Senior Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job summary

We are excited to advertise a Static Band 6 OccupationalTherapy role within our Stroke, Neurological and Complex Care Services.

The role is part time, with hours ideally worked over 4 or 5 days and the expectation of contribution to the 7 day Acute Stroke Service.

We are looking for someone with experience within Strokeand/or Neurological Occupational Therapy who is passionate about providing highquality intervention to service users whilst developing and supporting thewider service, applying consistent and reliable underlying knowledge and skill.

The applicant should be confident withpatient interaction and development of considered, goal oriented interventionsin all settings. In addition, the successful candidate is required to support aspects of teaching, supervision and peoplemanagement. Within the role there is scope for the development of enhanced skills inassessment and management of cognitive impairment, specialist handling,posture management and splinting.

The current role involves rotation between 3 areas:

7 day Stroke Service, assessing and treating patients post stroke in order to facilitate optimal recovery andtimely progress through the stroke pathway.

Contribution to the outpatient neurological OccupationalTherapy service providing input topatients with neurological conditions.

Complex care services providing assessment and treatmentto patients admitted with complex neurological or medical presentations includinginput with patients on Intensive Care.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be required to work across all three Trust Sites.

They will provide skilled therapeutic input to patients on their caseload working collaboratively with the Integrated Therapy Team and wider MDT. They will support assessment and provision of routine and more specialist equipment to optimise functional ability and facilitate effective discharge.

Therapy input is provided with a Home First approach, facilitating referrals to appropriate support services to enable discharge home wherever possible or to inpatient rehabilitation settings when this is not achievable.

There is the expectation that the successful applicant will be able to drive to support completion of access and home visits when required including for provision of equipment.

Within the Integrated Therapy Team there will be involvement with line management where appropriate - providing supervision, teaching and wellbeing support.

The role will be involved in facilitation of wider team management and development through supporting the band 7 Team Leads with day to day caseload and staffing issues as well as service and quality improvement projects.

The successful candidate will be supported by a robust team structure and existing high level of skill and expertise across the team. They will be encouraged to continue their development through varied learning and CPD opportunities.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a largeacute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acuteservices to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to alarger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services fromthree sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and ourcaring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centredcare. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people towork with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin oureveryday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewiseaccreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible workingwithin our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring aDBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Working Relationships:

Therapists across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Medicaland nursing staff, other health care professionals and members of the MDT,support staff, community care co-ordinators, discharge co-ordinators, patients,carers, relatives, students and university staff.

Risk Assessment:

This post involves frequent manual handling activitiese.g. hoisting, positioning, assisting sitting/standing, transferring, givingphysical support during walking practice/exercise and occasional pushing oflarge items of equipment.

There is a frequent requirement for moderate physicaleffort, including repetitive techniques e.g. manual chest techniques, passiveexercises, bed exercises and an occasional requirement for intensive physicaleffort for several short periods throughout the day.

Close contact with patients including the performance ofinvasive techniques such as Airway suction and Blood Gas sampling frequentlyexposes the post holder to bodily fluids e.g. sputum, urine, blood, vomit andfaeces.

There is frequent need for prolonged concentration whenassessing and treating highly complex patients and a need to act rapidly inpotentially life-threatening situations.

The work pattern is often unpredictable with frequentinterruptions/changes and managerial deadlines.

Often you may encounter emotionally distressingsituations, such as dealing with bad news, terminal illness, death andbereavement, where empathy and support for patients, carers and other teammembers will be needed.

Job Purpose:

Toprovide high-quality, patient centred care as an autonomous practitioner,managing complex and high risk caseloads through assessment, diagnosis,development and delivery of individual treatment plans, and effective dischargeplanning.

Takeownership for managing a specialist caseload, within a defined service area orfor a particular patient group.

Toprovide clinical leadership within a rotational area including the supervision,support, and education of unregistered staff, junior colleagues and students.

Activelycontribute in service development, departmental audits, quality improvement andpromote evidence-based practice.

Rotateacross various specialist areas in response to service needs, includingoutpatients, community settings, and acute specialist areas as appropriate.

Contributeto the delivery of a 7-day service on a rota basis, depending on the specialtyand rotation.

Toundertake on-call duties and/or weekend working, as appropriate to thespeciality. When performing on call duties, staff must be available on the wardwithin 45 minutes of the call.

