Occupational Therapist (Vocational Rehabilitation)

Job responsibilities

Role summary

To provide highly specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions across the Cheshire and Merseyside Network, with the main focus on patients within the community.

To take a leading role in the implementation of the vocational rehabilitation model across the rehabilitation network through provision of training, development and support of staff delivering vocational rehabilitation at a less specialist level.

To ensure VR service maintains best practice and is evidence based and that activity data is appropriately captured and monitored.

Key responsibilities

Establish and manage a clinical caseload making best use of resources and time as an autonomous practitioner and hold responsibility for defined service area.

Through a client centered approach, establish and support the vocational rehabilitation needs of service users living with a complex / diverse range of physical and cognitive challenges.

Using a holistic approach and working in partnership with service users and significant others, establish SMART vocational rehabilitation goals and comprehensive treatment plans.

To provide intervention and support patients to overcome or manage personal, social and professional effects of their condition (s) on employment and education.

To work in a variety of clinical settings including outpatients, inpatient and community, in a wide range of workplace and educational environments, which will also involve lone-working.

To work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team to facilitate patients goals

To work in liaison with a range of external stakeholders e.g. Occupational Health and Human Resources professionals, line managers, trade union staff and educationalists.

To provide specialist VR advice, education and training to other health and social care professionals, occupational health and human resources professionals, line managers etc.

To undertake measures, evaluation and outcomes to inform best practice, influence research, innovation and the professional development of self and others.

Clinical Responsibilities

Implementing both the vocational rehabilitation process and the occupational therapy process, establish and support the vocational rehabilitation needs of patients living with a diverse range of physical and cognitive challenges

To provide VR intervention to service users which supports equality and values diversity

To review and progress treatment plans over time and provide comprehensive VR reports to the appropriate agencies ensuring compliance with information governance and patient consent.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with professional and local requirements including MDT records and timely discharge summaries

To work collaboratively with the MDT providing information and resources in support of patient care.

To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other health professionals, employment or education based professionals ( HR, Occupational Health etc) to promote understanding of the aims of VR intervention to support a consistent approach to patient care and their vocational goals.

To gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with patients/clients who may lack capacity to consent to treatment

To facilitate effective internal and external two-way communication with patients and significant others and to sensitively manage complex information where there may be barriers to understanding.

To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of CMRN Network.

To audit and monitor VR performance against local and national guidelines and standards with support of team leads and other relevant managers.

To maintain own awareness and regularly review information and resources regarding VR , community services and agencies to compliment OT practice, advising and referring patients as appropriate

To act responsibly and competently, adhering to Health and safety policy in the safe use of equipment.

Clinical Governance

To comply with health and safety policies of the Trust including undertaking the Walton Centre mandatory and statutory training requirements.

To support and comply with health and safety policies and risk assessment in order to protect self, service users and others

To ensure that any equipment, furniture or building in need of repair is reported to the correct authority

To comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy standards and code of professional conduct. To comply with and adhere to the Health Care Professions Council ( HCPC) requirements for professional practice and ensure continued HCPC registration

To participate in research and clinical audit projects to ensure evidence based practice.

To participate in and support systems of supervision and appraisal for self and junior staff and students as required

To support the development local and Trust policies and their application to own area of work.

Training and development

As a reflective practitioner participate in clinical supervision and take responsibility for ensuring continuation of the process.

Be compliant with Trust annual appraisal process and maintain own continuous professional development (CPD) .Be compliant with all mandatory and statutory training

Maintain professional links with occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation, occupational health and human resources colleagues regarding wider professional issues.

Maintain links with relevant professional and charitable bodies at local and national level through organization of and attendance at relevant meetings/conferences.

Actively participate in the in-service training programs for CMRN and wider therapy service.

Contribute to relevant training programs within the MDT and deliver presentations / training sessions both internally and externally to raise awareness of the VR specialist role.

Managerial & Leadership

To be aware of and identify changes in service demand and report to senior staff and managers

To assist the MDT by taking delegated responsibility for the supervision of any relevant junior staff or students

To provide CSRT Team Leads, clinical leads and managers with advice as required for the planning and development of vocational rehabilitation.

To support team leads, clinical leads and managers in achieving the departmental objectives, clinical outcomes and performance measures.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Health & Care Professions Council registration
• Evidence of significant post graduate study relevant to Complex Rehabilitation and/or Vocational Rehabilitation
• Completion of vocational rehabilitation specific course/training
• Mentorship experience or Professional practice educators qualification.

Desirable

• Completion of a specific Vocational Rehabilitation Masters degree or Masters degree relevant to Complex Rehabilitation or working towards
• Membership of a relevant VR/Work practice special interest group.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial proven experience of carrying out a range of VR activity and able to evidence experience of responsibility for managing a case-load.
• Experience of carrying out pre-vocational type work including assessment and intervention
• Proven practical experience of providing complex rehabilitation and condition management
• Experience of HR processes either with patients with VR needs or as a line manager
• Post graduate experience of working in a community or outpatient setting
• Experience of supervising and delegating to junior staff and appraisal
• Able to plan and carry out a complex and demanding workload without direct supervision
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
• To have highly developed interpersonal skills
• To have sound knowledge and skills in Vocational Rehabilitation and demonstrate potential for proficiency in assessment and intervention level up to specialist level of competency.
• Ability to demonstrate clinical reasoning and a holistic approach to patient care
• Effective and responsive communicator on all levels
• Able to demonstrate diplomacy, tact and
• empathy within clinical/team settings
• Assertiveness
• Able to use basic IT systems; Word, Excel, Outlook
• Good presentation and education skills
• High level of organisational skills
• Knowledge of all current DH guidance
• Knowledge of all current legislation and practice in the context of employment and education
• Ability to demonstrate reflective practice
• A positive attitude to change and flexible working practices to meet changing service demands
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
• Ability to manage own stress and stress in others.

Desirable

• Significant experience in the implementation of Level 3 type VR Specialist VR activity-this is VR work carried out at the highest level and falls outside any generic VR work carried out by Occupational Therapists working in a broader role.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).