Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Highly Specialist Respiratory High Care Occupational Therapist

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Job summary

This is a new role within a developing multi-disciplinary respiratory high care team.

The therapy team is led by a Respiratory Physiotherapy Clinical Specialist supported by Physiotherapists, Speech & Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist. While the focus of this role will be on the High Care Unit, it is envisaged that the incumbent with link with the critical care unit and the home ventilation service.

Main duties of the job

You will need to have a high level of knowledge and skill to carry out expert OT assessments, design treatment and rehabilitation plans, to support patients in respiratory failure as a result of obstructive, restrictive lung disease, lung fibrosis and neurological conditions, of which some are life limiting.

This will encompass complex discharge planning and will require a broad range of skills including fatigue management strategies, activity pacing, cognitive assessment skills, excellent functional assessment and treatment planning skills to support the physical and mental wellbeing of patients.

Access to funded training will be available for the development of skills appropriate for the role.

About us

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Date posted

18 April 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£24,995 to £28,603 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C8192-CD-23-0435

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be responsible for the provision of a highly specialist, OT intervention within the Respiratory High Care Unit. This includes inpatients, outpatients and supporting a small number of community patients to prevent admission.

To lead on the development and implementation of high quality, multi-professional education and training programmes for the unit.

To facilitate home and access visits for highly complex patients to assess and assist with complex discharge planning and preparation.

To participate in research and development by initiating, planning and undertaking clinical audits / research projects to evaluate and develop the specialist OT service on the unit and within the trust producing evidence.

To have a good knowledge of service resources within the community and be able to refer complex discharge patients to the appropriate teams.

To be the expert point of access for OTs and other professionals on the OT management of patients with respiratory high care needs.

Clinical Responsibilities

To be responsible for the continuing development of a highly specialist Occupational Therapy service, providing expert advice and guidance for other health care professionals within the Respiratory High care Unit.

To have overall accountability for the planning and management of a highly complex and specialist clinical caseload on the Unit.

To facilitate patient involvement in decision-making at all stages of their clinical management, ensuring that they have consented to therapy intervention in line with Trust ethic-legal policies and the relevant code of professional conduct.

To support patients with strategies to manage fatigue including pacing, the breakdown of tasks & building strategic rehabilitation programmes whilst managing the need for rest & recuperation allowing clients to realise their goals & stretch their capabilities.

To act as a patient advocate, highlighting patient concerns or issues to the medical team, and negotiating changes to the clinical treatment plan if appropriate.

To have a good knowledge of service resources within the community and be able to refer complex discharge patients to the appropriate teams.

To facilitate home and access visits for highly complex patients to assess and assist with complex discharge planning and preparation.

Use expert specialist knowledge of the clinical area to undertake complex therapy assessments which include an evaluation of the impact of patients diagnoses and stage of disease on their ability to function and maintain quality of life and to make clinical decisions on the most appropriate form of therapy intervention, both short and long term for all patient diagnoses on the unit.

To provide expert therapeutic advice to patients, carers and clinicians using evidence based practice or, in the absence of a robust evidence base, advanced clinical judgement acquired through professional expertise.

To use highly advanced communication. Motivational interviewing and behaviour change skills such as active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, openness, motivation and reassurance to negotiate therapy interventions in situations where sensitive information needs to be discussed.

To translate highly complex scientific, medical, biochemical and therapeutic information into simple and easily understood practical information and advice for patients, their carers and families.

To monitor and review the progress of clients / patients against the goals and outcomes set and agreed and to modify these as appropriate.

To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers, identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements based on research and evidence base practice.

To facilitate the production of clear and evidence-based resources for patients and carers which are suitable for use locally, regionally, or nationally.

To be competent in the use of relevant equipment. This may include training of other healthcare professionals in its correct use.

To provide expert advice to all members of the multidisciplinary team in a range of forums, such as ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings, case conferences, and site-specific multidisciplinary meetings.

To provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence.

To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict, recognising potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs, and generating potential solutions.

To facilitate and participate in Outpatient Clinics, community visits as required by the service.