Job summary
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the integrated therapy team at Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth. The inpatient service works within the community hospital setting with a rehabilitation focus as part of the intermediate care pathway. The team support patients with appropriate treatment and intervention also working closely with other community services to facilitate discharge. This post would suit Band 5's looking to specialise or current Band 6's who would like to broaden their practice.
The successful post holder will work alongside the existing team and service lead, the role will support with operational management of therapy provision across two wards on site. The candidate will be joining a well- established team in delivering Occupational Therapy intervention to patients as part of the wider multidisciplinary unit and have support from experienced clinicians who are specialists in their field. Applicants would need to have a broad range of experience, including post-graduate experience in the treatment of patients within the medical speciality, understanding of community working would be beneficial.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
To manage a caseload of patients with complex needs, using evidence based, patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
Working within the Therapy Team as part of the MDT on Kingfisher and Skylark wards, Local Care Centre, Mount Gould Hospital.
Includes visiting in-patients' homes and other community settings.
To provided leadership for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Support Workers through line management and appraisal process.
To contribute to the maintenance and development of the OT service.
To deputise in the absence of the OT Team Leader and carry out management and administrative duties when appropriate.
To supervise OT students on practice placement.
The post holder works flexibly within set times Monday - Friday.
Aim to provide 7 x day working across service as staffing allows.
Annual OT rotation across Kingfisher and Skylark wards.
Bank holiday working rota.
The post holder will hold a clinical case load and will need to prioritise work on a daily basis. They will also provide support for Band 5 and Band 3 OT staff.
They will complete regular line management, including appraisals with OTs and OT Support Workers.
The post holder will need to deputise for the OT Team Leader under certain circumstances.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- Prioritise the day to day management of own caseload, delegating activities as appropriate
- Ensure the patient is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of OT interventions
- To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients including those with complex presentation
- To assess, prescribe and authorise aids and adaptive equipment from the core equipment catalogue, complete special orders and make recommendations for minor and major adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
- To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited (training can be arranged) referring on to the wheelchair service as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.
- Plan and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and family in accordance with consent given.
- To record and report regularly on patients progress and treatment to the multi-disciplinary team or in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas.
- Education of patients and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient safety and independence in the hospital and home, leisure and workplace. To impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers which could have life changing consequences
- To provide an opportunity for patients and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances
- To attend and participate in discharge planning meetings, help me home meetings and MDT meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.
- To ensure multi-disciplinary documentation is completed and available to relevant agencies as appropriate
- Complex discharge planning, which involves the co-ordination of needs which can be met in hospital and the co-ordination of services in the community.
- Referrals to community services i.e. Adult Social Care, HSG reablement and the Integrated Locality Therapy Teams, demonstrating to and informing community staff re ongoing patient needs in the community i.e. HSG reablement service
- To carry out environmental home assessments, home visit assessments and/or discharge home assessments as part of the discharge planning process
- Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care in the community
- Refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at discharge
- To provide support and line management to senior Band 5, rotational Band 5 OTs, OT support workers and students as required
- To provide written communication with outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge or when transferred.
- Actively contribute to service development
- To provide cover for staff who are absent, taking responsibility for aspects of service delivery in the absence of the OT Team Leader
- To be responsible for utilising outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the patient
- To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods with patients, who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood or lack insight
- To maintain competence in the use of manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescriptions of manual handling equipment for use in the home, demonstrating the use to carers.
- To ensure use of risk assessment in all areas of your work are undertaken
- To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those patients presenting with multi pathology
- To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers and other health workers and agencies
- To contribute to completing capacity assessments and attend Best Interest meetings
Administrative
- To maintain an up to date record (Systmone) of all patient contact, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times in line with Professional and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures.
- To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the unit
- To be responsible for maintaining stock control systems, i.e. wheelchair store and OT kitchen
- To co-ordinate the day to day delivery of the OT service within designated team
Professional
- To take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply increasingly complex skills / knowledge
- To attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings and courses as agreed with OT Team Leader
- To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of line management and practice supervision in line with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures
- To participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units / disciplines / schools / colleges and training schemes as agreed with OT Team Leader. This includes providing regular practice education for student OTs
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area
- Maintain high professional standards at all times as laid down in the College of OT / HCPC Code of conduct
- To comply with the College of OTs, HCPC Standards of Practice for OT, policies and procedures
- To undertake the line management and appraisal of less senior staff, demonstrating the ability to reflect on professional and ethical issues
- To represent the OT profession during MDT meetings
- To ensure that mandatory training is kept up to date
- To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects
- To plan and implement the induction, training and education of other staff
- To adhere to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures including Health and Safety at work
- To respect the values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs
OTHER Working Conditions (Physical/ Mental/ Emotional effort)
- Post holder will occasionally be required to drive to patients home for home visits. The areas covered would be from mid & east Cornwall, Plymouth, Tavistock, North Devon, South Ham and Torbay areas. Driving time ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours; in all weathers.
