Occupational Therapist

Job summary

An excitingopportunity has arisen for motivated Occupational Therapists in Adult SocialCare at Swindon Borough Council.

Youwill use your effective analytical and communication skills to undertakeoccupational therapy practice whether this be by telephone, remotely orface-to-face, building your professional expertise in minor and majoradaptations, compensatory techniques, equipment provision, moving and handlingassessments, and housing needs assessments, with the aim of supporting ourclients to live as independently as possible in the community.

Part of your community-based role requires you to carry out lone homevisits within Swindon to clients homes, supported living homes, residentialcare settings and nursing homes. It is crucial that you have the ability todemonstrate initiative and work autonomously and you will need the ability towork flexibly under pressure to both self-determined and prescribed deadlines.

Werequire an Occupational Therapist who has robust clinical grounding and can beinnovative and creative in the way that they work, thinking divergently toprovide holistic and strength based solutions. A great team player, you will beadaptable in your working role and will participate where appropriate inprojects related to new ways of working across the teams.

Main duties of the job

To assess the occupational and functional needs of people withdisabilities in their own home and take appropriate action to enable, influenceand motivate them to live as independently as possible in the community, withdue regard to statutory requirements, departmental policy, quality of life,good professional practice and budgetary factors.

To provide support for appropriateOccupational Therapy and Social Care colleagues.

To screen incoming referrals toOccupational Therapy. Offering specialist advice, issuing equipment and minoradaptations remotely, demonstrating and using good knowledge of the field andrelevant services available in Swindon. To prioritise cases to place onappropriate waiting lists.

To uphold standards of practice forOccupational Therapists as defined by the Health and Care Professions Council(HCPC) and in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists(RCOT).

About us

As a team we provide support to vulnerable adults who may have a variety of physical or sensory impairments, learning disability or mental health conditions. Whilst also considering the needs of carers within a community setting.

As an employee, you willreceive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouragingcreativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoingpersonal development and a flexible work life balance.

You will be part of a busy, supportive multi-skilled team of Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Hearing and Vision practitioners, Social Workers and Assistant Care Managers.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage a variedcaseload, using person centred practice principles to assess,implement and review Occupational Therapy intervention whilst managing time and resourceseffectively within complex and changing systems.

To undertake Mental Capacity Assessments (MCA) and Best Interestdecisions in line with the MCA (2005) principles.

Promote, develop and model high quality occupational therapypractice including working within statutory responsibilities, evidence basedpractice and comply with professional standards required by the Health and CareProfessions Council.

With support, ability to manage and resolve complex and high-risksituations using negotiations and diplomacy, involving individuals, theirfamilies, or staff groups. Where these fail pass to senior members of staff.

Undertake moving and handling risk assessments, using yourexpertise to record the recommendations in a format appropriate to the personsand/or carers needs. Monitoring and evaluating risk and sharing informationwith the relevant parties including demonstration of recommended techniques.

To be competent in moving and positioning assessments and havegood knowledge of seating solutions to enable the person to maintain theirindependence and safety at home.

Support formal and informal carers, including providing trainingon moving and handling equipment to provide them with invaluable skills. Understandingand reacting appropriately to avoid carer breakdown.

Assess for and recommend minor and major adaptations in accordancewith the Care Act and Housing legislation and guidance to enable accessibleenvironments for disabled adults.

To contribute to local knowledge (within the team and the service)about universally available services, specialist equipment and adaptations toimprove knowledge within the team.

Fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal throughself-evaluation, ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.

Work in collaborativepartnerships with colleagues from the council, health and other stakeholders within the voluntary andcommunity sector which promote well-being, social inclusion and resilience.

Implement practices that promoteparticipation, inclusivity and the rights of people who access occupationaltherapy services, their families and their carers in line with their choices,and support others to do so. Demonstrate a continuing commitment to anti-discriminatory andoppressive practice.

Operate within defined budgets for social care with some authorisationcapabilities within a fixed and agreed monetary range.

Participate in meetings of internal / external partners and otheragencies, Best Interest decisions, Case conferences, Discussions onAdaptations, Team meetings etc.

Promote safeguarding within the team in line with Swindon policyand procedures for safeguarding adults. Perform Investigating Officer roleincluding Section 42 (Care Act) enquiries, as required, usually in complex and / or multiagency working situations as appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

See role profile for details

Desirable

See Role profile for details

Qualifications

Essential

Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy (Degree or Diploma). Registered with the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.

Desirable

See role Profile

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