Key Duties

Clinical:

To undertake comprehensive, specialist patient-centredclinical assessment, including complex risk analysis, of patients presentingwith a wide variety of physical, functional or cognitive presentations. Thismay include in hospital, patients homes or other community settings that youmust be able to travel to.

Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and decisionmaking using functional analysis, and corroborative goal setting to optimisepatient outcomes.

To utilise a broad and evolving evidence base of specialistknowledge to deliver and adapt a wide range of interventions such as mobilitytraining, equipment provision, environmental adaptations, exercise prescriptionand cognitive strategies.

To independently plan and implement and evaluatetreatment programmes adjusting interventions accordingly based on clinicalfindings and patient response.

To make onward referrals as appropriate and requiredfor the patient.

To maintain high quality, contemporaneous clinicalrecords in line with professional, legal and Trust standards.

To participate in the evening and weekend On CallService (individuals substantively employed by WAHT only), which includesadvanced respiratory techniques and non-invasive ventilatory aids. This may include the treatment of children.In line with professional requirements and service needs.

To work hours over 7 day working dependant onservice delivery model.

To take a proactive role in safeguarding,recognising, escalating and managing concernsin line with policy.

To embed the principles of Making Every ContactCount promoting health and well being and self-management.

Communications:

To communicate highly complex, sensitive orcontentious information effectively with patients, families and carers adaptingstyle and approach to individual needs.

To utilise advanced communication skills tomotivate, educate and empower patients supporting engagement in rehabilitationand long-term self-management.

To assess mental capacity, obtain valid consent andpractice within relevant legal and ethical frameworks, including best-interestdecision making where required.

To effectively manage and overcome communicationbarriers, including cognitive, sensory, emotional, and cultural factors.

To act as a key member of the MDT contributing tocase conferences, ward rounds, discharge planning and complex decision making.

To providespecialist advice and guidance to colleagues, patients, carers and otheragencies regarding patient management.

Education and Training:

To be appraised by the Senior Therapist within eachteam, taking a proactive role in setting, reviewing and achieving personal androtational specific objectives. Demonstrating progression in both clinical andleadership competencies across settings.

To actively engage and contributing to supervision,CPD and in-service training programmes and take responsibility for personallearning and development whilst supporting the wider learning needs of the MDT.

To maintain and apply advanced knowledge of currentclinical developments and evidence based practice, and contribute to thedissemination of best practice within the team.

To consistently complete all annual mandatorytraining and maintain competencies relevant to each clinical rotation,demonstrating flexibility and ability to rapidly acquire new skills requiredfor different service areas.

To provide leadership, support, guidance, trainingand formal supervision to band 5 staff, students and junior and unregisteredstaff as appropriate, acting as a role model within the team.

To lead and actively participate in audits, qualityimprovement and service evaluations, and implementation of changes to enhancepatient care and service delivery.

Organisation and Management:

To independently prioritise a complex patientworkload and providing oversight and support of the management of the workloadsfor both band 5s and assistants.

To regularly take responsibility for thecoordination of the team or service area in the absence of the team lead.

To demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of andadherence to National, Professional, Trust and Departmental policies and contributeto the review implementation and development of changes recommended within ownservice area following audit or research.

Ensure a safe working environment by adhering toTrust policies, processes and standards and support others to do the same.

To take a proactive leadership role to identify,challenge and address unsafe practice, or environments and report adverseincidents or near misses according to Trust policy.

Professional:

To maintain Health and Care Professions Council(HCPC) registration adhering to the Standards of Conduct, Performance andEthics.

To maintain own Continuing Professional Developmentin line with Clinical Governance and the HCPC Standards, actively seekingopportunities to develop advanced knowledge and skills relevant to rotationalpractice.

To be responsible for maintaining and developing ownclinical competence through self-directed learning and reflective practice,while contributing to a culture of learning by supporting and facilitating theprofessional development of others within the team.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Key Working Relationships:

Therapists across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Medicaland nursing staff, other health care professionals and members of the MDT,support staff, community care co-ordinators, discharge co-ordinators, patients,carers, relatives, students and university staff.

Risk Assessment:

This post involves frequent manual handling activitiese.g. hoisting, positioning, assisting sitting/standing, transferring, givingphysical support during walking practice/exercise and occasional pushing oflarge items of equipment.

There is a frequent requirement for moderate physicaleffort, including repetitive techniques e.g. manual chest techniques, passiveexercises, bed exercises and an occasional requirement for intensive physicaleffort for several short periods throughout the day.

