Specialist Occupational Therapist – Cancer care

Job description

Job responsibilities

UHS is one of Europe's largest teaching hospitals, a designated Major Trauma Centre, and a Regional Treatment Centre for Cancer Care, covering Southern England and the Channel Islands. We are part of the MDT for the Specialist Teenage and Young Adult Unit and are a centre for CAR-T cell therapy.

The aim of the service is to provide timely and holistic therapy assessments, implement individualised patient centred therapeutic interventions and facilitate discharge and onward referral across Cancer Care. You will work as part of a highly motivated and dedicated team delivering a therapy service across a 7-day service, including weekends and bank holidays on a roster basis.This post is part of the wider Therapy services department.

You will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 300wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist who has a specialist interest in working within Cancer Services. The postholder should have a broad range of clinical experience with the ability to treat patients with care, compassion, and dignity. The successful candidate will be supporting a dedicated Cancer Care therapy team to maximise physical function and well-being whilst facilitating timely discharge. The team work jointly with the MDT to provide a high standard of care to all patients, which will include end-of-life care.

The successful applicant should have relevant clinical experience with a desire to develop their knowledge and skills in the care of patients with a wide range of cancer pathologies, including both oncology and haematology, and to develop their leadership skills.

Support will be given towards continual learning and professional development, including undertaking quality improvement projects, service development and audits, and linking with external partners, such as local Universities and cancer charities.

Essential skills

- Hold an OT qualification and HCPC registration- Experience working with patients with cancer care diagnosis and/or end of life conditions- Experience working across a variety of clinical areas and conditions- Shows an understanding of OT role working in Cancer Care- Has experience in assessing for, and fitting, a wide range of equipment, including pressure relief and hoists, to support discharge.- Knowledge of cancer treatments, side effects and implications for therapy input- Able to adapt to a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, with good time management skills.- Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating empathy and compassion- Enjoys, and thrives, when working within a team- On application form demonstrates a clear desire to work within UHS therapy services- On application form demonstrates a clear desire to work in the specialist field of cancer care

Desirable skills

-Experience of supervising and supporting staff and students-Evidence of providing teaching to wider MDT, therapy teams and students-To show awareness of own well-being and coping strategies- Knowledge of cancer treatments, side effects and implications for therapy input- Recent NHS experience, demonstrating an understanding of NHS processes.

Responsibilities:

• The post holder will be expected to lead the therapy team in the absence of the Band 7s, be involved in leading in-service training, service development, staff and student supervision and the development of Band 3-5 therapy staff.

If you are a dynamic and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist looking to further your career in Cancer Care, we would love to hear from you.

We welcome questions and informal contact prior to application and interview.

If this post is not for you and you are interested in finding out about other Therapy opportunities, please email Annette.Purkis@uhs.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Trust Values

Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• Current HCPC registration
• Experience with a variety of physical and mental health conditions/multiple pathology
• Experience of fitting a range of equipment
• Experience of working with support staff
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in independently managing a caseload of patients
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Communication
• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Diplomacy

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Address

Southampton General Hospital

Southampton

SO16 6YD

Employer's website

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)