Band 7 OT Long Term Neurological Conditions

Job responsibilities

General requirements

To manage a caseload of community based clients with complex needs, resulting from congenital or acquired progressive or traumatic neurological disorders using highly specialist skills and evidence based /client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To provide leadership for inexperienced junior staff, through supervision and appraisal.

To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.

To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Occupational Therapists for SHSC and to provide highly specialist advice for the specialist client group both within LTNC and across Sheffield.

Principal duties

Clinical

To accept clinical responsibility for clients with varied challenges requiring advanced clinical reasoning and specialist therapeutic intervention and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To independently manage and accept clinical responsibility for a designated specialist caseload of adult clients with complex presentation, prioritising need and acting as a lead within the team as required.

To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical expertise in approach to Assessment, Treatment planning, Intervention and Clinical reasoning

To undertake comprehensive and highly specialist assessments of clients using investigative and analytical skills in order to make a differential diagnosis and to formulate individualised treatment plans

To contribute to the decision making about the treatment, planning and long term management of individual clients as an integral member of the team as well as highlighting ongoing risk and recommendations for future care.

To plan, organise and deliver group therapeutic activities where appropriate, co-ordinated with other members of the team, taking into account clients physical cognitive and psychological capabilities.

To monitor, modify and evaluate treatment in order to measure outcomes and ensure effectiveness of intervention

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date clinical and non-clinical documentation e.g. written and electronic records and activity data in line professional, service and Trust standards

To provide highly specialist reports and care plans to the client, relatives, statutory and non-statutory services which reflect detailed specialist knowledge and accurate communication of complex condition-related information in multi-agency settings relevant to the practice area.

To complete risk assessments and plans in order to identify and manage risk and respond appropriately, such that the risk is reduced e.g. suicide, criminal proceedings and substance misuse issues.

To undertake appropriate therapeutic handling and moving within clinical and non-clinical settings. This may involve bending, kneeling or frequent repetitive activities often in confined and restrictive spaces.

To work with clients, carers and relatives who may have distressing social/clinical circumstances, often imparting complex or difficult information.

To provide therapy services in working conditions which may be hazardous e.g. exposure to body fluids, aggressive persons, visits to high risk areas and associated travel risks.

To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of work in all community settings and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of the work area, including prompt recording and reporting of incidents and accidents to senior staff, completing risk assessments and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

To be responsible for equipment used in clinical duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competent use of equipment, safe use of equipment and teaching, training or supervision of practice with clients, carers or other services

To assess capacity gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To demonstrate skills in receiving and communicating complex, sensitive or contentious information to clients and carers, who may have barriers to understanding in order to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of conditions.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, education and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals and external agencies to promote understanding of the aims of the rehabilitation package to ensure a consistent approach to client care and treatment e.g. moving and handling and management of risks. To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively avoiding escalation where possible

To address occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self maintenance productivity and leisure.

To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment where applicable.

To provide highly specialised assessment, analysis and management of clients with cognitive deficits and provide training and advice on adaptations to the clients physical, social and vocational environments where applicable

Leadership

To be responsible for the overall planning, co-ordination and allocation of work for your discipline and taking responsibility for this for the team as required. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the clients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise.

To provide effective leadership, performance management, supervision guidance and appraisal for junior staff.

To delegate clinical duties to therapists and or assistants ensuring that they have appropriate knowledge, understanding and are competent to work autonomously within the community

Service Development

To lead and manage designated projects in relation to operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within LTNC services.

To undertake research and audit projects relevant to LTNC services. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date data and statistics for the use of the department

To comply with the requirements of SHSC in relation to policy, governance and legislation and to review and update policy and procedure as appropriate

Professional

To ensure client confidentiality when dealing with complex cases, multiple agencies and the community setting.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of work including confidentiality, note writing and in line with professional codes of conduct.

To promote awareness of the role of your profession within the team, trust, locally and nationally.

To train, supervise and assess students from Higher Education institutions and work collaboratively towards standards of clinical and professional tutoring.

To comply with the requirements of HCPC and relevant professional body RCOT.

To participate in and lead as appropriate the staff appraisal scheme, Personal Development Plan (PDP), induction, provide clinical and professional supervision to junior staff and provide ongoing training programmes for staff.

To comply with requirements for Clinical supervision and professionally reflect on ethical issues through evidence collected in relevant professional portfolio.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

To contribute to the AHP leadership group, SHSC.

Training and qualifications

Essential

• oDiploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• oCurrent HCPC registration and relevant Professional Body Registration ( RCOT).
• oDemonstrate commitment to continuous Professional Development via personal development plans/file.
• oTraining from Higher Education Institution for graduate student supervision.

Desirable

• oFirst line management / Leadership course at masters level.
• oRelevant validated clinical courses to Masters level or equivalent knowledge / experience.

Knowledge and Skills Essential

Essential

• oKnowledge of LTNC in a relevant clinical specialty (e.g. traumatic brain injury, degenerative diseases, mental health, social care) and an ability to apply this in community setting
• oKnowledge of a broad range of conditions both acute and deteriorating, affecting client group in the recovery, re-enablement and future care planning pathway.
• oDetailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
• oWorking knowledge of standards and guidelines relating to professional code of practice with this client group.
• oKnowledge of the local and National priorities for Long term Neurological Conditions, NHS and Social Care structures and local and national commissioning plans and practices .
• oExcellent interpersonal skills.
• oAnalytical clinical assessment, diagnostic and treatment skills relevant to clinical area to facilitate appropriate therapeutic intervention and management through and across statutory and non statutory services.
• oApplication of health, safety and risk management policies.
• oAbility to work autonomously under pressure and prioritise.
• oTo demonstrate developed verbal and non verbal communication skills using of motivation, explanation and reassurance to agree and engage clients and carers in their treatment programmes
• oTo demonstrate organisational skills to manage workload and that of other supervised staff to achieve service priorities
• oComputer Literate with excellent written and oral presentation skills.
• oAbility to pass on skills/ knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
• oEffective presentation and training skills to deliver and communicate complex information in a variety of settings
• oExtensive clinical knowledge including skills in individual and group work
• oAbility to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• oAbility to analyse and reflect on professional and ethical issues
• oAbility to work as part of a team building effective working relationships.
• oAbility to organise and respond efficiently to complex information effectively under pressure.
• oAbility to develop and maintain effective working relationships within the team and key external teams on the patient pathway
• oAbility to understand and respect different points of view and work with people from a variety of cultures.
• oTo have developed coping strategies to deal with the emotional nature and demands of the work.
• oAbility to lead and manage designated projects in line with service development

Desirable

• oA working knowledge of the needs of clients with mental health issues.
• oA working knowledge of the needs of clients with social care issues.

Experience

Essential

• oPost graduate experience in clinical speciality within the NHS.
• oExperience of supervising / managing / developing junior staff, rehabilitation assistants through PDR and teaching.
• oExperience of audit and application and interpretation of outcome measures.

Desirable

• oPrevious experience at Specialist level.
• oExperience of involvement in service development.
• oInvolvement in research

Other

Essential

• oMeet health requirements of the Trust.
• oDue to the requirement to undertake visits and transport non-portable equipment, the post holder is required to be either a car driver with a valid driving licence, or have access to an alternative means of transport.
• oDemonstrate a flexible and mature attitude.
• oMotivation, enthusiasm, confidence in and commitment to Occupational Therapy practice.
• oWillingness to work flexibly including working outside of traditional normal working hours in accordance with service need.

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).