Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work, including the management of people under the post holders care.

2. To manage and prioritise clinical work in relation to own caseload with support from the Senior Occupational Therapist.

3. To undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills deficits, enabling the individual in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

4. Use both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, to undertake the assessment with individuals whose presentation is complicated by factors associated with learning difficulty (e.g. sensory processing difficulties, challenging behaviours, mental health issues, and physical disability).

5. To work with people who use the service to identify Occupational Therapy goals as part of the overall care plan.

6. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the individual, using occupation where possible to achieve therapeutic goals.

7. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention of individual in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

8. To support clients to access generic health services and other community facilities as appropriate.

9. To achieve an effective intervention the post-holder will, where appropriate, support the paid and unpaid carers within an individual support network.

10. To provide planned and spontaneous training, teaching, advice and support, to family carers, support workers and other professionals, to promote the understanding of Occupational Therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to meet the needs of the individuals.

11. To work in collaboration with other members of the individuals support network in a complex multi-disciplinary, multi-agency environment.

12. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework where people lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

13. To attend and participate in client-centred meetings, taking formal minutes as necessary.

14. To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to department and Trust manual handling policies, and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others.

15. To demonstrate an ability or willingness to learn to communicate with people with learning disabilities using alternative technologies as appropriate.

16. To demonstrate effective communication skills with carers, team members and people from other agencies.

17. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with professional and trust standards and provide specialist Occupational Therapy reports relevant to practice setting.

Professional

18. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of clinical and professional supervision and appraisal.

19. To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

20. To produce, in conjunction with supervisor, an annual personal development plan.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oDegree / Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• oHCPC registration

Communication

Essential

• oAble to communicate effectively in written and verbal English language.

Experience

Essential

• oEvidence of continuing professional development
• oExperience of working with vulnerable clients

Desirable

• oPrevious experience of working with people with learning disabilities and their carers
• oPost registration experience in a relevant clinical setting e.g. community MDT working
• oAdvice and support to students and support staff
• oRelevant paid or voluntary work

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• oDemonstration of an understanding of humans as occupational beings
• oUnderstand the principles of the Occupational Therapy process with people with learning disabilities
• oKnowledge of application of standardised occupational therapy assessments
• oAbility to plan interventions in a collaborative way
• oAbility to analyse professional and ethical issues
• oAbility to manage own workload and determine priorities
• oGood IT skills
• oKnowledge of manual handling legislation and risk assessment
• oBasic knowledge of specialist equipment

Desirable

• oKnowledge of mental health legislation and risk management in relation to current practice
• oTo have basic knowledge of sensory processing
• oKnowledge of breakaway/de-escalation techniques
• oExperience of LAS or System 1 or equivalent IT

Personal and People Development

Essential

• oAbility to reflect on and critically appraise others and own performance.
• oAbility to motivate self and others.

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

• oAble to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults.

Other

Essential

• oCurrent UK driving licence and able to make own travelling arrangements
• oCommitment to lifelong learning
• oCommitment to client centre, non-discriminatory practice
• oAbility to work in domestic environments with low levels of hygiene and potential exposure to leas, lice and body fluids

Desirable

• oMembership of Professional Body.
• oAn understanding of hazards associated with lone working in the community

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

South Norfolk Community Learning Disabilities Team

Attleborough Community Hub, Station Road

Attleborough

NR17 2AT

Employer's website

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