Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist - Acute Stroke

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT

The closing date is 03 December 2024

Job summary

Our Rehabilitation Service have an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our proactive and forward-thinking Acute Stroke Therapy team.

As the successful post holder, you will work in an integrated team of PT's, OT's and unregistered staff on West Raynham Stroke Unit, which includes the whole inpatient stroke pathway of hyper-acute, acute and rehabilitation areas. You will also work closely alongside the multidisciplinary team including Speech & Language Therapists, Dieticians, Clinical Psychologists, medical and nursing teams. It is highly expected that this will be a predominantly clinical role - working with patients and alongside junior colleagues. You will be expected to provide and support junior staff in providing, highly specialist occupational therapy assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

We are very fortunate to have a large therapy gym with various pieces of equipment, and areas we can adapt within this space moving forward. Our ongoing aim is to give our stroke patients the best possible assessment and treatment and to optimise their rehabilitation before being discharged to an appropriate environment depending on their needs.

You will also develop and undertake robust systems and processes to ensure the delivery of a high-quality rehabilitation across the registered and non-registered workforce within the ward environment; and take the lead in the development of process to enable safe and timely flow of patients.

Main duties of the job

To be the lead Occupational Therapist with specific responsibility for the development and provision of the Occupational Therapy team within the acute stroke unit, including the training, supervision and appraisal of team members.

To lead in the advanced assessment and treatment of acute stroke patients, who will often have highly complex and/or chronic presentation, and often with barriers to communication.

To use advanced clinical reasoning skills to determine clinical diagnosis, treatment, onward referrals and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.

To plan, co-ordinate, deliver and evaluate Occupational Therapy input within the Acute Stroke Therapy team service, whilst working closely with the Team Lead, and delegating appropriately to the team as required.

You will be expected to contribute to a weekend working rota.

We would welcome any prospective applicant to come for a visit to see our working environment and meet the team prior to their application, if they would like to do so.

About us

There's never been a more exciting time to join TeamQEH. We're working on a once in a generation opportunity to build a new state-of-the-art hospital to open in 2030 and we are also carrying out on one of the biggest pieces of digital transformation work we've ever undertaken.

Our new electronic patient record (EPR) will replace paper-based patient records from 2026 and will lead to better, safer, joined-up care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and beyond.

At The QEH we provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, North Cambs and South Lincs.

We are an ambitious organisation that upholds our values of kindness, wellness and fairness. We strive for continuous quality improvement, recently demonstrated in our 2024 CQC maternity inspection rating our services as 'Good', and we are proud to be a place to learn and grow through recognised learning and apprenticeships.

We recognise and reward our 4,000 staff and volunteers, priding ourselves on a community atmosphere and positive team spirit. We have approx. 530 beds across 33 wards and have newly built education and training facilities, a range of modern award-winning centres alongside a talented team of people ready to give you a warm welcome. We love working here and think you will too.

Date posted

19 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

426-557-24TAM

Job locations

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Gayton Road

King's Lynn

PE30 4ET

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information about this job role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information about this job role.

Person Specification

Qualifications/training and professional development

Essential

B.Sc. or Diploma in Occupational Therapy (3 year) or M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy (2 year) (Fast-track qualification with previous degree)
Health and Care Professions Council registration
Car driving licence
Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist area
Practice educator course

Desirable

Member of COT Specialist interest group - Neurology
Member of BAOT/COT
Foundation management course

Experience

Essential

Extensive clinical experience as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist
Specialised in the appropriate specialty for a minimum of one year
Worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

Covered a variety of specialties as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist
Experience in Acute and Community NHS settings
Experience in audit and service development

Skills, abilities and knowledge

Essential

Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions in a stroke setting, including standardised assessments and relevant outcome measures
Management of a varied acute neurological caseload and patients with complex comorbidities and frailty
Ability to cope with a pressurised working environment and positively manage distressing situations
Detailed knowledge of legislation, policies and guidelines affecting current practice in OT, within the field of stroke rehabilitation
Awareness and knowledge of National Stroke Guidelines and SSNAP

Desirable

Formal training in splinting for altered tone and experience in fabricating splints
Formal training in postural management in the neurological patient

Person Specification

Qualifications/training and professional development

Essential

B.Sc. or Diploma in Occupational Therapy (3 year) or M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy (2 year) (Fast-track qualification with previous degree)
Health and Care Professions Council registration
Car driving licence
Evidence of post-qualification training relevant to specialist area
Practice educator course

Desirable

Member of COT Specialist interest group - Neurology
Member of BAOT/COT
Foundation management course

Experience

Essential

Extensive clinical experience as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist
Specialised in the appropriate specialty for a minimum of one year
Worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

Covered a variety of specialties as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist
Experience in Acute and Community NHS settings
Experience in audit and service development

Skills, abilities and knowledge

Essential

Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions in a stroke setting, including standardised assessments and relevant outcome measures
Management of a varied acute neurological caseload and patients with complex comorbidities and frailty
Ability to cope with a pressurised working environment and positively manage distressing situations
Detailed knowledge of legislation, policies and guidelines affecting current practice in OT, within the field of stroke rehabilitation
Awareness and knowledge of National Stroke Guidelines and SSNAP

Desirable

Formal training in splinting for altered tone and experience in fabricating splints
Formal training in postural management in the neurological patient

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.