Job summary
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust are delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us in the Emergency Care Therapy Team (ECTT). ECTT are keen to recruit a motivated, forward thinking, and experienced Occupational Therapist. The post will involve managing a specialised clinical caseload whilst continuing to develop the well-established therapy service alongside senior staff. We are a friendly multi-professional team working in a fast paced and responsive service, focused on early assessment, providing alternatives to admission for patients and supporting Frailty care pathways. We work across the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Units, Short Stay Ward, Frailty Same Day Emergency Care and also conduct Community Outreach visits. Working closely with our community and hospital colleagues to support our patients.
We are committed to Continued Professional Development (CPD), allocating time for personal development, course attendance and involve all staff to in our In-Service Training programmes. We are a inclusive team with a focus on wellbeing and offer flexible working to support individuals and service. The team is committed to providing regular clinical and non-clinical support and supervision; and conducting yearly appraisals.
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 described by the Person Specification
Main duties of the job
To undertake a specialist OT role within the ECTT, delivering assessments and interventions with a focus on early involvement, discharge planning, and admission avoidance, including promoting Virtual Wards. This includes equipment and care recommendations, cognitive assessments, and supporting staff and student training. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong clinical, communication, and interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse patient groups, hospital teams, and community services. The role requires flexibility to work split shifts and participate in the weekend/bank holiday rota, supporting a 7-day service.
The team includes Band 7 PTs/OTs (Team Leads), Band 6 & 5 PTs/OTs, Assistant Practitioners, admin staff, and a Band 8a clinical lead. The post holder will support OT Team Leads in coordinating daily operations, ensuring seven-day coverage, supervising staff, and contributing to service development. Patients present with a range of complex acute and long-term needs. Support will be given to develop clinical excellence in emergency care. The post holder is professionally and legally accountable for their practice and can work with minimal supervision.
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.
We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Ensure that patients, relatives and those coming into contact with the OT are aware of the role of the Occupational Therapist.
- Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any intervention.
- Responsible for the assessment, intervention, discharge and ongoing referral of patients within the Emergency Care setting. The assessments include, but not limited to mobility assessment, transfers assessment, personal care assessment, cognitive assessment and assessment of the home situation.
- Responsible for in-depth understanding of conditions and traumatic injuries affecting the elderly population and the effect on function, and through comprehensive assessment identify the most appropriate discharge option and facilitate discharge to this setting.
- Responsible for assessing and provision of adaptive equipment, mobility aids and wheelchairs to increase / enable or compensate to facilitate independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required to the patient and those involved with their care. Provide instruction for the safe use of the items provided.
- Responsible for formulating and initiating care plans.
- Sign-off/authorise minor adaptations, on behalf of Social Services; OT equipment on behalf of the OT Department, Derriford Hospital, following assessment of needs.
- Carrying out environmental home assessments, pre-discharge home assessments, discharge home assessments and follow-up visits, as required. Assess the patient carrying out functional tasks to maximise independent living, arranging equipment provision, adaptations and support services as required. Ensure access to community resources and assessing carer needs.
- Responsible for carrying out falls risk assessments, promoting falls prevention education and referring on to specialist services as required. Demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effects of falls and trauma.
- Provide highly specialist advice and hand therapy in the management of hand injuries / conditions within the Emergency Care setting.
- Responsible for establishing robust communication networks with patients, relatives, carers, statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive discharge package.
- Provide Patient/Carer Education/Advice.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients.
- Utilizing interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and involving patients in their treatment, in order to achieve the treatment goal.
- Maintain up to date records of all patient contacts.
- Attend and participate in case conferences and ward meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.
- Prioritise day-to-day management of own caseload, delegating activities to the Band 5 OT and the OTAPs where appropriate.
- In collaboration with Band 6s within the team provide support and supervision to Band 5 OTs and therapy support staff as appropriate.
- Responsible to take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service, and report the defects to the OT Manager.
Administrative:
- Responsible for providing and maintaining accurate patient statistics, departmental records / reports as required.
- Responsible for the completion of and maintenance of records in relation to the loan of departmental equipment and the assessment of the ongoing need for such equipment.
- Responsible for general housekeeping.
- Utilising SALUS / Nerve Centre / Care First 6 / System One or other appropriate IT systems to retrieve appropriate patient information.
Professional
- Utilize a high level of time management and organisational skills to manage own caseload, taking into account the requirements of the Emergency Care Team.
- Responsible for ensuring that competence for practice is maintained through continued professional development and postgraduate training, as required of an expert in the field.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluation of staff performance; providing supervision, carrying out appraisal and development of the Team.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluating outcomes of intervention in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Occupational Therapist service, and use of resources.
