Team Lead, Occupational Therapist – Oncology

Job summary

Thank you for your interest in this exciting role as team lead therapist in our Oncology and Haematology service. We are seeking an occupational therapist who is passionate about delivering high quality evidence-based intervention in acute hospital cancer services.

The post holder will also lead our team providing rehabilitation services to this speciality area. In line with best practice guidance and emerging research, we intend to build on existing expertise to provide high quality, specialist therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation to a greater proportion of those in need.

If you are interested in this role and feel you meet the criteria, please take the time to contact me to discuss it further or arrange a visit using the contact details in the advert. Full time hours are available however we would welcome applications for part-time working.

Main duties of the job

To provide high quality, safe and effective therapy services to oncology and haematology patients being treated on the in-patient wards at the Churchill Hospital, including those with highly complex presentations, as part of a cohesive multi-professional team. To work collaboratively with patients and their carers to effectively assess, goal plan and treat patients following admission to hospital and strive to maximise their independence and quality of life. Use expert knowledge and skills to contribute to strategic planning and development of the Therapy Service in the management of people with cancer. To supervise and teach recently registered professionals, support workers, therapy students and members of the MDT Supervise, initiate and participate in evidence-based projects and is responsible for implementing changes within the Cancer and Surgery Rehabilitation teams, and the setting and monitoring standards of practice. To take an active part in the team's extended hours and seven-day working roster to maximise the access and delivery of patient rehabilitation- as and when this is included in the service provision. Deputise for service lead, implement workforce strategy and support recruitment.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world-renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. We became a Foundation Trust on 1st October 2015, and we believe this will enable us to work more effectively in partnership with our patients and our local community to provide high quality healthcare. We employ approximately 12,500 staff (including over 4,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors and 750 AHPs). The Trust comprises four main hospital sites: the John Radcliffe Hospital (which includes the Children's Hospital, West Wing, Eye Hospital, Heart Centre and Women's Centre), the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all located in Oxford, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, North Oxfordshire. These hospital sites, together, are supported by a range of community services across the county.

Therapies employ 300 staff across the professions of Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. We are hosted in the Division of Medicine, Rehabilitation and Cardiac services (MRC), but deploy our services across all divisions within the Trust. The Head of Therapies Office comprises senior management, leadership, governance, education and administrative functions supporting seven clinical work streams, all of which are based on clinical disciplines and expertise.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To undertake the role adhering to regulatory, professional and organisational standards of practice. To undertake assessment, therapeutic intervention and management of patients, including those with highly complex presentations, deploying sound clinical reasoning and skills within the scope of the role. To work with patients, their carers, and members of the MDT to form appropriate care and treatment plans utilising specialist treatment skills, knowledge of evidence-base and a variety of treatment options. To assimilate and analyse a range of information to form accurate therapy diagnoses, clinical problems and treatment plans in a wide range of highly complex conditions To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing and implementing comprehensive treatment and discharge plans To evaluate and reassess patients to progress their treatment and management plans effectively. To assess a patient's capacity to understand and to gain valid, informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent or refuse treatment. To advise and educate patient, carers, relatives, and other health professionals. To demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to communication non-English speaking patients; those with communication disorders, impaired speech, hearing, and ensure all members of the team do likewise. To liaise with and advise other physiotherapists, relevant medical staff, nursing staff, social workers and other health care professionals in clinical and operational matters. To communicate effectively with all other disciplines involved in the patient's care both in the Hospital and in the community thus ensuring a multidisciplinary approach and integrated service. To identify, assess and manage clinical risk within the teams work and engage with the governance structure of the department to minimise risk of harm. To participate in weekend, and emergency on-call duties as part of the departments seven day working and out of hours services, as required. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out therapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients

Management

To effectively supervise, teach and appraise junior staff, assistants, and students to maximise their capabilities. To be responsible for the daily operational leadership of the oncology & haematology team ensuring that the service is delivered against its specification and staff are supported in this endeavour. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance reporting of equipment used as part of the role and to ensure that all staff/students and assistants attain competency prior to use. To effectively plan, organise and manage your own time, patient caseload, meetings, training in accordance with operational and workforce pressures. To be able to respond to unpredictable demands on your time and frequent interruptions whilst maintaining professionalism. To assist in the planning of juniors, students and assistants timetables and deputise for the senior staff in organisational duties. To take an active role in assisting senior colleagues with service development in acute care, implementing care pathways and executing change.

Education

To complete all Statutory, mandatory and other necessary training requirements within the required timescales. To contribute to the education of the MDT, patients, families and carers to ensure optimal care and treatment. To maintain an accurate and contemporary record of personal and professional development. To oversee the design and delivery of an effective and clinically relevant training programme to support staff development. To attend and actively participate in departmental education and development activities. To maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in respiratory care.

Research and governance:

To lead and supervise clinical audit and quality improvement work aiming to improve the quality of the teams practice. To maintain clinically applied knowledge formed from contemporary science and evidence-based guidance and ensure this is integrated into the teams clinical delivery by way of policy and procedure. To lead the teams governance arrangements ensuring that the team operates on the basis of openness and a just culture. Represent the team at governance meetings held within the clinical group

General:

To carry out therapy assessments and treatments, with moderate physical effort involved, on a daily basis To comply with the Trusts Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidelines To work in an environment where the work patterns may be disrupted by frequent demands from patients, clinical staff, students and administrative support staff. To support qualified staff when indicated in the management of challenging patients. To sensitively deal with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care imparting news of poor prognoses such as chronic pain management or lifelong disability To deal with patients suffering from pain states that may lead to anxiety and aggressive behaviour To comply with all Trust policies and procedures and Health and Safety at Work Act, including adherence to Universal Precautions and Infection Control measures, and ensure that staff within the team are aware of their responsibilities. To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme as an appraiser and an appraisee.

To attend and be an active participant in departmental staff and peer group meetings

Person Specification

Evidence

Essential

Degree in occupational therapy or physiotherapy Health and care professions council registration Previous experience of effectively managing oncology and haematology patients Broad range of junior/band 6 experience across respiratory, orthopaedics, outpatients, gerontology and neurology specialties. Experience of working as part of a therapy team and multidisciplinary team. Advanced clinical knowledge and skill in oncology and haematology conditions

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