- Occasionally, Post holder will be required to visit patients home on her/his own.
- Post holder may encounter patients or relatives who may be uncooperative, and/or have language barriers, hearing/sight problems; mental health problems; and/or be confused or disorientated.
- Post holder may occasionally be subjected to verbal or physical aggression from patients or relatives.
- Post holder may be exposed to uncontrolled pets in patients home.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to handle food, during kitchen assessment.
- Post holder may occasionally be exposed to passive smoking during home visits.
- Post holder will require using keyboard and VDU regularly to look up patient details.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to carry, transport heavy and/or bulky equipment for about 200m from the Store to the Car Park, lifting the equipment in and out the car, and do the same when they arrive at patients home, and up and down the stairs at patients home.
- Post holder will be required to push heavy patients in a wheelchair for about 100 m on level ground when bringing patient to/from the wards.
- Post holder will be required to manually handle wheelchairs, weighing over 15 kg in/out vehicles; or up/down steps/stairs at patients home during home visits.
- Post holder will frequently be required to manually handle patients of various weights, during personal care assessment/treatment session; getting patients on/off bed; in/out wheelchairs; in/out vehicles; or up/down steps/stairs at patients home during home visits.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to lift/handle/push heavy patient in a wheelchair over kerbs, front steps, or slopes during home visits.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to lift and handle heavy armchairs, and/or single/double beds when fitting equipment to raise them higher, to meet the patients need. Whereas assistance may be available, the post holder may need to adopt awkward position for a period of time when carrying out the task.
- Post Holder will be occasionally required to handle thermoplastic materials, which has only a workable time of 3 minutes, in a precise and accurate manner.
- Post holder may occasionally be required to use heat baths, splinting oven, heat gun, boiler and scissors for the fabrication of thermoplastics splints.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to support/handling heavy upper/lower limb for a short period of time when fabricating splints. And the post holder may need to adopt an awkward posture for a period of time when carrying out the task.
- Post holder will occasionally be exposed to bodily fluids when carrying out personal care and emptying commode/catheter bags.
- Post holder will occasionally be exposed to dirt/dust/unsightly working environment when fitting toilet seats and raising the beds and chairs.
- Post holder will frequently be exposed to emotional distress when coming into contact with patients or relatives recently receive news of being diagnosed with the disabling condition and the prognosis of stroke, head injuries, spinal cord injuries or tumours.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- Prioritise the day to day management of own caseload, delegating activities as appropriate
- Ensure the patient is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of OT interventions
- To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients including those with complex presentation
- To assess, prescribe and authorise aids and adaptive equipment from the core equipment catalogue, complete special orders and make recommendations for minor and major adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
- To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited (training can be arranged) referring on to the wheelchair service as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.
- Plan and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and family in accordance with consent given.
- To record and report regularly on patients progress and treatment to the multi-disciplinary team or in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas.
- Education of patients and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient safety and independence in the hospital and home, leisure and workplace. To impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers which could have life changing consequences
- To provide an opportunity for patients and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances
- To attend and participate in discharge planning meetings, help me home meetings and MDT meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.
- To ensure multi-disciplinary documentation is completed and available to relevant agencies as appropriate
- Complex discharge planning, which involves the co-ordination of needs which can be met in hospital and the co-ordination of services in the community.
- Referrals to community services i.e. Adult Social Care, HSG reablement and the Integrated Locality Therapy Teams, demonstrating to and informing community staff re ongoing patient needs in the community i.e. HSG reablement service
- To carry out environmental home assessments, home visit assessments and/or discharge home assessments as part of the discharge planning process
- Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care in the community
- Refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at discharge
- To provide support and line management to senior Band 5, rotational Band 5 OTs, OT support workers and students as required
- To provide written communication with outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge or when transferred.
- Actively contribute to service development
- To provide cover for staff who are absent, taking responsibility for aspects of service delivery in the absence of the OT Team Leader
- To be responsible for utilising outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the patient
- To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods with patients, who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood or lack insight
- To maintain competence in the use of manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescriptions of manual handling equipment for use in the home, demonstrating the use to carers.