- Participate in providing teaching, instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training.
- Provide regular fieldwork placements for student Occupational Therapists.
- Contribute to the training / education of Emergency Care and other staff regarding the role of the Occupational Therapist to ensure timely referral for greater efficiency of patient care.
- Jointly responsible with the other Band 6 OTs within the team to provide day-to-day management of the service raising any concerns to the Team Lead as appropriate.
- Take an active part in the supervision, and appraisal process.
- Attend relevant professional meetings and courses.
- Responsible for the induction of OT staff and students within the Team.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues and to provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluation outcomes of intervention in order to ensure the effectiveness of the service, and use of resources.
- Contribute to the operational planning, implementation of policy, service development and the development of clinical guidelines in accordance with recent evidence and best practice, within your team. Demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
- Participate in the planning and organising of in-service training.
- Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
- Attend and contribute to staff meetings and contribute to the discussion of and actively participate in the departmental changes, development of Departmental guidelines and protocols, taking account of resources available.
- Responsible for maintaining registration with the HCPC.
- Ensure referrals or tasks are actioned in a timely manner.
- Responsible for attending statutory training and courses.
- Responsible for following the Departmental and Royal College of Occupational Therapy policies, standards and guidelines, and maintain a high professional standard at all times.
- Maintain patient confidentiality and the security of patient and staff records.
- Participate, actively and regularly in clinical governance activities.
- Assist in the recruitment of relevant grades of staff, as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Ensure that patients, relatives and those coming into contact with the OT are aware of the role of the Occupational Therapist.
- Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any intervention.
- Responsible for the assessment, intervention, discharge and ongoing referral of patients within the Emergency Care setting. The assessments include, but not limited to mobility assessment, transfers assessment, personal care assessment, cognitive assessment and assessment of the home situation.
- Responsible for in-depth understanding of conditions and traumatic injuries affecting the elderly population and the effect on function, and through comprehensive assessment identify the most appropriate discharge option and facilitate discharge to this setting.
- Responsible for assessing and provision of adaptive equipment, mobility aids and wheelchairs to increase / enable or compensate to facilitate independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required to the patient and those involved with their care. Provide instruction for the safe use of the items provided.
- Responsible for formulating and initiating care plans.
- Sign-off/authorise minor adaptations, on behalf of Social Services; OT equipment on behalf of the OT Department, Derriford Hospital, following assessment of needs.
- Carrying out environmental home assessments, pre-discharge home assessments, discharge home assessments and follow-up visits, as required. Assess the patient carrying out functional tasks to maximise independent living, arranging equipment provision, adaptations and support services as required. Ensure access to community resources and assessing carer needs.
- Responsible for carrying out falls risk assessments, promoting falls prevention education and referring on to specialist services as required. Demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effects of falls and trauma.
- Provide highly specialist advice and hand therapy in the management of hand injuries / conditions within the Emergency Care setting.
- Responsible for establishing robust communication networks with patients, relatives, carers, statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive discharge package.
- Provide Patient/Carer Education/Advice.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients.
- Utilizing interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and involving patients in their treatment, in order to achieve the treatment goal.
- Maintain up to date records of all patient contacts.
- Attend and participate in case conferences and ward meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.
- Prioritise day-to-day management of own caseload, delegating activities to the Band 5 OT and the OTAPs where appropriate.
- In collaboration with Band 6s within the team provide support and supervision to Band 5 OTs and therapy support staff as appropriate.
- Responsible to take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service, and report the defects to the OT Manager.
Administrative:
- Responsible for providing and maintaining accurate patient statistics, departmental records / reports as required.
- Responsible for the completion of and maintenance of records in relation to the loan of departmental equipment and the assessment of the ongoing need for such equipment.
- Responsible for general housekeeping.
- Utilising SALUS / Nerve Centre / Care First 6 / System One or other appropriate IT systems to retrieve appropriate patient information.
Professional
- Utilize a high level of time management and organisational skills to manage own caseload, taking into account the requirements of the Emergency Care Team.
- Responsible for ensuring that competence for practice is maintained through continued professional development and postgraduate training, as required of an expert in the field.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluation of staff performance; providing supervision, carrying out appraisal and development of the Team.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluating outcomes of intervention in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Occupational Therapist service, and use of resources.
- Participate in providing teaching, instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training.
- Provide regular fieldwork placements for student Occupational Therapists.
- Contribute to the training / education of Emergency Care and other staff regarding the role of the Occupational Therapist to ensure timely referral for greater efficiency of patient care.
