Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical

The post holder will:

1. Continue to review and monitor prescribed equipment as patients needs change.
2. Apply knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to patients social and physical environment.
3. By using a holistic approach and incorporating client centred principles, provide assessment, advice and support to colleagues and individual patients regarding patients 24 hour postural management needs including wheelchair prescription.
4. To have knowledge and expertise of how patients posture/function can be affected by progression of postural deformities and how postural management and interventions can be used to protect posture and maintain function. Knowledge and expertise will be expected to develop.
5. To have an understanding and knowledge in the use of highly specialised postural management techniques which, in turn, reduce the cost of prescribing equipment. Knowledge and expertise will be expected to develop.
6. Special seating clinics will be undertaken on a regular basis. The post holder works in collaboration with the special seating team and provides technical input for the equipment set up.
7. To maintain quality standards for all equipment supplied by the service, which includes reporting any defects and accidents that occur directly to the relevant authorities.
8. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
9. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, both written and electronic in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment outcomes to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
10. To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for use in the department and to participate in clinical audit.
11. To assess patients at a pertinent location to the needs of the individual and subject to the criteria for domiciliary visits. This will include assessment in clinic; patients home; nursing home; hospital; school; work or other day placement.
12. Assessment of patients environment for suitability of necessary equipment.
13. To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals and agencies.
14. To promote awareness of the role of the clinician within the wheelchair assessment centre teams, negotiating priorities where appropriate.
15. To promote awareness of the role of the wheelchair assessment centre within the Eastern Region.
16. To raise awareness of the importance of postural management and health promotion for our patients.
17. Responding appropriately to queries and issues raised by patients, carers and clinicians referring onto other services as required.

Professional

The post holder will:

1. Maintain own professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporating them as necessary into work.
2. Be an active member of in-service training programs by the attendance and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions and external courses.
3. By undertaking reflective practice as part of maintaining a dynamic professional portfolio and contributing to clinical and case supervision on a regular basis.
4. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and actively develop a personal development plan.
5. Participate in the development program to move from a Band 5 to a Band 6 (see appendix 1) It is expected that you should take between 12-18 months to complete this development programme.
6. Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote the aims of the wheelchair assessment centre and to ensure a consistent approach is maintained e.g. delivery of Accredited Wheelchair Prescribers course. Patient groups will include individuals who may have a barrier to understanding e.g. learning difficulties, psychological difficulties, and cognitive impairment.
7. To demonstrate the ability to initiate, plan and implement the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.
8. To take responsibility for the supervision and written assessment of OT students on practice placement within the wheelchair assessment centre. In line with their own competency development, the post holder will take on the role of practice educator.
9. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and by participating in staff appraisal scheme.
10. To participate in peer supervision in both informal and informal settings.

Organisational

The post holder will:

1. Undertake mandatory training as required.
2. Participate in own annual Personal Development Review.
3. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
4. Follow all Trust policies, local procedures, and use discretion in interpreting them according to the setting and circumstances.
5. Contribute to clinical audit as required.
6. Complete the staff survey as required.
7. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• Appropriate professional qualification in either Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy

Desirable

• Further post-qualifying studies such as research activities and/or publications

Registration

Essential

• HCPC registered

Desirable

• Other Post graduate Registration

Skills, Abilities, Knowledge

Essential

• Previous experience of Seating/ Wheelchair assessments, Ideally in NHS Wheelchair service.

Desirable

• Experience of service development

skills, abilities, knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of current NHS agenda

Desirable

• IT skills

Skills, Abilities, Knowledge

Essential

• Previous experience of speciality such as amputee, stroke, Neuro, Paeds, LD

Skills, abilities, Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to manage pressures of work and to prioritise workload
• Awareness of current NHS agenda

Personal Attributes/ behaviours

Essential

• Sound problem solving skills.
• Team Player
• Demonstrates flexible approach to working
• Able to make own travel arrangements as necessary for the demands of the role.
• Demonstrate positive attitude and openness

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Norwich Community Hospital

Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3TU

Employer's website

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