Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic senior occupational therapist to join the team providing the Post Covid Assessment Service within the trust.
They will work at both Charing Cross and St Mary's Hospitals in an outpatient clinic setting, together with an experienced and supportive multi-disciplinary team. During the clinics they will provide comprehensive specialist assessment, tailored rehabilitation and relevant service signposting and referrals.
The role is 0.6 WTE and would be across three working days.
The clinic days are Wednesdays and Thursdays and these would be onsite at Charing Cross and St Mary's Hospitals. The third day can be flexible and could be worked from home if preferred.
You will have excellent support from the clinical lead therapist and work closely with the experienced multi-disciplinary team, specifically the band 8a physiotherapists.
You will also have the opportunity to build-up and maintain key relationships with therapists within the relevant primary and secondary care services.
You will also have peer support from the senior occupational therapists within the inpatient team that have experience working within the post Covid assessment service.
This is a fixed term contract with funding currently secured until March 2023.
There is also potential opportunity for the role to be extended depending on future developments and service planning within Post Covid services.
Main duties of the job
Imperial College NHS Trust is delivering a post Covid service to North-West London, and currently holds weekly outpatient clinics at Charing Cross and St Marys Hospitals.
The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering this service within both of these clinics, through comprehensive specialist assessment, tailored rehabilitation and relevant service signposting and referrals.
They will take a lead role in the occupational therapy input into the service, providing efficient and effective therapy assessment and intervention to the patients with ongoing post Covid symptoms; such as post viral fatigue, cognition and memory problems and other complex presentations.
They will also build-up and maintain key relationships with relevant primary and secondary care health and social services.
Additionally they will be an active member of the team's weekly MDT meetings, presenting assessment finding and management ideas for ongoing patient support and relevant referrals.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities. We encourage staff to have the Covid vaccination to protect themselves, patients, other colleagues as well as the wider community. Please note it is an operational requirement to comply with infection prevention and control procedures within the Trust such as lateral flow testing, handwashing and the wearing of masks, according to the procedures in place at any time or location.
As part of our continued response to Covid19 we are still conducting the majority of our interviews virtually.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part-time or job share.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and to ensure that work meets professional standards and clinical guidelines.
- To provide an occupational therapy specialist input to care of people with post Covid symptoms. To support the team referrals process, procedures and operational running of the service along with the clinical lead. Deputising for the clinical lead when required.
- To undertake uni-professional, multi-professional and neuro, cognitive and functional specialist occupational therapy assessments using evidence-based outcome measures, either during clinics or virtually or over the telephone.
- Clients will be 18 years and over and are likely to have complex multi-pathologies and symptoms such as post viral fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, reduced physical and mental functions, musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory disease, cognitive impairment mental health disorders and age-related conditions. The caseload will also include people with post COVID syndrome who require specialist input in vocational rehabilitation, cognition, fatigue and ADL.
- To participate in teams weekly post Covid MDT, presenting clinical cases to the wider MDT for clinical support, planning, and management ideas or for referral purposes.
- To be responsible for gaining valid, informed consent for assessment and treatment interventions, and sharing of information following legal and professional guidelines.
- To formulate diagnoses and establish impairments and disabilities where conflicting evidence is present following assessments.
- Following specialist assessment, to use advanced clinical reasoning, analysis, assessment and re-assessment skills; using a client-centered goal setting approach, to provide individual occupational therapy interventions and programmes.
- To participate in the Single Assessment Process, performing overview assessments and complex specialist assessments as appropriate, and to communicate relevant medical information, assessment details and advice across agencies following Imperial College Healthcare Trust (ICHNT) guidelines for sharing of information and informed consent. These agencies would commonly include GPs, Social Services, Healthcare professionals and voluntary agencies.
- Through advanced clinical reasoning and analysis, to identify clients needs, establish clinical risk and to liaise and refer clients to relevant services including other healthcare services, healthcare professionals and voluntary agencies as appropriate.
- To prescribe appropriate equipment and educate clients in the safe use of this equipment, following the Integrated Community Equipment Store Procedures, in order to maximise clients independence and safety.
