Senior Occupational Therapist

Job summary

Looking for an exciting new challenge? We have opportunitiesfor Band 6 posts within our medicine team at Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

Our medicine team prides itself on being forward thinkingand always providing the best care. We are passionate aboutstaff development, in the past 12 months our B6s have been given opportunity to partake in task and finish groups to develop: Trustdocumentation, including initial assessment documentation; Moving and Handling summary documentation ensuring effective transition ofcare with partner Trusts; contribute to rapid improvement workshops tomodernise referral and triage processes and bespoketeaching programme supported by our Practice & Education Lead, giving our B6 OTs opportunity to work with and be supported by Senior Leaders to develop services they work in. Our ClinicalPractice Strategy for OT ensures opportunity forall staff to be included in the development of their service alongside existing B6 Role Development and Novice to Expert programmes.

Additionally, we arecurrently undertaking an AHP integration project within the Integrated CareSystem (ICS) aimed at streamlining and enhancing the roles of Allied HealthProfessionals across urgent and community care pathways. As this initiativeprogresses, it has the potential to significantly reshape the structure anddelivery of AHP services within WAHT. In the spirit of transparency, we want toensure all applicants are aware of this ongoing project and its potentialimpact.

Main duties of the job

The post is suited to experienced Band 5s or existing Band 6s with a variedclinical portfolio including management of a variety of conditions, assessmentof cognition, moving & handling skills, complex discharge planning, andawareness of the Mental Capacity Act and its impact on decision making. The Medicine OTs provide support to Respiratory, Gastro,Oncology, Cardiology and General Medical wards. Successful candidates willhave opportunity to transition through all areas of the serviceensuring a wide and varied clinical experience.

The idealcandidate will be looking to enhance and modernise their practice to supportthe increasing acuity and complexity of our patients and develop their ownskills in assessment and management of patients withvarying medical needs.

There is opportunity to develop into the SeniorTherapist In Charge (STIC) role which is integral to the triaging andallocating of patients to the wider Medicine team and offers leadership anddevelopment opportunities.

You will bepart of a dynamic and supportive OT team consisting of StrategicClinical Lead OT, Clinical Specialist OTs, Senior OTs,Rotational OTs, OT Assistant Practitioners and OTassistants. There is a requirement for cross site working and as suchyou must be able to meet the travel requirements of the post.

This post supportsBank Holiday working and includes 7 day working which may be an expectation inthe future. For furtherinformation, contact Natalie Morris on

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

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

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

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients Best use of resources Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

To hold an active caseload within inpatients medicine based at the Worcestershire royal Hospital, Worcester.

This will include assessment and treatment of inpatients and providing guidance on assessment and treatment for less experienced staff.

To provide advice/mentorship/supervision for band 5 Occupational Therapists and assistants and students carrying an acute caseload, with emphasis on but not exclusive to, medicine and surgery.

To take an active role within the referral system across OT within medicine and surgery, assisting to prioritise and allocate the caseload to effect timely assessment and discharge.

To be actively involved in both direct and indirect supervision and teaching of junior staff.

To ensure that the Occupational Therapy service to patients trust wide maintains high professional standards, using evidence based assessment whenever possible.

To liaise regularly with other agencies/professions as shown under key working relationships.

To attend and contribute to relevant meetings both clinical and managerial, providing accurate verbal or written reporting as appropriate.

To ensure all equipment or written documentation is provided in a timely manner to facilitate patient safety.

To carry out assessment and treatment programmes for patients this may include the administration and interpretation of standardised assessments.

To ensure that all documentation and data regarding patient care is completed in accordance with local and Royal College of Occupational Therapy standards.

To be able to safely and effectively undertake the manual handling aspects of the role. This will include loading/unloading and transportation and fitting of equipment. This will include lifting items up/down, pushing, pulling, stooping and bending. The use, handling and safety of hand tools will also be required.

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the level/expertise of the post to ensure the smooth running of the Occupational Therapy service, this will include the treatment of patients on the wards, within the department or within the patients home environment.

To be involved, as required, in the education of colleagues and students. To be a Practice Educator and train Occupational Therapy students regularly.

To ensure your professional/clinical knowledge is kept updated and attend appropriate training, demonstrating continued professional development and competency and encourage evidence based practice where appropriate.

To participate in projects or audit, via the Occupational Therapy Clinical Governance group as required.

To apply national guidelines to the clinical setting.

To take an active role in the maintenance of professional standards and the provision of a quality service using resources responsibly.

To work in liaison with the Occupational Therapy manager, Clinical Strategic Lead OT, Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialists to implement any agreed changes to service provision.

To be actively involved in the recruitment of staffing within Occupational Therapy across the Trust as required.

To ensure safe working practice by adherence to Trust wide policies and procedures.

To comply with the Health and Care Professions Council registration requirements and maintain active HCPC registration, and work to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Standards of Professional Practice.

To be able to travel and work countywide in support of the Occupational Therapy Service including a 7 day service and service provision on Bank Holidays and working flexibly around core service hours.

Person Specification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Ability to clinically analyse and act appropriately on professional and ethical issues. Ability to assess and form a treatment plan appropriate to the acute setting for patients with medical or surgical conditions. Ability to prioritise caseload effectively to enhance patient care and hospital flow.

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy HCPC Registered Evidence of post graduate training in areas related to medicine or surgery. Active HCPC registration

Desirable

Practice educator Institute of leadership and Management Level 3 Masters Module(s)

Experience

Essential

Evidence of varied experience within acute NHS hospital based medicine. Experience of the administration and interpretation of commonly used standardised cognitive assessments. Experience of a range of manual handling assessment and evidence of provision of low to high level manual handling equipment Experience of early intervention and acute rehabilitation Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team. Experience of working with patients on fast track discharge. Experience of supporting junior members of staff and students

Desirable

Experience of working at the hospital front door and/or admission prevention. Experience of implementing MCA and conducting/or supporting Best Interest Meetings

Personal Qualities

Essential

Flexible attitude to routine and non-routine tasks Ability and experience of guiding the practice of others Ability to demonstrate evidence of team working and being a positive influence within the team Evidence of ability to provide proactive supervision. Good interpersonal skills across all grades Evidence of ability to provide a learning experience for other staff / students Evidence of willingness to learn and utilise new skills.

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