Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
To work within the Occupational Therapy service, providing effective intervention to various clinical areas.
To manage a clinical workload at a novice level; assessing and treating patients and maintaining associated records.
To provide a patient-focussed service following the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and discharge) and using Occupational Therapy core skills.
To delegate work to and assist in the supervision of support staff
To assist in the supervision and education of Occupational Therapy Student
To act as an Occupational Therapy resource for colleagues, carers and patients
The trust acknowledges and supports the statements laid down by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (College of Occupational Therapy). The post holder will be professionally accountable to HPC, and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions.
Clinical Responsibilities
This post holder will be responsible for providing occupational therapy intervention in a specific clinical speciality.
The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner addressing occupational therapy performance skills, social context and activity demands in collaboration with patient, carers and colleagues.
Clinical intervention may take place in a variety of settings including wards, therapy departments, clinics, peoples homes, work places, community facilities, child care and educational establishments.
The work involves close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team and community-based health and social care providers.
Team Responsibilities
Assist in the management and supervision of support staff and students
Routine organisation and maintenance of the department/ section.
Participation in projects
Participation in in-service training
Professional Responsibilities
Trust objectives and business plan
Service objectives and business plan
Modernisation agenda / government initiatives
Awareness of College of Occupational Therapy initiatives
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
1. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.
2. To deliver a service using the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and discharge) and core skills
3. To establish capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment, and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent.
4. To assess individual patients, plan and carry out effective intervention in the most appropriate environment taking into account each patients individual physical, social and emotional needs.
5. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information across a range of conditions.
6. To use investigative and analytical skills to formulate and manage intervention
7. To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and analysis to develop individual goals and intervention which optimises functional ability
8. To plan and prioritise clinical work
9. To delegate work to support staff and to obtain feedback from delegated tasks
10. To use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools/strategies to communicate appropriate information effectively to patients/carers. This may include patients/carers who have difficulty understanding or communicating
11. The information may relate to prognosis and rehabilitation outcomes
12. To utilise strategies of persuasion and motivation to encourage patients engage in intervention
13. To adopt a key role in discharge management, communicating appropriate information and acting as an advocate for patient/carers
14. All recommendations should focus on occupational performance and risk management in the patients own environment
15. To refer to internal and external agencies relevant to the patients needs using designated referral systems
16. To liaise with and work in collaboration with internal and external agencies
17. To act as a resource for information and support to patients, carers and others
18. To to ensure safe use of equipment by self and others
19. To be able to work in a stressful environment
20. To be able to impart difficult and unwelcome information regarding rehabilitation outcomes and support services.
21. To be able to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients/carers
22. To participate in ward rounds, case conferences and meeting as required
23. To record interventions accurately and timely using team/ trust documentation. Complying with Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
24. To complete activity data using team/trust documentation and outcome measures
25. To provide written reports conforming to Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements
26. To promote Occupational Therapy as a treatment medium and ensure high Occupational Therapy Profile.
27. To participate in clinical governance and evaluation of work and current practices through the use of audit and outcome measures, either individually or as part of a clinical team.
Education and Training
1. To take responsibility in agreement with line manager for personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority.
2. To provide evidence of ongoing personal development.
3. To undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
4. To take an active role in in-service training and coaching colleagues, ensuring the sharing of information and reflection on learning experiences.
5. To participate in audit and research.
6. To provide spontaneous and planned advice/training to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of treatment plans and achievement of objectives.
7. To provide spontaneous and planned advice/training to relatives, carers and other professionals regarding the use of equipment, therapeutic procedures and handling of patients.
8. To assist in the management and supervision of Occupational Therapy students and students from other disciplines.
Leadership
1. To participate in supervision and appraisal processes in line with Occupational Therapy and Trust Guidelines.
2. To assist in the supervision and development of support staff.
3. To comply with professional codes of practice, departmental and trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
4. To carry out administrative and housekeeping duties connected with the day to day running of the department.
5. To communicate all relevant information regarding the service and individual patients to the Occupational Therapy Team Leader/Supervisor
6. To contribute to policy and service developments as required.
7. To demonstrate an understanding of Risk Management and apply to working environment and clinical intervention.
8. To evaluate and prioritise clinical and non-clinical responsibilities.
9. To manage time effectively.
10. To comply at all times with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust policies and procedures.
11. Undertake any other duties delegated and appropriate to the grade
12. To be aware of the boundaries of the role and not work outside these responsibilities
11. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
12. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Patients, families and carers
Supervisor
Clinical leader, peers and support staff within team
Occupational Therapy colleagues Trust Wide
Occupational Therapy Manager
Consultants and medical staff
Members of Multi-disciplinary Team
Appropriate internal and external agencies
12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity lasting approximately 30 - 60 minutes e.g. treatment sessions involving facilitation of movement in functional transferring of patients/ provision and fitting of equipment / pushing wheelchairs / using manual handling equipment
There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust in order to best meet the needs of the service. The post holder may be based on more than one side carry out their duties.
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
The post holder will need to be able to concentrate during several (approximately 6) patient assessments treatments within a day.
During home and environment assessments there are often several other people present who want to contribute for example, carers and other health and social care workers. The post holder has to be able to carry out the assessment and take on board everything else that is being said.
The post holder will required to break-off from tasks to respond to other urgent requests and tasks and often has to re-prioritise tasks and alter work plans for that day.
iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
This job involves occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.
This job involves exposure to distressing circumstances such as terminal illness.
This job involves occasional exposure to very poor, unhygienic and unsafe living conditions when carrying out home assessments.
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS:
This job involves exposure to unpleasant working condition on a daily basis when carrying out personal care activities such as washing and dressing including direct contract with body fluids.
There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in order to best meet the needs of the service. The post holder may be based on more than one site to carry out their duties.