- Jointly responsible with the other Band 6 OTs within the team to provide day-to-day management of the service raising any concerns to the Team Lead as appropriate.
- Take an active part in the supervision, and appraisal process.
- Attend relevant professional meetings and courses.
- Responsible for the induction of OT staff and students within the Team.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues and to provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluation outcomes of intervention in order to ensure the effectiveness of the service, and use of resources.
- Contribute to the operational planning, implementation of policy, service development and the development of clinical guidelines in accordance with recent evidence and best practice, within your team. Demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
- Participate in the planning and organising of in-service training.
- Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
- Attend and contribute to staff meetings and contribute to the discussion of and actively participate in the departmental changes, development of Departmental guidelines and protocols, taking account of resources available.
- Responsible for maintaining registration with the HCPC.
- Ensure referrals or tasks are actioned in a timely manner.
- Responsible for attending statutory training and courses.
- Responsible for following the Departmental and Royal College of Occupational Therapy policies, standards and guidelines, and maintain a high professional standard at all times.
- Maintain patient confidentiality and the security of patient and staff records.
- Participate, actively and regularly in clinical governance activities.
- Assist in the recruitment of relevant grades of staff, as required.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- To have good verbal and written English skills.
- To have extensive demonstrable experience as an Occupational Therapist in physical fields.
- To have worked with a wide range of conditions, e.g. falls, minor fractures and a range of medical and respiratory conditions.
- To have proven knowledge & demonstrable experience of a wide range of OT assessments and interventions relevant to these patient groups, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning.
- To have proven knowledge of a wide range of OT equipment and minor adaptation.
- To have demonstrable experience in liaising with community services.
- To have demonstrable experience in complex caseload management.
- To have good proven evidence of continuing professional development.
- To have completed clinical supervisor training.
- To have a good proven understanding of the wider issues surrounding the NHS.
Desirable
- To have worked in the physical field and have demonstrable experience of pressure in Emergency Care.
- To have demonstrable experience in setting up care plans.
- To have demonstrable experience in mobility assessment.
- To have demonstrable experience of supervising staff of all grades.
- To have demonstrable experience of supervising a student occupational therapist.
- To have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings.
- To have demonstrable experience in delivering patient education.
- To have skills and demonstrable experience of staff appraisals.
- To have demonstrable experience in recruitment and selection process.
- To have demonstrable experience in conducting audits and research & development activities.
- Demonstrate awareness of the wider issues surrounding Emergency Care.
Qualifications
Essential
- To hold degree, or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- To have relevant qualification.
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- To be computer literate.
- To have a complete understanding of confidentiality.
- To be skilled in handling traumatized or anxious patients and families.
- To be interested in promoting independence.
- To have interest and skill in persuading, teaching and managing people of all age group, including children.
- To be skilled in helping people to problem solve.
- To have ability to attend to details.
- To have good time management skills.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- To have good verbal and written English skills.
- To have extensive demonstrable experience as an Occupational Therapist in physical fields.
- To have worked with a wide range of conditions, e.g. falls, minor fractures and a range of medical and respiratory conditions.
- To have proven knowledge & demonstrable experience of a wide range of OT assessments and interventions relevant to these patient groups, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning.
- To have proven knowledge of a wide range of OT equipment and minor adaptation.
- To have demonstrable experience in liaising with community services.
- To have demonstrable experience in complex caseload management.
- To have good proven evidence of continuing professional development.
- To have completed clinical supervisor training.
- To have a good proven understanding of the wider issues surrounding the NHS.
Desirable
- To have worked in the physical field and have demonstrable experience of pressure in Emergency Care.
- To have demonstrable experience in setting up care plans.
- To have demonstrable experience in mobility assessment.
- To have demonstrable experience of supervising staff of all grades.
- To have demonstrable experience of supervising a student occupational therapist.
- To have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings.
- To have demonstrable experience in delivering patient education.
- To have skills and demonstrable experience of staff appraisals.
- To have demonstrable experience in recruitment and selection process.
- To have demonstrable experience in conducting audits and research & development activities.
- Demonstrate awareness of the wider issues surrounding Emergency Care.
Qualifications
Essential
- To hold degree, or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- To have relevant qualification.
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- To be computer literate.
- To have a complete understanding of confidentiality.
- To be skilled in handling traumatized or anxious patients and families.
- To be interested in promoting independence.
- To have interest and skill in persuading, teaching and managing people of all age group, including children.
- To be skilled in helping people to problem solve.
- To have ability to attend to details.
- To have good time management skills.
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).
