Job responsibilities
Responsibility for Patient/Service User Care
1. To provide Occupational Therapy Services to Service Users with complex care needsincluding individuals with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, taking intoaccount the whole person in the context of their community, family, lifestyle andenvironment.
2. To undertake and document advanced comprehensive and holistic assessment ofService Users functional abilities and rehabilitation needs, using evidence basedOccupational Therapy models and assessment tools; This includes detailedassessment of a Service Users physical, cognitive, perceptual, psychological and socialabilities and physical, social and cultural environment.
3. To apply specialist knowledge of the impact of impairment/pathology to achievemaximum function for the Service User.
4. Assess a Service Users understanding of proposed rehabilitation and seek validinformed consent from Service Users before commencing treatment. Work within alegal framework for Service Users who lack the capacity to provide informed consentto assessment and treatment.
5. To develop and deliver individual and group specialised programmes of treatmentbased on assessment findings, goal setting, evidenced based practice, advancedtheoretical knowledge, treatment options and clinical reasoning.
6. Establish a therapeutic relationship with Service Users using advanced empathy,motivational, problem solving and counselling skills.
7. To empower Service Users to realise and maintain their potential in relation to healthand well-being.
8. To assess adults for both complex and non-complex housing modifications and adviseand/or assist with the process of obtaining them either by private funding, applicationfor funding from the Social Security Department or through charitable agencies.
9. To complete initial risk assessment and continually evaluate risk throughoutrehabilitation in relation to all aspects of safety in regard to self, Service Users andcolleagues.
10. Provide Occupational Therapy services which are consistent with College ofOccupational Therapy and Health and Social Care standards of practice, as well asworking within clinical governance and national guidelines e.g. NICE.
11. To assess adults for both complex and non-complex assistive equipment and adviseand/or assist with the process of obtaining it either by private funding, application forfunding from the Social Security Department or through charitable agencies
Communication
1. To build and advocate a therapeutic relationship with patients/service users andtheir support network, communicating with them in a way that respects their views,language, cultural differences and cognitive function.
2. To use and promote a wide range of communication skills that can be adapted to meetthe needs of complex and challenging situations.
3. To manage conflict between individuals including staff, patients/service users andtheir support network.
4. To establish and promote effective working relations with all members of the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies, clearly relaying condition related informationin a timely and effective manner.
5. Communicates to patients/service users and support networks compassionately, ina confidential and sensitive professional manner.
6. To provide clear, concise, and accurate electronic and paper records of the care givenin accordance with agreed policy and standards.
Leadership
1. To act as a professional role model for staff, advocating for patients and service usersand promoting high standards of practice and strong professional values.
2. To assist with the investigation of complaints and clinical incidents related to ownclinical area, ensuring that learning is shared with own team and wider HSC.
3. Provide clinical and professional supervision as appropriate, encouraging criticalthinking, reflection and analysis. To document and review the supervision session,agreed actions and discussion points.
4. To provide formal and informal training and supervision and assist in the performancemanagement of junior staff
5. To promote own and team success and excellent standards of care by reflecting,challenging others constructively, upholding HSCs CARE Values.
6. To ensure team members are aware of organisational objectives, policies andprocedures and implications that they have for their practice.
7. To advocate on behalf of patients and service users.
8. To take accountability and reflect on own decisions and actions using availablesupport networks.
Planning and Organisation
1. To organise own workload and that of others, demonstrating the ability to recognise changing priorities and adjusting plans accordingly.
2. To lead, coordinate and delegate activities to colleagues where applicable withinagreed systems of working, considering required skill mix and staffing levels, inaccordance with patient/service user need.
Policy and Service Development
1. To contribute to service developments and propose changes to policies andprocedures, ensuring that new initiatives are incorporated into working practices ofstaff.
2. To work with Occupational Therapy Lead to develop service specifications andeligibility criteria for the speciality.
3. To assess the changing complex health and wellbeing needs of Service Users, takinginto account the whole person in the context of their community, family, lifestyle andenvironment
4. To support the senior management team to initiate and implement improvementsusing a systematic approach using KPIs and clinical incidents.
5. To ensure that staff members are working with the scope of relevant policies,procedures and guidelines.
Partnership Working
1. To demonstrate an understanding of and apply the principles of the CARE Values.
2. To actively work and promote collaborative working as part of a multi-disciplinaryteam with a range of professionals from other service areas who may be participatingin the care of a patient/service user.
3. To encourage effective team working, communicating with others in a constructiveway, which enables colleagues to make suggestions for the improvement of caredelivery.
4. Through effective negotiation and organisational and political awareness, create anenvironment for partnership working and dissemination of information across multidisciplinary teams.
5. To be actively involved in professional clinical groups.
Responsibility for Physical and Financial Resources
1. To ensure that public funds are used responsibly and appropriately.
2. To ensure the safe and responsible use of equipment. Provide adequateplans/instruction where appropriate to Service Users and carers on the use oftherapeutic equipment e.g. manual handling equipment (hoists), splinting materials(thermoplastics) and aids and adaptations to promote independence
3. To ensure all staff handle valuables in accordance with agreed policies andprocedures.
Professional Development
1. To take responsibility for maintaining own professional development requirements, ensuringcompletion of training in accordance with the Statutory, Mandatory andEssential to Role Training Policy.
2. To continually develop new knowledge and skills, applying this to practice and sharingwith colleagues as appropriate.
3. To participate in and develop plans for the induction, orientation and development ofnew staff, agency workers, students and any voluntary workers.
4. To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding the treatment and management of Service Users withinthe speciality.
5. Actively participate in regular monthly structured supervision (professional, clinicaland operational) with line manager using critical thinking, reflection and analysis. Todocument and review the supervision session, agreed action points and discussion points
