Proportionate Care

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

University Hospital Southampton is excited to be able to offer an amazing opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our therapy services department as Proportionate Care (Single Handed Care) Project Lead. This post will work alongside the Therapy Management team in promoting the single handed care agenda, develop a safe and robust discharge pathway from UHS to home and engage in further transformation work along inpatient pathways.

This is a key role in the therapies patient flow programme and is a great opportunity for someone looking to challenge themselves in an innovative post, whilst also utilising their highly specialised clinical skills in acute working and complex discharge planning. As part of this role you will lead discussions with key stakeholders to ensure the SHC pathway is safe and sustainable.

You will also lead on developing strong links with community providers, including development of joint training packages, and risk management strategies.

You will work as part of a combined therapy services team delivering patient care across a 7-day service, including weekends and bank holidays, on a roster basis.

This post is part of the wider Therapy services department. You will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 290wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Lead a small team (Band 6 OT, Band 5 Therapy Tech, Band 4 Therapy Technician) in reviewing high intensity packages of care with the view to reducing care needs upon discharge,
- Collecting robust data to demonstrate success and sustainability of the proportionate care ethos.
- Analyse collected data, to contribute to building evidence of this new approach to manual handling on discharge from acute wards. You will review data at key points and produce reports for senior trust managers, to demonstrate successful implementation, value for money and sustainability.
- Represent UHS at regional single handed care working groups, and work collaboratively with external organisations to ensure safe discharge pathways are available.
- Lead the UHS pathway development on single handed care, working alongside colleagues across Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW) to produce a shared vision for the pathway, always considering and facilitating positive patient experience and outcomes.
- Provide highly specialised OT clinical advice both within the Trust and externally, considering sustainability by engaging less experienced staff in training opportunities and empowering them in positive risk management.
- Consider patient experience, whilst developing the discharge pathway, and collect evidence of patient experience to demonstrate the success of the project.
- Be responsible for the management, education, and development of your team, as well as other students, OT apprentices, therapy students, and other staff across the Trust and the HIOW ICS.
- Work as an integral member of the therapy management team, leading a key therapies flow project in line with Trust strategic aims.
- As and OT, you will be expected to support the development of OT careers, from OT students and apprentices through to qualified staff. This will include working closely with therapy staff across a wide range of clinical areas, with divisional management teams, care group managers and matrons.
- Provide the OT clinical expertise to support staff working with highly complex caseloads and support the review of all high intensity packages of care to streamline discharge carer support.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- A highly skilled Occupational Therapist, with experience in managing large complex projects, from st