- To work closely with other members of the inter-disciplinary community Rehabilitation Team to provide a comprehensive, seamless service, aiming to improve and maintain functional ability of clients referred to post Covid service.
- To attend and lead where appropriate, relevant multi-disciplinary meetings and or case meetings related to client care.
- To communicate information related to complex conditions from assessment through treatment and discharge to clients, carers and families.
- To motivate and persuade others through advanced communication skills and to be able to gain co-operation for treatment where there may be significant barriers to understanding such as a dementia.
- To demonstrate skill in managing conflict across a range of situations in a verbal, written, formal and informal manner.
- To develop, update and present occupational therapy specific patient and carer education presentations to clients and carers.
Communication
- To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers and other health professionals, workers and agencies including active participation in multidisciplinary, family and best interest meetings.
- To demonstrate effective verbal/non verbal, informal and formal communication methods, use advanced interpersonal skills and conflict resolution to support and engage participation in assessment and treatment process with patients who may have difficulty engaging due to cognitive impairment, mental illness or brain injury
- To routinely provide specialist advice, education and support to patients and their carers as part of the Occupational Therapy process. To adopt a patient centred treatment approach in order to support meaningful participation in life roles.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication to receive and disseminate clinical information, acknowledging sensitivity and complexity i.e. significant disability management issues, and using approaches appropriate to the context or culture. Use of effective interpersonal skills to encourage patients and carers active participation in the Occupational Therapy process.
- Ability to work effectively with patients and families requiring a language interpreter ensuring services are accessible for all service users regardless of their spoken language or communication status. To adapt verbal and non-verbal techniques as the situation demands, making best use of service leaflets, internet and other appropriate resources.
- When appropriate, co-ordinate network meetings related to the care of patients with complex functional and/or social needs.
- Ability to work effectively with patients and families requiring a language interpreter ensuring services are accessible for all service users regardless of their spoken language or communication status. To adapt verbal and non-verbal techniques as the situation demands, making best use of service leaflets, internet and other appropriate resources.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and to ensure that work meets professional standards and clinical guidelines.
- To provide an occupational therapy specialist input to care of people with post Covid symptoms. To support the team referrals process, procedures and operational running of the service along with the clinical lead. Deputising for the clinical lead when required.
- To undertake uni-professional, multi-professional and neuro, cognitive and functional specialist occupational therapy assessments using evidence-based outcome measures, either during clinics or virtually or over the telephone.
- Clients will be 18 years and over and are likely to have complex multi-pathologies and symptoms such as post viral fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, reduced physical and mental functions, musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory disease, cognitive impairment mental health disorders and age-related conditions. The caseload will also include people with post COVID syndrome who require specialist input in vocational rehabilitation, cognition, fatigue and ADL.
- To participate in teams weekly post Covid MDT, presenting clinical cases to the wider MDT for clinical support, planning, and management ideas or for referral purposes.
- To be responsible for gaining valid, informed consent for assessment and treatment interventions, and sharing of information following legal and professional guidelines.
- To formulate diagnoses and establish impairments and disabilities where conflicting evidence is present following assessments.
- Following specialist assessment, to use advanced clinical reasoning, analysis, assessment and re-assessment skills; using a client-centered goal setting approach, to provide individual occupational therapy interventions and programmes.
- To participate in the Single Assessment Process, performing overview assessments and complex specialist assessments as appropriate, and to communicate relevant medical information, assessment details and advice across agencies following Imperial College Healthcare Trust (ICHNT) guidelines for sharing of information and informed consent. These agencies would commonly include GPs, Social Services, Healthcare professionals and voluntary agencies.
- Through advanced clinical reasoning and analysis, to identify clients needs, establish clinical risk and to liaise and refer clients to relevant services including other healthcare services, healthcare professionals and voluntary agencies as appropriate.
- To prescribe appropriate equipment and educate clients in the safe use of this equipment, following the Integrated Community Equipment Store Procedures, in order to maximise clients independence and safety.
- To work closely with other members of the inter-disciplinary community Rehabilitation Team to provide a comprehensive, seamless service, aiming to improve and maintain functional ability of clients referred to post Covid service.
- To attend and lead where appropriate, relevant multi-disciplinary meetings and or case meetings related to client care.