- To ensure use of risk assessment in all areas of your work are undertaken
- To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those patients presenting with multi pathology
- To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers and other health workers and agencies
- To contribute to completing capacity assessments and attend Best Interest meetings
Administrative
- To maintain an up to date record (Systmone) of all patient contact, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times in line with Professional and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures.
- To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the unit
- To be responsible for maintaining stock control systems, i.e. wheelchair store and OT kitchen
- To co-ordinate the day to day delivery of the OT service within designated team
Professional
- To take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply increasingly complex skills / knowledge
- To attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings and courses as agreed with OT Team Leader
- To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of line management and practice supervision in line with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures
- To participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units / disciplines / schools / colleges and training schemes as agreed with OT Team Leader. This includes providing regular practice education for student OTs
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area
- Maintain high professional standards at all times as laid down in the College of OT / HCPC Code of conduct
- To comply with the College of OTs, HCPC Standards of Practice for OT, policies and procedures
- To undertake the line management and appraisal of less senior staff, demonstrating the ability to reflect on professional and ethical issues
- To represent the OT profession during MDT meetings
- To ensure that mandatory training is kept up to date
- To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects
- To plan and implement the induction, training and education of other staff
- To adhere to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies and procedures including Health and Safety at work
- To respect the values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs
OTHER Working Conditions (Physical/ Mental/ Emotional effort)
- Post holder will occasionally be required to drive to patients home for home visits. The areas covered would be from mid & east Cornwall, Plymouth, Tavistock, North Devon, South Ham and Torbay areas. Driving time ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours; in all weathers.
- Occasionally, Post holder will be required to visit patients home on her/his own.
- Post holder may encounter patients or relatives who may be uncooperative, and/or have language barriers, hearing/sight problems; mental health problems; and/or be confused or disorientated.
- Post holder may occasionally be subjected to verbal or physical aggression from patients or relatives.
- Post holder may be exposed to uncontrolled pets in patients home.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to handle food, during kitchen assessment.
- Post holder may occasionally be exposed to passive smoking during home visits.
- Post holder will require using keyboard and VDU regularly to look up patient details.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to carry, transport heavy and/or bulky equipment for about 200m from the Store to the Car Park, lifting the equipment in and out the car, and do the same when they arrive at patients home, and up and down the stairs at patients home.
- Post holder will be required to push heavy patients in a wheelchair for about 100 m on level ground when bringing patient to/from the wards.
- Post holder will be required to manually handle wheelchairs, weighing over 15 kg in/out vehicles; or up/down steps/stairs at patients home during home visits.
- Post holder will frequently be required to manually handle patients of various weights, during personal care assessment/treatment session; getting patients on/off bed; in/out wheelchairs; in/out vehicles; or up/down steps/stairs at patients home during home visits.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to lift/handle/push heavy patient in a wheelchair over kerbs, front steps, or slopes during home visits.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to lift and handle heavy armchairs, and/or single/double beds when fitting equipment to raise them higher, to meet the patients need. Whereas assistance may be available, the post holder may need to adopt awkward position for a period of time when carrying out the task.
- Post Holder will be occasionally required to handle thermoplastic materials, which has only a workable time of 3 minutes, in a precise and accurate manner.
- Post holder may occasionally be required to use heat baths, splinting oven, heat gun, boiler and scissors for the fabrication of thermoplastics splints.
- Post holder will occasionally be required to support/handling heavy upper/lower limb for a short period of time when fabricating splints. And the post holder may need to adopt an awkward posture for a period of time when carrying out the task.
- Post holder will occasionally be exposed to bodily fluids when carrying out personal care and emptying commode/catheter bags.
- Post holder will occasionally be exposed to dirt/dust/unsightly working environment when fitting toilet seats and raising the beds and chairs.
- Post holder will frequently be exposed to emotional distress when coming into contact with patients or relatives recently receive news of being diagnosed with the disabling condition and the prognosis of stroke, head injuries, spinal cord injuries or tumours.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Attendance of relevant additional courses
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience with a wide range of medical conditions
- To have knowledge & experience of OT assessments and interventions relevant to these patient groups, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning
- To have experience of working with other members of the MDT
Desirable
- To have attended postgraduate training and courses related to this post
- To have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Attendance of relevant additional courses
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience with a wide range of medical conditions
- To have knowledge & experience of OT assessments and interventions relevant to these patient groups, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning
- To have experience of working with other members of the MDT
Desirable
- To have attended postgraduate training and courses related to this post
- To have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings
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).
