Occupational Therapist

Job overview

The Occupational Therapist will manage a defined caseload and will carry out OT assessments, treatment and evaluation of interventions to identify barriers to an individual’s level of functioning in important occupations and within relevant contexts. They will scaffold improvements in occupational performance, using graded treatment programmes, on individual or group work basis, to enable and rehabilitate functional participation in identified occupations, maximising independence within the individual’s living and community environments, including people and places.

By engaging in the professional OT supervision process with a senior Occupational Therapist, the post holder will participate in the delivery of an evidenced based Occupational Therapy service, providing occupation-focused intervention. This will involve collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, to support the workings of the wider team with information gathering, assessment, synthesis of assessment findings, provision of occupation-focused verbal and written feedback to the MDT, and third sector as necessary, in support of formulation, intervention and discharge planning.

Main duties of the job

• To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures.
• Actively listen to and seek views of others within MDT to facilitate sheared decision-making
• To be aware of diversity issues and contribute to discussion which will affect the planning of services to meet individual needs.
• To review and reflect on personal practice and performance through participation in established supervision and appraisal systems.
• To apply acquired skills and knowledge of professional practice in order to develop competence and fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist, facilitated through engagement in the professional clinical supervision process.
• To demonstrate ongoing professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities e.g. mentoring programme, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio and statutory training.
• To be aware of risk issues and contribute to the risk assessment and risk management planning for individuals.
• To demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social, care and their impact on service provision.
• Implement practices that promote participation, inclusivity and the rights of people who access OT services, their families and carers in line with their choices and support others to do so

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects for your own and delegated work.
• To work within codes of practice and professional guidelines.
• To undertake holistic assessment (including those with complex presentations and multi pathologies) making use of specialist clinical reasoning skills
• To use evidence-based practice, to ensure clinical care is effective and appropriate.
• To promote independence and wherever possible to avoid acute hospital admission and reduce inpatient length of stay to ensure those patients receive the appropriate care in the most appropriate setting.Organise and manage own time, delegating work appropriately.Conduct risk assessments and health and safety assessments and including immediately reporting any changes/newly identified risks.
• To demonstrate the importance of gaining patient and carer consent in all interventions.
• To effectively communicate verbally with patients, carers and colleagues using tact and persuasive skills. This may involve using skills where patients have difficulties in communication. E.g., hearing loss, diminished sight, depression, speech problems, cognitive impairment, behavioural problems, and pain.
• To actively manage positive relationships with other agencies involved in the patients’ pathwayActively involved in the development of the service/organisational aims and objectives and the new model of care.
• To work effectively within the structure and liaise appropriately with members of the MDT and other agencies by attending MDT meetings, case reviews, family meetings.
• To ensure that accurate and timely written records are kept which comply with the Trust policy and HCPC guidance, reporting on any issues as appropriate.
• To provide specialist advice to all members of the multi-disciplinary team, service users and appropriate others, of changes involving current care plans, patients progress and other relevant matters that pertain to the care of the patient.
• To work within Trust and COT guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards of practice in line with legal and operational requirements.
• To demonstrate a good understanding of Social Service and Health legislation.
• To support with day to day planning and delivery of a high quality care.

*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website