Close contact with patients including the performance ofinvasive techniques such as Airway suction and Blood Gas sampling frequentlyexposes the post holder to bodily fluids e.g. sputum, urine, blood, vomit andfaeces.

There is frequent need for prolonged concentration whenassessing and treating highly complex patients and a need to act rapidly inpotentially life-threatening situations.

The work pattern is often unpredictable with frequentinterruptions/changes and managerial deadlines.

Often you may encounter emotionally distressingsituations, such as dealing with bad news, terminal illness, death andbereavement, where empathy and support for patients, carers and other teammembers will be needed.

Job Purpose:

Toprovide high-quality, patient centred care as an autonomous practitioner,managing complex and high risk caseloads through assessment, diagnosis,development and delivery of individual treatment plans, and effective dischargeplanning.

Takeownership for managing a specialist caseload, within a defined service area orfor a particular patient group.

Toprovide clinical leadership within a rotational area including the supervision,support, and education of unregistered staff, junior colleagues and students.

Activelycontribute in service development, departmental audits, quality improvement andpromote evidence-based practice.

Rotateacross various specialist areas in response to service needs, includingoutpatients, community settings, and acute specialist areas as appropriate.

Contributeto the delivery of a 7-day service on a rota basis, depending on the specialtyand rotation.

Toundertake on-call duties and/or weekend working, as appropriate to thespeciality. When performing on call duties, staff must be available on the wardwithin 45 minutes of the call.

Key Duties

Clinical:

To undertake comprehensive, specialist patient-centredclinical assessment, including complex risk analysis, of patients presentingwith a wide variety of physical, functional or cognitive presentations. Thismay include in hospital, patients homes or other community settings that youmust be able to travel to.

Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and decisionmaking using functional analysis, and corroborative goal setting to optimisepatient outcomes.

To utilise a broad and evolving evidence base of specialistknowledge to deliver and adapt a wide range of interventions such as mobilitytraining, equipment provision, environmental adaptations, exercise prescriptionand cognitive strategies.

To independently plan and implement and evaluatetreatment programmes adjusting interventions accordingly based on clinicalfindings and patient response.

To make onward referrals as appropriate and requiredfor the patient.

To maintain high quality, contemporaneous clinicalrecords in line with professional, legal and Trust standards.

To participate in the evening and weekend On CallService (individuals substantively employed by WAHT only), which includesadvanced respiratory techniques and non-invasive ventilatory aids. This may include the treatment of children.In line with professional requirements and service needs.

To work hours over 7 day working dependant onservice delivery model.

To take a proactive role in safeguarding,recognising, escalating and managing concernsin line with policy.

To embed the principles of Making Every ContactCount promoting health and well being and self-management.

Communications:

To communicate highly complex, sensitive orcontentious information effectively with patients, families and carers adaptingstyle and approach to individual needs.

To utilise advanced communication skills tomotivate, educate and empower patients supporting engagement in rehabilitationand long-term self-management.

To assess mental capacity, obtain valid consent andpractice within relevant legal and ethical frameworks, including best-interestdecision making where required.

To effectively manage and overcome communicationbarriers, including cognitive, sensory, emotional, and cultural factors.

To act as a key member of the MDT contributing tocase conferences, ward rounds, discharge planning and complex decision making.

To providespecialist advice and guidance to colleagues, patients, carers and otheragencies regarding patient management.

Education and Training:

To be appraised by the Senior Therapist within eachteam, taking a proactive role in setting, reviewing and achieving personal androtational specific objectives. Demonstrating progression in both clinical andleadership competencies across settings.

To actively engage and contributing to supervision,CPD and in-service training programmes and take responsibility for personallearning and development whilst supporting the wider learning needs of the MDT.

To maintain and apply advanced knowledge of currentclinical developments and evidence based practice, and contribute to thedissemination of best practice within the team.

To consistently complete all annual mandatorytraining and maintain competencies relevant to each clinical rotation,demonstrating flexibility and ability to rapidly acquire new skills requiredfor different service areas.

To provide leadership, support, guidance, trainingand formal supervision to band 5 staff, students and junior and unregisteredstaff as appropriate, acting as a role model within the team.

To lead and actively participate in audits, qualityimprovement and service evaluations, and implementation of changes to enhancepatient care and service delivery.

