Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Nature of work

1. To manage a caseload and organise timely Occupational Therapy assessment. Assessment will include use of a range of standardised assessments and assimilation of own observations and those reported by the service user, their family and other members of the team at Headway. Where necessary additional information may be required through liaison with other services
2. To support service users with complex perceptual, physical and cognitive presentations, delivering individualised treatment programmes underpinned by sound knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice within Neuro-rehabilitation. To prioritise effectively to reduce risk and manage the service users disability or rehabilitation needs.
3. To develop and provide a range of individual rehabilitation interventions based on the outcomes of assessment. Interventions will be provided directly or through instruction and guidance to the key workers.
4. To participate in moving and handling assessments, use a range of moving & handling equipment and guide others in their practice. This may include sustained physical effort and ability to physically support the service user during moving & handling.
5. To achieve a therapeutic relationship with service users, to explain the role of the Occupational Therapy and to encourage participation in the rehabilitation programme
6. Due to the busy nature of the Headway environment there may be interruptions to planned work of an unpredictable nature. The post holder to support other priorities / emergencies as required
7. To work with the management and team at Headway to develop the scope of delivering groups where appropriate. To deliver those groups and workshops on topics relevant to specialist occupational therapy skills e.g. vocational rehabilitation, fatigue management, cognitive strategies
8. To involve service users and their carers in the planning of rehabilitation programmes and encourage self-management where appropriate. The post holder will liaise with the team at Headway regarding any specific strategies or approaches required to support individual service users.
9. To identify and contribute towards person-centred SMART goals in collaboration with the service user and other members of the Headway Team. To attend care reviews as necessary and summarise the occupational therapy interventions, outcomes and future goals.
10. To contribute towards complex decision making and planning during regular MDT meetings,
11. To liaise with referrers to identify aims of attendance at Headway. This involves identifying outcomes of previous rehabilitation, identifying potential further rehabilitation and any barriers to achieving this.
12. To identify training needs within the MDT including Headway staff and volunteers and deliver training on topics related to specialist occupational therapy skills
13. The postholder will be the nominated Clinical lead for Headways SSNAP data and develop systems / reporting structure
14. To have an excellent knowledge of supporting services available to service users from health, social care and voluntary agencies and work with these services to achieve positive outcomes for Headway service users

To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with service users, their carers and other staff members. Positive relationships are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.

To recognise potential communication barriers due to impairments of speech and cognition and implement effective strategies to facilitate communication.

To use tact and diplomacy to provide and communicate complex, sensitive information where motivational negotiating, empathetic and reassurance skills are needed. To work with service users to enhance understanding where barriers to communication may exist. To maintain confidentiality within Trust Policies

Communicate and work together with other teams from a range of statutory services & stakeholders to ensure optimum patient centred care. To advocate for service users using various methods of communication, this will include accurate written reports and correspondence

Responsible for the instruction, allocation of work and supervision of other Headway staff & volunteers who are delivering treatment plans to individual service users.

To actively participate in the training and support of new staff

Required to attend and contribute to quarterly meetings with Clinical Supervisor and the Operational Lead for Headway

Ensure compliance with mandatory training and develop own clinical skills and knowledge

Responsible for maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and supervision

Information Resources:

To provide reports and verbal feedback to the team regarding clients performance/progress in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

Research and Development:

Participate in audit as and when required to do so. Keep all statistical activity data and evaluation sheets up to date for auditing purposes

Undertake audit of practice in line with Trust policy and that of Headway Bedford

Undertake or participate in research in order to improve the service as required

To participate in the delivery of any team development plans

Freedom to Act:

Accountable for own professional actions as the only Occupational Therapist on the Headway MDT.

Act on own initiative, taking prompt and effective action in emergency situations.

Able to work without direct supervision and direction

To work autonomously within the work environment, linking in with other occupational therapists in the wider Beds Neuro Therapy Service as required

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required

Participate in Clinical & Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• BSc Occupational Therapy or Dip/COT
• Masters or equivalent experience of neuro-rehabilitation
• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Evidence of post graduate study in relevant field
• Experience in delivering training & teaching sessions to a variety of audiences

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, complex and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families , carers and other professional colleagues
• Management/treatment of neurologically impaired upper limb

Desirable

• Demonstrate involvement in the implementation of service development and innovative practice
• Leadership and change management skills - ability to understand the wider implications of actions.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and listening skills with the ability to tailor the message to a variety of audiences
• Ability to work autonomously and manage a complex and varied caseload
• Report writing skills

Desirable

• Chair meetings tailored to a variety of attendees

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.

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

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Address

Headway, Bedford Health Village

3 Kimbolton Rd

Bedford

MK40 2NT

Employer's website

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