Job summary
Are you a qualified Occupational Therapist looking for a role in a Trust that really supports your career development?
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are working extremely hard to get occupation at the core of our practice, and we'd love for you to join us!
Are you interested to make real change happen?
In Yeovil District Hospital we are undergoing a Transformation within the Occupational Therapy Department to focus on 'Life Changing, Critical Care'.
Focusing on supporting individuals who have had a life changing event, using our unique acute Occupational Therapy skills. Occupational therapy is underpinned by the premise that engagement in occupation is fundamental to health and wellbeing. Through occupations, people can orchestrate their lives in ways that enable them not only to survive, but also to flourish.
... one of the most powerful motives we have is curiosity. (Elizabeth Casson)
We are looking for Occupational Therapists who are curious about being part of a transformation and interested in remodelling Occupational Therapy in the acute setting for a sustainable future.
Our Neurology team provide Neurology Specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment of patients who have a life changing impact and/or complexity to their condition that may include physical, psychological, cognitive and sensory impairments.
Main duties of the job
To provide a high standard of Occupational Therapy to patients referred with Stroke and Neurological conditions that has a life changing impact.
With support from the Clinical Specialist OT Team Leader, the post holder will take a specialist clinical role in the provision and development of an effective and specialised Stroke Occupational Therapy Service, providing specialist education and advice as required. The post holder will supervise Band 5 Occupational Therapists/Occupational Therapy Technician/Apprentice, assistants and students as well as assist the band 7's with teaching and clinical supervision of Occupational Therapists, students and multidisciplinary staff. The post holder will on occasion need to deputise for the Neurology Clinical Specialist/Team Leader undertaking any specific clinical and professional responsibilities in their absence i.e. day to day operational management and prioritisation of the ward/service caseload and Occupational therapy team.
About us
Now is an exciting time to join us as we have officially merged with Musgrove Park Hospital, community services, mental health and learning disability services and a quarter of Somerset's GP practices. Making us one of the largest UK NHS providers and giving our employee's plenty of opportunities to develop within our Occupational Therapy services, spanning across the county of Somerset.
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, continuing professional development and regular informal conversations around career progression, annual recognition awards to celebrate and recognise our colleagues achievements throughout the year and not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
As part of our transformation plan, we want staff to be able to work flexibly in the acute environment, this can include reduced hours, remote working, flexible start and finish times, or compressed hours.
We work hard to make sure that inclusion is part of everything we do. We know that true inclusion means we're able to provide the best care for our patients and provide a fulfilling career for all our colleagues.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will assess patients to ensure they understand the Occupational Therapy treatment process and their participation within this process and gain valid, informed consent. The post holder will have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment. e.g. patients confused due to brain injury and will be expected to participate in the assessment of capacity, where relevant.
The post holder will be primarily based on the acute stroke unit but will also be required to undertake the assessment of Neurologically impaired patients, out-lying on other wards.
The post holder will undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments of patients by using both standardised and non-standardised assessments to identify neurological deficits and assess the patients occupational performance. The timing of the assessment will be driven by clinical need and with an awareness of targets and SSNAP. The post holder will be expected to use this assessment information to formulate treatment plans for patients and allocate treatment sessions as appropriate for both themselves and support staff. These decisions will take into account National standards for Treatment, Trust priorities and Occupational Therapy Department priorities.
Along with the Neurology Clinical Specialist/Team Leader, the post holder will take a clinical lead role in the Occupational Therapy Treatment of neurologically impaired patients within the hospital. They will use highly developed and specialist skills to treat patients on their caseload. Individualised treatment programmes could include a range of different modalities and clinical approaches e.g. functional activities such as kitchen and washing and dressing tasks, remedial activities to treat cognitive and perceptual problems and trials of postural seating to meet the positioning and seating needs of patients with changing muscle tone. The patients will usually present with diverse, complex or multiple pathologies. e.g. stroke, brain injury and those with significant co-morbidities such as patients with multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, type 2 diabetes and mental health problems. Treatment plans will take into account patients own goals and those of the multi-disciplinary team to predict achievable outcomes and recommend the best course of intervention. It will frequently require advanced communication and problem-solving skills. The post holder will be expected to evaluate treatment plans using outcome measures and make adaptation to the individual treatment programme as indicated. The overall model of practice will be based on recommendations from clinical guidelines e.g. NANOT, NICE, RCP, SSNAP.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- BAOT Membership
- Practice Placement Educator
Experience Essential
- Significant clinical experience in a relevant area (NHS, SS, acute, community)
- Implementing a range of standardised and/or non-standardised assessments to include cognitive assessments and interpretation of performance.
- Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staff
Knowledge Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments in the acute and or community setting.
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention for patients with a neurological diagnosis
Desirable
- Advanced knowledge of seating and positioning, including ability to assess for postural management and positioning clients with neurological deficits
- Advanced knowledge of cognitive assessments and cognitive rehabilitation
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will assess patients to ensure they understand the Occupational Therapy treatment process and their participation within this process and gain valid, informed consent. The post holder will have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment. e.g. patients confused due to brain injury and will be expected to participate in the assessment of capacity, where relevant.
The post holder will be primarily based on the acute stroke unit but will also be required to undertake the assessment of Neurologically impaired patients, out-lying on other wards.
The post holder will undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments of patients by using both standardised and non-standardised assessments to identify neurological deficits and assess the patients occupational performance. The timing of the assessment will be driven by clinical need and with an awareness of targets and SSNAP. The post holder will be expected to use this assessment information to formulate treatment plans for patients and allocate treatment sessions as appropriate for both themselves and support staff. These decisions will take into account National standards for Treatment, Trust priorities and Occupational Therapy Department priorities.
Along with the Neurology Clinical Specialist/Team Leader, the post holder will take a clinical lead role in the Occupational Therapy Treatment of neurologically impaired patients within the hospital. They will use highly developed and specialist skills to treat patients on their caseload. Individualised treatment programmes could include a range of different modalities and clinical approaches e.g. functional activities such as kitchen and washing and dressing tasks, remedial activities to treat cognitive and perceptual problems and trials of postural seating to meet the positioning and seating needs of patients with changing muscle tone. The patients will usually present with diverse, complex or multiple pathologies. e.g. stroke, brain injury and those with significant co-morbidities such as patients with multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, type 2 diabetes and mental health problems. Treatment plans will take into account patients own goals and those of the multi-disciplinary team to predict achievable outcomes and recommend the best course of intervention. It will frequently require advanced communication and problem-solving skills. The post holder will be expected to evaluate treatment plans using outcome measures and make adaptation to the individual treatment programme as indicated. The overall model of practice will be based on recommendations from clinical guidelines e.g. NANOT, NICE, RCP, SSNAP.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- BAOT Membership
- Practice Placement Educator
Experience Essential
- Significant clinical experience in a relevant area (NHS, SS, acute, community)
- Implementing a range of standardised and/or non-standardised assessments to include cognitive assessments and interpretation of performance.
- Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staff
Knowledge Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments in the acute and or community setting.
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention for patients with a neurological diagnosis
Desirable
- Advanced knowledge of seating and positioning, including ability to assess for postural management and positioning clients with neurological deficits
- Advanced knowledge of cognitive assessments and cognitive rehabilitation
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience in a relevant area (NHS, SS, acute, community)
- Implementing a range of standardised and/or non-standardised assessments to include cognitive assessments and interpretation of performance.
- Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- BAOT Membership
- Practice Placement Educator
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments in the acute and or community setting.
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention for patients with a neurological diagnosis
Desirable
- Advanced knowledge of seating and positioning, including ability to assess for postural management and positioning clients with neurological deficits
- Advanced knowledge of cognitive assessments and cognitive rehabilitation
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience in a relevant area (NHS, SS, acute, community)
- Implementing a range of standardised and/or non-standardised assessments to include cognitive assessments and interpretation of performance.
- Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- BAOT Membership
- Practice Placement Educator
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments in the acute and or community setting.
- Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention for patients with a neurological diagnosis
Desirable
- Advanced knowledge of seating and positioning, including ability to assess for postural management and positioning clients with neurological deficits
- Advanced knowledge of cognitive assessments and cognitive rehabilitation
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
