to travel between locations.
• Access to own vehicle is essential on a daily basis for work purposes

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).