Job summary
Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Assistive Communication Service - Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist - part-time 22.5 hours per week.
Do you have a passion for using Assistive Technology to make a difference to the lives of people with physical and communication disabilities?Are you a team player with the ability to problem solve?
Guys and St Thomas Assistive Communication Service is a dynamic and supportive multi-disciplinary team made up of Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Rehabilitation Engineering, Technician and Administrator. An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced Occupational Therapist with an interest in Assistive Technology and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to join our team for 3 days a week.
The Assistive Communication Service (ACS) supports adults and children with complex physical and/or communication disabilities in North East and South East London. We are one of only 14 services in England commissioned by NHS England to provide a specialised AAC service.
Main duties of the job
As part of this service, we assess adults and children with complex AAC needs, provide AAC equipment and on-going support and maintenance. We also provide support and training to local community teams who are working with AAC.
Previous experience in AAC is not essential but a background in either paediatrics, adult neurology, adult learning disabilities or community work would allow you to utilise transferable skills. Development of knowledge in the clinical processes and equipment used will be well supported by the team as well as access to training, supervision and continuing professional development opportunities.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to work in a close knit, supportive team and extend their skills in the specialism of AAC.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS
Foundation Trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.
In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To receive, process and action referrals from AHPs, clients / carers and GPs ensuring effective caseload management.
To consider the needs of each person holistically and identify when they require further health and social intervention and make referrals as appropriate.
To carry out visits to other places that are associated with the client, including day care, hospitals, and schools.
To be responsible for comprehensive and expert assessment of clients with complex neurological presentations, to enhance quality of life through provision of electronic communication aids, accessories and device mounts, liaising appropriately with Speech and Language Therapists and Rehabilitation Engineers.
To apply a high level of understanding regarding the effect of disability on function, and how access to an electronic device can be facilitated where physical/cognitive/sensory function is impaired.
To communicate highly complex clinical information effectively to ensure collaborative working with colleagues across health, social care and the voluntary sectors to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated interdisciplinary service.
To monitor equipment and software that is on loan for clinical assessment and to make recommendations or changes to these where appropriate.
To take a lead in co-ordinating the prescription and handover of equipment, including liaison with external equipment suppliers and Rehabilitation Engineers to ensure provision in a timely fashion. This will include undertaking specific individualised adjustments and the training for clients, carers and support staff.
Participate in ongoing research, development of and trial of new equipment and theories of practice.
To ensure that appropriate client needs are met within the Assistive Communication Service resources.
Extensive liaison with community and hospital services in the provision of therapeutic services, schools, colleges, adult therapy teams, hospital and community therapists.
To liaise with, and feedback to Rehabilitation Engineer any design problems, or broken/faulty equipment.
To be involved in the recruitment of members of the multidisciplinary team, including Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Technicians and Administrators.
To comply with the COT/CSP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures.
Assist with lectures and/or organise training in the field of assistive technology and high tech communication aids for staff within the department, the trust, and referring teams, including students where appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To receive, process and action referrals from AHPs, clients / carers and GPs ensuring effective caseload management.
To consider the needs of each person holistically and identify when they require further health and social intervention and make referrals as appropriate.
To carry out visits to other places that are associated with the client, including day care, hospitals, and schools.
To be responsible for comprehensive and expert assessment of clients with complex neurological presentations, to enhance quality of life through provision of electronic communication aids, accessories and device mounts, liaising appropriately with Speech and Language Therapists and Rehabilitation Engineers.
To apply a high level of understanding regarding the effect of disability on function, and how access to an electronic device can be facilitated where physical/cognitive/sensory function is impaired.
To communicate highly complex clinical information effectively to ensure collaborative working with colleagues across health, social care and the voluntary sectors to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated interdisciplinary service.
To monitor equipment and software that is on loan for clinical assessment and to make recommendations or changes to these where appropriate.
To take a lead in co-ordinating the prescription and handover of equipment, including liaison with external equipment suppliers and Rehabilitation Engineers to ensure provision in a timely fashion. This will include undertaking specific individualised adjustments and the training for clients, carers and support staff.
Participate in ongoing research, development of and trial of new equipment and theories of practice.
To ensure that appropriate client needs are met within the Assistive Communication Service resources.
Extensive liaison with community and hospital services in the provision of therapeutic services, schools, colleges, adult therapy teams, hospital and community therapists.
To liaise with, and feedback to Rehabilitation Engineer any design problems, or broken/faulty equipment.
To be involved in the recruitment of members of the multidisciplinary team, including Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Technicians and Administrators.
To comply with the COT/CSP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures.
Assist with lectures and/or organise training in the field of assistive technology and high tech communication aids for staff within the department, the trust, and referring teams, including students where appropriate.
Person Specification
Additional Information
Essential
- Cope with demands of expanding and changing service
Skills
Essential
- Able to use different strategies to communicate with clients - eg with learning/sensory disabilities or language barriers
- Demonstrate high standard of verbal and written communication
- Able to supervise across professions - OT/Technician
- Applies knowledge and skills to demonstrate clinical reasoning and decision-making
Desirable
- Demonstrates logical skills in problem solving
- Management training
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
- HPCP Registration
- Experienced OT working with adults / children who have complex neurological disabilities
- IT Skills - use of word, excel, database, power point, email and internet use.
Desirable
- Post graduate education and clinical experience to Masters level or equivalent
- Previous experience in paediatrics / learning disabilities / wheelchair service
Person Specification
Additional Information
Essential
- Cope with demands of expanding and changing service
Skills
Essential
- Able to use different strategies to communicate with clients - eg with learning/sensory disabilities or language barriers
- Demonstrate high standard of verbal and written communication
- Able to supervise across professions - OT/Technician
- Applies knowledge and skills to demonstrate clinical reasoning and decision-making
Desirable
- Demonstrates logical skills in problem solving
- Management training
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
- HPCP Registration
- Experienced OT working with adults / children who have complex neurological disabilities
- IT Skills - use of word, excel, database, power point, email and internet use.
Desirable
- Post graduate education and clinical experience to Masters level or equivalent
- Previous experience in paediatrics / learning disabilities / wheelchair service
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).
