HAT Frailty Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist, Band 6

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Homeward Assessment Team - Frailty Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist

Division: Medicine

Department: Homeward Assessment Team Frailty Assessment Unit

Responsible and accountable to: HAT Integration Lead

Band: Band 6

Location: Gloucester Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital

2. JOB PURPOSE

- To support and participate in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of high-quality holistic patient care, within the Frailty Assessment Unit and Emergency Department working as part of the Homeward Assessment Team.

- To provide a local link to the wider networks for older peoples services through knowledge and skills pertinent to the care of older people.

- To use recognised models of practice and evidence-based interventions and outcome measures to underpin all practice.

- To assess and treat own caseload of patients adopting a person-centred approach.

- Promoting the role of therapy with the wider Homeward Assessment Team.

- Participate in research/project work/service development as opportunities arise.

3. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

- To be responsible for carrying out evidence-based assessments, intervention and evaluation of mobility and occupational performance needs of patients. You will assess, provide advice, appropriate equipment, and refer on to community teams and services.

- To be competent in risk assessments and managing risk autonomously.

- To provide advice and guidance regarding mobility and function of patients to the MDT.

- To manage a diverse caseload of patients with varying levels of frailty including conditions such as orthopaedic, medical, neurological and palliative with a view to avoid hospital admission where possible.

- To understand the nature, aetiology and expected progression of a wide variety of diseases and to signpost to community teams as appropriate.

- To have an excellent knowledge of resources available outside of the Acute Trust.

- To maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards.

- To support audit and service development projects, to further own and teams clinical practice including participation in Quality Improvement.

4. COMMUNICATION

- To communicate complex information in an understandable format for service users, carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

- To create, maintain and enhance productive working relationships with families and carers, the multidisciplinary team, across professional barriers, with internal and external agencies and with voluntary and statutory organisation.

5. ORGANISATION CHART

Deputy Divisional Director of Quality and Nursing

Homeward Assessment Team Integration Lead Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist

6. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Registered with the HCPC. A minimum of 2 years experience in medicine/elderly care and community experience desirable.

- Demonstrate proven change management and leadership skills.

- Demonstrate skills and specialist advanced knowledge required for assessing, diagnosing and interpreting a range of complex conditions and the knowledge of appropriate treatment options. Ability to relate theory to practice.

- Enhanced IT skills including the ability to work with EPR, Track.

- Demonstrate problem solving skills and the ability to interpret and analyse statistical and descriptive data.

7. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

- Excellent communication, organisational, interpersonal, leadership, advocacy, planning and counselling skills.

- Demonstrate excellent working relationships with patients and significant others, other multidisciplinary team members, HAT Integration Lead, Modern Matron COTE, outside agencies and wider community.

- Report concerns using appropriate channels including DATIX.

- To communicate effectively where patient ability to do so is compromised, acting as an advocate, e.g., providing specialist information.

- Ability to disseminate contentious and delicate information appropriately, i.e., explanation of why intervention is needed, palliative care.

8. KEY RESULT AREAS

- Responsibility to investigate and implement necessary changes in accordance with clinical governance.

- To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and Professional Code of Conduct.

- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records. To input and retrieve patient information from computer-based systems in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

- Undertake therapy-led assessment of patients and evaluation of care/interventions.

- Responsible for the development of HAT policy, protocols and guidelines within defined speciality, as well as contributing to other areas.

- Responsible for the delivery of accurate research-based information.

- To lead on and deliver safe care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources safely and as appropriate.

- Responsible for, inclusion in and undertake national and local research and audit relevant to therapy/HAT practice, particularly care of the older person and implement change as appropriate.

- To have enhanced levels of assessment of acutely ill patients using alert assessment plan.

- Maintaining patient and public expectations of the service by working towards meeting local and national health targets.

- Attend relevant meetings to negotiate and influence change in clinical practice

9. MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB

- Ability to organise and work under pressure whilst effectively managing own time in an ever-changing environment.

- To be accessible to nursing and medical team and safely manage time.

- To disseminate contentious, sensitive and highly distressing news to patients and relatives.

- The ability to respond appropriately to acute situations to assess and interpret findings, implement care and refer appropriately.

- Enhanced ability to work effectively in acute situations within HAT.

10. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORKING CONDITIONS

- Will be required to work within recognised manual handling guidelines.

- Will have frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions and will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to bodily fluids, infection control and COSHH regulations.

- Will be required to work within confined spaces.

- To manage own time effectively.

- Will be required to work using computer-based systems on a daily basis.

- Exposure to highly distressing situations involving patients, relatives and staff, e.g., dealing with patients anger and emotion due to their circumstances.

- Ability to work where the work pattern may be unpredictable but there is also a requirement for concentration, e.g., constant interruptions via the bleep system/mobile phone, MDT requesting assistance and advice.

11. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Job Holders Signature: Date:

Payroll Number:

Manager/Head of Department Signature: Date

Title:

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
• HCPC registration

Experience

Essential

• Qualified for an appropriate period of time
• Relevant post graduate experience in Care of the Elderly
• Skills in providing education and supervision to staff and students

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

• Effective skills in personal time management and communication
• Ability to support and motivate, resolving operational and individual problems as they arise
• Competent IT skills including use of EPR
• Positive interpersonal skills to be able to communicate appropriately with staff, carers and patients

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)