Therapy Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative and motivated individual to join the Therapies department as the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist within the Respiratory team at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. This is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave, 32 hours per week. Secondments will be considered.

We are looking to recruit a hardworking, motivated and dedicated individual with experience working on acute adult wards, specifically the respiratory and critical care setting, as well as an interest in further developing your skills in managing and supporting a team. You will work flexibly under continuously challenging conditions alongside 2 other Respiratory band 7 therapists to offer excellent patient care and drive service development in an ever-evolving respiratory team.

The post holder will work within our joint therapy team as a valued member of the MDT to drive change, deliver excellent patient care and innovative practice. The successful candidate should have an understanding of the Critical Care Rehab pathway and experience working with often complex, long critical care stay patients who have multifactorial rehabilitation needs. There will be plenty of opportunity for service development and to demonstrate leadership skills.

To perform a specialist Occupational Therapy role within the Directorate clinical specialty, for patients on this caseload, many with complex / highly complex needs.

To act as a role model for clinical, operational and professional leadership, setting and upholding agreed standards and processes to enable patients to receive high quality evidence-based care

To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of the Therapies service within the trust, holding responsibility for defined projects and activities and providing regular feedback to Therapy and clinical leads.

To provide regular education and supervision for Therapy staff and students. To lead on teaching and training healthcare colleagues on aspects of clinical care relating to Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy.

Provide effective input into the work of the Trust, to support the achievement of our vision and values

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Be the Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead for the Respiratory and Critical Care Therapy Team.

Manage a clinical caseload in this area including dealing with complex cases.

Work flexibly to provide cover to other clinical areas according to the needs of patients and demands of the service.

Provide clinical expertise and leadership to a large team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Support staff within the clinical area in the management of patients on the wards and in departments.

Lead on the annual appraisal of allocated staff, collating a training needs analysis for the Head of Therapies to inform the development of workforce and training plans.

Participate and assist in the continual learning of all staff so that personal development plans progress and succession planning is promoted reflecting the needs of the therapy services.

Be responsible for the identification and management of clinical performance issues within therapy staff in the clinical area.

Develop working guidelines, protocols and practices that enhance the patient experience in the clinical area in line with national and Trust policies in liaison with the Therapy leads,

Under the direction of the Head of Therapies, lead on the implementation of action plans from both national and local strategies, benchmarking standards and clinical audits.

Represent the therapy services at specialty and trust wide forums and provide feedback to therapy teams, leading on actions arising from them as appropriate.

Deputise for other therapy leads as required.

Additional duties may include:

Lead the therapy team within the directorate on a day-to-day basis, co-ordinating cover for absence, addressing minor operational issues and leading on the informal elements of human resource management

Work closely with the Head and Deputy of Therapies on the operational management of the budget, facilities and resources to provide a safe, high quality and cost-effective service

Lead on the recruitment of staff within the team with support and guidance from the Deputy Head of Therapies

Participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within the directorate, leading on delegated projects under the guidance of the Deputy Head of Therapies.

Ensure that all staff have access to and are made aware of the content of Trust policies, protocols and other documents taking appropriate action where compliance is breached

Be responsible for ensuring that all pre-registration and work experience students allocated to the team are adequately mentored and assessed and that the placement achieves and maintains the standard required

Provide a regular verbal report to the Deputy Head of Therapies regarding the management and performance of the team, escalating significant risks or incidents to the appropriate lead in a timely and effective manner

Provide regular opportunities for staff within the team to receive information and support and have a forum for discussion, debate and planning.

Provision of clinical services

Demonstrate and apply a high level of understanding of illness, injury and disability and the complex interaction between health, functional ability, psychological and social issues, as appropriate to Therapies within clinical area.

Identify, select, implement and evaluate the most appropriate intervention options which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, patient choice, independence, areas of conflict and eligibility for services, and provide such expert advice and support to junior colleagues. Act as an authorised signatory for adaptation and equipment requests as necessary.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers, members of the clinical team, Therapies colleagues and other agencies as a representative of the Therapy services or multi-disciplinary team at various meetings and forums as appropriate.

Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements

Apply and further develop specialist and complex knowledge and skills in order to ensure fitness to practice as a Therapist within the clinical area.

Improving patient and visitor experiences

Be a point of contact for patients and relatives

Lead on the development and sharing of patient and carer information

Implement methods of gathering and using patient feedback to improve and develop services.

Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Reflect on ethical issues which impact on the Therapies service provision and provide guidance to other staff as required.

Develop working guidelines, protocols and practices that enhance the patient experience in the clinical area in line with national and Trust policies in liaison with therapy leads.

Using audit, evaluation and research

Promote and lead on evidence-based practice and associated audit processes

Work with peers to ensure that all agreed action plans from both national and local strategies, benchmarking standards and clinical audits are achieved

Broaden research and development skills through participation in audit and research projects, initiating and taking the lead where appropriate.

Foster a culture which allows innovation and practice development

Management and Teamwork

Promote safe and effective communication channels within therapy and multi-professional teams both at NGH and with external agencies

Facilitate all therapy team staff in accessing clinical support and supervision

Keep Therapy leads informed of all the relevant issues affecting patient care e.g. risk, staffing levels, and skills and equipment needs, providing as required, information and reports

Participate in skill mix reviews based on patient dependency, case mix and activity data

Represent therapy services as required, deputising for the Head of Therapies and Deputy Head of Therapies as appropriate

In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy services, both within the clinical area and across all service areas, assisting senior Therapy colleagues in co-ordinating cover when required.

Promote an awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy within the trust negotiating priorities where appropriate.

Apply local and national guidelines and legislation relating to Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy provision within the clinical area and provide guidance to junior Therapy staff as appropriate.

Provide assurance to the Head of Therapies that all staff within the team achieve and maintain Trust and professional mandatory training and development required

Ensure that approved competencies are fully implemented taking appropriate action as necessary

Submit Therapy department claim forms and sign staff claim forms in a timely manner

Co-ordinate rotas, service cover, return to work interviews and informal performance management for the team under the direction of the Deputy Head of Therapies

Lead on the recruitment and selection of therapy staff as appropriate

Under the direction of the Head of Therapies, lead on the investigation of complaints and/or adverse incidents, ensuring lessons are learnt and action plans are agreed and implemented as relevant to clinical area.

Ensure all therapy team staff have a formal annual review of their progress, which enables the development of their personal professional development plan.

Monitor the use of resources within the team and work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of Therapies to achieve performance targets

Trust wide Responsibilities

Act as a resource for members of the multi-disciplinary teams across the trust through involvement in multi professional teaching and training in the area of expertise.

Act as a role model in customer service towards visitors to the hospital

Regularly attend and participate in and professional meetings, facilitating leadership of these meetings when required.