Specialised Occupational Therapist - Vocational Rehabilitation

Job responsibilities

Implement and record planned programmes of comprehensive functional and mobility assessments of patients as directed by a therapist.Carry out initial assessments to assess suitability for Vocational Rehabilitation.

Assess residual symptoms and potential impact on working ability.

Assess and make recommendations for equipment, home and work adaptations and ongoing rehabilitation, reporting these to a therapist.

Support patients through instruction and guidance in a range of activities, under the direction of a therapist, in the achievement of identified vocational treatment goals.

Independently carry out visits to patients homes planning and prioritising caseload.

Independently carry out visits to the patients workplace or community settings to complete work hardening or work planning sessions.

Adapt treatment programmes through evaluation of patients condition.

Appropriately assess risk through analysing a patients capability against their job specifications and make suitable recommendations.

Assist the team/nurses in the delivery of psychological interventions as directed by the nursing staff.

Provide appropriate advice to patients, their family and carers, teaching and demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patients mobility, functional ability, safety and independence under the management of a therapistin line with vocational goals.

Build professional relationships with patients, their family and carers as well as employers, through use of communication, reasoning and negotiating skills, respecting others views, culture and individuality.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers, members of the multi disciplinary team, therapy services colleagues and other agencies such as employers or occupational health providers.

Advocating for your patients when liaising with Occupational Health providers and Employers.

To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g. altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia and fear or inability to accept diagnosis and implications.

Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirementsAs part of a team, incorporate up to date therapy, nursing and handling techniques into working practice.

Seek supervision from a Therapist to inform analysis and reasoning when complex patient situations are identified.

Provide effective verbal and written reports to therapists and other multi disciplinary team members or at Multidisciplinary meetings relating to the patients performance and progress in their therapeutic interventions.

Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

The post holder will demonstrate skills and knowledge beyond that of a rehabilitation assistant.

These skills and knowledge will be gained through specific advanced training, experience or formal qualifications.

The post holder will be expected to be involved in the provision of a 7 day service.

The post holder will be required to travel freely across Northamptonshire

The post holder will be lone working in the community

The post holder will be required to work between two bases across the county.

Occasional telephone exposure to patients and families who may be distressed

Contribute to the Service governance arrangements

Contribute towards service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions.

Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within own area of work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.

Participate in the stroke team audit and evaluation as agreed with qualified professionals.

Ensure work areas and equipment are clean, tidy and well maintained, complying with Health & safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.

Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance, submitting accurate records of attendance on monthly timesheets.

Notify the team leader of sick leave as soon as possible in line with Trust policy.

Education, Training and qualifications

Essential

• Educated to BSc Honours or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
• Health Professions Council Registration.
• Evidence of stroke related continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Evidence of involvement in research, audit and promotion of evidence based practice.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of: long term stroke management at band 5 level or above mentoring other staff at band 5 and below KSF appraisal system audit training other staff inter-professional team working assessment and provision of equipment, wheelchairs and minor adaptations.
• Recent experience working in the NHS.
• Some knowledge of stroke and the long term effects.
• Knowledge of current issues within NHS, clinical governance and profession.
• Knowledge of current issues within stroke care locally and nationally.

Desirable

• Experience of, or participation in, service development.
• Experience of mentoring students.
• Experience managing community based treatment.
• Ability to use National guidelines to inform practice.
• University modules/ post graduate learning/ recent courses in stroke rehabilitation.
• Member of relevant special interest groups

Skills

Essential

• Evidence of ability to work as an independent autonomous professional.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Excellent communication skills - written, listening and verbal.
• Ability to use IT skills required for recording input and producing patient related data.

Desirable

• Experience teaching other members of MDT.
• Evidence of teaching and presentation skills and ability to undertake self directed learning and development.
• Understanding of remote rehab.

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Evidence of ability to: Work flexibly Motivate patients Motivate colleagues Empathise and understand the needs of a diverse client group Appreciate the dynamics of working within a team Ability to work in situations and conditions that may involve on a daily basis: Physical effort e.g. moving patients and equipment. Mental effort e.g. concentration levels Emotional effort e.g. distressing or traumatic circumstances.
• Ability to lone work in the community setting.
• Car driver with access to vehicle during working hours, appropriate driving license and car insurance.

Desirable

• Evidence of: Innovative practice Effecting change after analysis of working practice.

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).