Acute Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Undertake a comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment at a specialist level with patients, allocated to your caseload. This may involve the selection and application of standardised and non-standardised assessments addressing occupational performance. 2. Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical factors including physical, environmental, psychosocial, mental, spiritual, political and cultural aspects of the patients life, in order to identify occupational performance deficits, and provide specialist advice and intervention for the facilitation of optimum level of occupational functioning. This will require the post holder to consider a range of options, some of which may conflict and require negotiation, having to consider the needs of individuals, families and carers. 3. Formulate goals in partnership with the patient, clearly communicating your clinical reasoning, in order to justify your recommendations, and utilising most appropriate treatment/intervention for the patients needs. 4. Implement a variety of evidence based Occupational Therapy interventions to a specialist level according to the needs of the individual patient. 5. Evaluate and modify the treatment programme as appropriate, implement moving, handling and positioning of patients to enable to participate in treatment episodes and carry out activities of daily living. 6. Independently manage a varied and complex caseload on a day to day basis, organising your time effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities; ensuring good use of skills within the team by delegating and allocating work to junior staff as appropriate. (Integrated Therapy Asssitants) 7. Advise, support, and educate patients, carers and other professionals in the self management of patients condition. 8. Initiate and organise case reviews involving multi disciplinary and multi agency staff. The post holder may be required to take the key worker role. 9. Develop, maintain and demonstrate specialist clinical skills related to clinical area, which are underpinned by theory, research and practical experience. 10. Responsible for assessing for and recommending both minor and major adaptations / environmental modifications, seeking advice from senior staff when necessary. This will require a good working knowledge of the process of eligibility for specialist equipment. 11. Assess for and provide standard and specialist assistive technology for patients in accordance with local criteria and pathways for provision. 12. Advise, instruct, and educate patients, carers and other professionals in the use of standard and specialist assistive technology, and environmental adaptation where appropriate. 13. Undertake risk assessments, and manage and document risk. 14. Have the ability to deal with unexpected events during the course of duties in a specialist area. Complete incident reports in line with Trust guidelines. 15. Work as an autonomous practitioner where there is a requirement to make decisions to optimise patients recovery, develop and adopt rehab programmes in relation to patient goals. 16. Actively involved with research activities including literature searching. 17. Work across agencies and have a working knowledge and understanding of the systems within Health and Social Services in order to facilitate the recommendation of treatment approach, equipment, access, and adaptation issues. 18. Understand and demonstrate a working knowledge of national guidelines and legislation relating to Health and Social Care relevant to Occupational Therapy. Undertake evaluation of work and current practices through use of audit, reflective practice and outcome measures and make recommendations for change. 19. Record patient contact statistics. 20. Delegate, monitor, organise, and supervise the work of junior staff as appropriate. 21. Actively involved in the day to day running of the department. 22. Deputise for senior staff in the day to day running of the department as required. 23. Is a member of the team and shares information as required. 24. Maintain treatment areas and equipment used to an appropriate standard in accordance with health and safety, infection control, and other relevant guidance. 25. Assess capacity of patients in order to gain valid informed consent for intervention and work within organisational policy with patients who lack capacity. COMMUNICATION 1. Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, therapy, education, social services staff, and others to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multi disciplinary and multi agency approach and facilitate and maintain good working relationships. 2. Communicate complex or sensitive information, in an empathetic and reassuring manner to patients and carers in a language understandable to them. This may include imparting unwelcome news relating to future needs. 3. Use a range of techniques to overcome barriers to communication. 4. Adapt your own communication style and utilise advanced communication skills appropriate to the patient in order to foster an effective therapeutic relationship. 5. Deal with challenging situations including verbal aggression/distress from patients, carers and relatives. 6. Advise, instruct, and educate patients, carers and other professionals regarding the occupational therapy process. 7. Maintain the ability to communicate effectively when faced with situations of conflict or high emotion from patients, carers, family and other staff members. 8. Promote and educate others regarding the role of Occupational Therapy and the importance of occupational to health and well being. 9. Provide comprehensive occupational therapy reports clearly outlining clinical reasoning and recommendations. 10. Provide clear information (verbal and written) regarding Occupational Therapy intervention in a variety of settings. 11. Ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional standards and organisational guidance. 12. Have basic IT skills including use of Internet, E-mail and any special programmes used within the service. 13. Ensure that resources are available to meet the differing communication needs of the population e.g. ethnic minorities, hearing impaired, etc. 14. Attend and participate in team meetings. Taking the lead when required. 15. Assist the Occupational Therapy Service in involving service users, their carers and family in service improvements. 16. Act as an advocate on behalf of patients. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT 1. Continue to develop and demonstrate skills related to Occupational Therapy / specialist clinical area, to a specialist level, ensuring that those skills are underpinned by philosophy, theory and professional standards. 2. Keep up to date with evidence based practice. 3. Complete all required mandatory training. 4. Responsible for your own continuing professional development including maintaining your own developmental portfolio and assisting others in the development of theirs. 5. Participate in your own annual development review and supervision, undertaking post registration training related to area of work as required. 6. Responsible for the support and supervision of qualified and support staff as required and as outlined in service guidance. 7. Take responsibility for the learning of students and nurses as required, and be willing to work towards accreditation. 8. Involvement in research activity, e.g. journal clubs, evidence based practice and clinical audit as required. 9. Provide training to colleagues, the wider multi disciplinary team, and other agencies as required. 10. Keep up to date with relevant legislation and current issues relating to occupational therapy in your area of work in areas such as Health, Housing, Social Services, and Education. ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Promote and implement organisational policies, procedures, standards and guidance. 2. Act as agents and make prescriptions/recommendations for equipment 3. Responsible for the induction of new staff as required. 4. Work towards achieving service and organisational objectives. 5. Undertake/lead tasks related to team/ service development/governance as required. 6. Participate in the recruitment and selection of Occupational Therapists and/or support staff as required. 7. Able to deal sensitively with complaints following procedures, managing them where necessary and directing them to an appropriate person within the team, if required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

Desirable

• Experience Taking Students

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Post graduate therapy experience in a relevant setting.
• Able to use a variety of assessments/interventions.
• Supervision skills
• Advanced communication skills
• Workload management skills
• Research skills.

Other

Essential

• HCPC registered.
• Commitment to lifelong learning
• Car driver and has access to a car undertake visits in the community as required
• Ability to work weekends on a rota

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

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

RBH

Haslingden Road

Blackburn

BB2 3HH

Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)