Organisation and Management:

To independently prioritise a complex patientworkload and providing oversight and support of the management of the workloadsfor both band 5s and assistants.

To regularly take responsibility for thecoordination of the team or service area in the absence of the team lead.

To demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of andadherence to National, Professional, Trust and Departmental policies and contributeto the review implementation and development of changes recommended within ownservice area following audit or research.

Ensure a safe working environment by adhering toTrust policies, processes and standards and support others to do the same.

To take a proactive leadership role to identify,challenge and address unsafe practice, or environments and report adverseincidents or near misses according to Trust policy.

Professional:

To maintain Health and Care Professions Council(HCPC) registration adhering to the Standards of Conduct, Performance andEthics.

To maintain own Continuing Professional Developmentin line with Clinical Governance and the HCPC Standards, actively seekingopportunities to develop advanced knowledge and skills relevant to rotationalpractice.

To be responsible for maintaining and developing ownclinical competence through self-directed learning and reflective practice,while contributing to a culture of learning by supporting and facilitating theprofessional development of others within the team.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 5 level or equivalent
• Experience in acute hospital settings
• Experience with discharge planning
• Evidence of participation in audit and research equipment/adaptations, or a broad range of relevant clinical areas
• Experience of delegation to unqualified staff and/or training other MDT members
• Application of the relevant therapy process, including functional assessment and activity analysis
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience in community settings

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to manage and prioritise competing demands on a complex caseload independently
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to lead a team in the absence of the team lead
• Ability to manage conflict, give constructive feedback, and support professional growth in others
• Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
• Commitment to lifelong learning and participation in rotation schemes
• Professional manner and presentation, with awareness of confidentiality
• Ability to build positive working relationships and work inclusively
• Confident, reliable, and flexible
• Able to maintain judgement and work under pressure
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to show initiative and act on feedback
• Approachable and supportive to others
• Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
• Able to maintain accurate and up-to-date records

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of post-registration CPD relevant to role

Desirable

• Membership with RCOT

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Ability to undertake manual handling and meet physical demands of the role
• Must hold full and valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle as this will be required for the role (Reasonable adjustments will be considered on request).
• Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days as required, including contribution to 7-day working and 24hr on-call service

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to critically appraise evidence and apply it to clinical practice
• Advanced clinical reasoning and decision- making in complex or high-risk cases
• Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
• Good knowledge of health legislation and current practice
• Demonstrates understanding and application of clinical governance, risk management and quality improvement
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of team dynamics and the role of therapy in different settings
• Ability to lead or contribute to audit, research, or service evaluation
• Teaching, leadership and presentation skills

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate IT skills including knowledge of Word/Excel and EPR (Electronic patient record)

Person Specification
Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 5 level or equivalent
• Experience in acute hospital settings
• Experience with discharge planning
• Evidence of participation in audit and research equipment/adaptations, or a broad range of relevant clinical areas
• Experience of delegation to unqualified staff and/or training other MDT members
• Application of the relevant therapy process, including functional assessment and activity analysis
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience in community settings

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to manage and prioritise competing demands on a complex caseload independently
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to lead a team in the absence of the team lead
• Ability to manage conflict, give constructive feedback, and support professional growth in others
• Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
• Commitment to lifelong learning and participation in rotation schemes
• Professional manner and presentation, with awareness of confidentiality
• Ability to build positive working relationships and work inclusively
• Confident, reliable, and flexible
• Able to maintain judgement and work under pressure
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to show initiative and act on feedback
• Approachable and supportive to others
• Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
• Able to maintain accurate and up-to-date records

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of post-registration CPD relevant to role

Desirable

• Membership with RCOT

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Ability to undertake manual handling and meet physical demands of the role
• Must hold full and valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle as this will be required for the role (Reasonable adjustments will be considered on request).
• Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days as required, including contribution to 7-day working and 24hr on-call service

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to critically appraise evidence and apply it to clinical practice
• Advanced clinical reasoning and decision- making in complex or high-risk cases
• Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
• Good knowledge of health legislation and current practice
• Demonstrates understanding and application of clinical governance, risk management and quality improvement
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of team dynamics and the role of therapy in different settings
• Ability to lead or contribute to audit, research, or service evaluation
• Teaching, leadership and presentation skills

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate IT skills including knowledge of Word/Excel and EPR (Electronic patient record)

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 .

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. .
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Additional information
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 .

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. .
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website