Occupational Therapist

Job summary

hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapist with diverse clinical skills to join our dynamic North Therapy Team. Based at Southway Clinic, we provide a patient-focused multi-disciplinary approach to supporting discharge from hospital, maximising independence and preventing admission.

The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, competent in a wide range of clinical areas including musculoskeletal, neurology, respiratory, orthopaedics and elder rehabilitation. They will demonstrate flexible problem-solving skills, working alone or with colleagues from the integrated multi-disciplinary team (physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, adult social care, nursing and support staff).

"Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility"

Main duties of the job

To work flexibly within MDTs enabling provision of a quality OT service within various settings and services including: community inpatient, outpatient, group work, intermediate care, rehabilitation and other health and social care services provided within the Community Therapy service model.

To be responsible for the functional assessment and treatment of people with predominantly physical health issues including those with a chronic presentation, using evidence based / patient centred principles to assess, plan implement and evaluate interventions.

To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within a designated area/team.

To regularly supervise OT students on practice placement.

To provide leadership for support staff through supervision and appraisal and facilitate them to achieve their competencies and personal development plans.

The post holder works flexibly to cover 7 day working as required.

To work flexibly as the service requires to cover across the community areas provided by Livewell Southwest in times of sickness, annual leave and training.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Prioritise the day to day management of own caseload, delegating activities as appropriate

Ensure the person is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of the OT process.

To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients including those with complex presentation using treatment techniques to promote normal movement, motor relearning, cognitive therapy, compensatory techniques and daily living skills.

To use a selection of both standardised and non-standardised assessments to assist and aid diagnosis of cognitive, sensory, perceptual, behavioural, physical, psychosocial and social functioning to make clinical interpretations resulting from assessments of your own caseload and that of your team.

To assess, prescribe and authorise aids and adaptive equipment from the core catalogue, complete special orders and make recommendations for minor adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.

To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited referring on to the wheelchair services as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.

To assess for splinting and positioning to prevent, treat and manage deformity and improve function for the upper limb, referring on to senior colleagues and/or hand therapy teams as appropriate

Plan and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, peoples carers and family in accordance with consent given.

To record and report regularly on peoples progress and treatment to the multi-disciplinary team or in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas including the original referrer.

To plan, organise and lead both formal and informal treatments and health education groups for both people and carers.

Education of people and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient safety and independence in the home, leisure and workplace. To impart sensitive information and advice to people and carers which could have life changing consequences.

To provide an opportunity for people and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances.

To facilitate return of people currently in residential or nursing care who wish to return home after a period of stay in a care setting.

Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care in the community.

Refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at the end of episode of care.

To be responsible for the timely discharge of people from your caseload.

To provide written communication to outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge from the service.

Actively contribute to service development.

To provide cover for staff who are absent.

To be responsible for utilising the goal planning process and the outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the person.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods with people, who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood or lack insight.

To maintain competence in the use of complex manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescription of manual handling equipment for use in the community setting, demonstrating the use to carers as necessary.

To ensure use of risk assessment in all areas of your work are undertaken and comply with the Trust's Health and Safety policies and Lone Working Policy.

To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those patients presenting with multi pathology

To use outcome measures specific to the work area, to evidence the benefits of Occupational Therapy interventions.

To have a working knowledge of the Care Act 2014 including the well-being principle, prevention and the eligibility criteria.

To be competent in the assessment of major and minor housing adaptation, including the application for disabled facilities grants and appropriate housing legislation.

To carry out assessment and compile supporting evidence to enable change in individuals housing arrangements ( Devon Home Choice).

To be competent to identify the need for an enabling package of support and set goals to promote independence.

To understand and comply with the safeguarding process and understand how and when alerts are required. To contribute to safeguarding investigations with support of other colleagues.

To assess the need for short term Intermediate Care placements where required

Carry out baseline medical investigations temperature, respirations and blood pressure checks to assist with medical diagnoses and identification of most appropriate treatment pathway.

To actively participate in MDT functions and the support individuals with decision making around the application of the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and adhering to the principles of Best Interest legislation.

Organisational

To maintain an up to date record of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times in line with Professional and Livewell SW policies and procedures. To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the service.

To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the service.

To be responsible for collecting and reporting statistical data in line with Livewell SW policies and procedures.

Professional

To take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply increasingly complex skills / knowledge

To attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings

To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of professional and clinical supervision in line with Livewell SW policies and procedures

To participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units / disciplines / schools / colleges and training schemes as agreed with Team Lead. This includes providing regular fieldwork education for student OTs

To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area

To comply with the College of OTs, HCPC Standards of Practice, code of conduct and Occupational Therapy policies and procedure

To undertake the supervision and appraisal of support staff and provide informal support to colleagues as requested by demonstrating the ability to reflect on professional and ethical issues

To contribute to Livewell SW clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda

To apply professional, local and national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care provision

To adhere to Livewell SW policies and procedures including Health and Safety at work

To ensure that mandatory training is kept up to date

To ensure that essential skills for clinical area of practice are kept up to date through attendance on regular update training ( complex manual handling)

To respect the individual values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs

To apply professional, local and national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care provision

Please see full job description in supporting documents.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma / degree in Occupational Therapy HCPC Registration The post holder will need to travel and attend to service users based across Plymouth and other geographical areas. Full and valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes is required. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for the successful applicant.

Desirable

Accredited Fieldwork Educator Membership of relevant special interest groups Basic Food Hygiene

Experience

Essential

Working as a member of an MDT with the ability to work flexibly OT treatment planning Documented evidence of CPD Home and community assessments Evidence of caseload management and discharge planning

Desirable

Risk assessment in different clinical settings Evidence of clinical practice in a physical health & social care setting 1-2 years post qualification experience in a health and social care setting

Knowledge

Essential

Application of OT process Knowledge of OT models of practice Understanding of OT outcome measures Ability to work with limited support and set own priorities Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information Computer literacy Working knowledge of health and social care legislation and its use in current practice Working knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application to practice Ability to work flexibly Ability to work under pressure Application of health and safety and risk management policies. Knowledge of a range of standardised/non-standardised assessment Knowledge of varied intervention media Clinical conditions relevant to OT area of practice Skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation Excellent communication skills Excellent time management skills Innovative Willingness to work flexibly and to work across range of community and inpatient settings Ability to travel and attend to service users based across Plymouth South Hams & West Devon. Full and valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes is required. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for the successful applicant.

Desirable

Wheelchair Accreditation Knowledge and use of manual handling techniques. Knowledge of major adaptations and management through the DFG process. Experience of in-service training and education Applying research to practice Knowledge of NSFs Professional and Government agenda Environmental Control Systems

---