Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job overview

The Specialist Therapy Assessment Team (STAT) is a service with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists working in  transdisciplinary roles to provide a highly specialist 7 day Therapy Service to a complex caseload of patients in the Emergency Department and Acute Medical wards. Input consists of transdisciplinary assessments and complex discharge planning / admission prevention as well as acute therapeutic intervention and commencement of rehabilitation early in the patient pathway.

The post holder, whether an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist would be responsible for leading, developing and supporting all therapy staff within the Emergency and Acute Medicine Service, leading on service improvements and relevant initiatives.

• To manage the a highly complex caseload within the Emergency Department including Emergency Medical Unit, Acute Frailty Unit and the Admissions ward using advanced clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection and analysis to support assessments using a client centred approach.
• To act as a specialist advisor to the Emergency and Acute Medicine Services regarding Occupational Therapy  and Physiotherapy services and roles.
• To lead a designated team of both Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, providing leadership for Specialist, senior and junior staff and Therapy Assistants through supervision and performance management.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible for providing the most complex individual and group client centred assessments to STAT and Acute Medicine patients, managing complex cases by addressing functional impairments and occupational performance skills, patterns, context or contexts and activity demands in collaboration with patients and carers and extended scope competencies including Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments with appropriate training provided.
• To have expert knowledge in the physical and mental health conditions that commonly result in A&E attendance and emergency admissions to hospital.
• To have specific in-depth knowledge and expertise in cognitive and perceptual assessment and intervention, including around mental capacity and appropriate management of these patients.
• To lead and manage Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Staff within STAT, providing effective guidance, supervision and performance management including the education and management of students on practice placements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To manage the a highly complex caseload within the Emergency Department including Emergency Medical Unit, Acute Frailty Unit and the Admissions ward using advanced clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection and analysis to support assessments using a client centred approach.
• To act as a specialist advisor to the Emergency and Acute Medicine Services regarding Occupational Therapy  and Physiotherapy services and roles.
• To contribute to the Trust’s, Directorates and Teams Clinical Governance and Quality assurance programmes, setting and monitoring practice standards, jointly developing guidelines and protocols with the Therapy Service and in liaison with interdisciplinary colleagues.
• To inform the Therapy Service of changes in clinical practice which may influence service delivery, business planning and strategic reviews to support the delivery of the annual Therapy plan, meeting agreed objectives.
• To articulate and work to the value base and principles which underpin Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy practice representing the unique role of STAT in relation to interdisciplinary working.
• To use effective interpersonal skills to communicate complex and frequently unwelcome news regarding prognosis where agreement and co-operation is required and where there are barriers to understanding such as vulnerable and at risk patients.
• Utilise formal and informal reporting mechanisms including electronic reporting to ensure effective communication internally and externally and across health and social care.
• Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details about this role