- To communicate information related to complex conditions from assessment through treatment and discharge to clients, carers and families.
- To motivate and persuade others through advanced communication skills and to be able to gain co-operation for treatment where there may be significant barriers to understanding such as a dementia.
- To demonstrate skill in managing conflict across a range of situations in a verbal, written, formal and informal manner.
- To develop, update and present occupational therapy specific patient and carer education presentations to clients and carers.
Communication
- To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers and other health professionals, workers and agencies including active participation in multidisciplinary, family and best interest meetings.
- To demonstrate effective verbal/non verbal, informal and formal communication methods, use advanced interpersonal skills and conflict resolution to support and engage participation in assessment and treatment process with patients who may have difficulty engaging due to cognitive impairment, mental illness or brain injury
- To routinely provide specialist advice, education and support to patients and their carers as part of the Occupational Therapy process. To adopt a patient centred treatment approach in order to support meaningful participation in life roles.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication to receive and disseminate clinical information, acknowledging sensitivity and complexity i.e. significant disability management issues, and using approaches appropriate to the context or culture. Use of effective interpersonal skills to encourage patients and carers active participation in the Occupational Therapy process.
- Ability to work effectively with patients and families requiring a language interpreter ensuring services are accessible for all service users regardless of their spoken language or communication status. To adapt verbal and non-verbal techniques as the situation demands, making best use of service leaflets, internet and other appropriate resources.
- When appropriate, co-ordinate network meetings related to the care of patients with complex functional and/or social needs.
- Ability to work effectively with patients and families requiring a language interpreter ensuring services are accessible for all service users regardless of their spoken language or communication status. To adapt verbal and non-verbal techniques as the situation demands, making best use of service leaflets, internet and other appropriate resources.
Person Specification
EDUCATION
Essential
- Degree/Diploma OT
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio, including attendance/training relevant to this post
Desirable
- Member of relevant COT Specialist Section or relevant to ICU
- Clinical Supervision Course
- Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist areas
- Placement practice educator trained
- Course in prescription of wheelchairs and seating
- Advanced postural management training.
- Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist areas
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential
- Management of a post covid symptoms; including post viral fatigue, cognitive and memory problems and other complex presentations
- Knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions in outpatient setting.
- Clinical reasoning and problem solving skills to determine discharge of patients from clinic
- Skills to develop and consolidate service including service reviews
Desirable
- Basic splinting skills
- Community & Social Services knowledge
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant post - graduate clinical experience of working with individuals to support them to manage long term conditions and improve independence, well being and participate in occup
- Experience of planning and implementing rehabilitation programmes including fatigue management.
- Knowledge of core OT skills in both physical and mental health areas
- Experience in the management of cognitive and motor impairment
- Teaching, supervision and guidance of OT staff and other professions
- Engagement in OT research/audit
Desirable
- Previous Band 7 experience
- Experience of being the lead supervisor of staff
- Experience of being the lead supervisor of staff
Person Specification
EDUCATION
Essential
- Degree/Diploma OT
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio, including attendance/training relevant to this post
Desirable
- Member of relevant COT Specialist Section or relevant to ICU
- Clinical Supervision Course
- Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist areas
- Placement practice educator trained
- Course in prescription of wheelchairs and seating
- Advanced postural management training.
- Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist areas
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential
- Management of a post covid symptoms; including post viral fatigue, cognitive and memory problems and other complex presentations
- Knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions in outpatient setting.
- Clinical reasoning and problem solving skills to determine discharge of patients from clinic
- Skills to develop and consolidate service including service reviews
Desirable
- Basic splinting skills
- Community & Social Services knowledge
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant post - graduate clinical experience of working with individuals to support them to manage long term conditions and improve independence, well being and participate in occup
- Experience of planning and implementing rehabilitation programmes including fatigue management.
- Knowledge of core OT skills in both physical and mental health areas
- Experience in the management of cognitive and motor impairment
- Teaching, supervision and guidance of OT staff and other professions
- Engagement in OT research/audit
Desirable
- Previous Band 7 experience
- Experience of being the lead supervisor of staff
- Experience of being the lead supervisor of staff
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).
