Specialist Frailty Occupational Therapist

Job overview

To work as a specialist Frailty Occupational Therapist within the CHFT Acute Frailty service. This is a rapidly developing service with the aim of providing a comprehensive geriatric assessment to frail patients presenting to the acute areas of CHFT.

This is a challenging and exciting post working within an evolving integrated multidisciplinary team.

You will be required to assess frail patients across CHFT this will include  the new emergency department, medical assessment unit, and Frailty Same Day Emergency Care unit (FSDEC). You will utilise your core occupational therapy skills to support the complex needs of frail patients.

Working within a multi-disciplinary team to provide holistic assessment meeting the needs of our patients with a strong focus on the home first approach.

You will get the opportunities to expand your knowledge with skill sharing competencies alongside your occupational therapy skills to formulate individual treatment plans.

The Acute Frailty Team has growing opportunities for development with positive encouragement for individuals to be involved in service development.

Our service operates 7 days per week including weekends and bank holidays.

Main duties of the job

• Candidates must have previous NHS experience either as an undergraduate or postgraduate
• To act as specialist clinician for the Acute Frailty Service within the Acute Medicine directorate.
• Work autonomously within Trust policies and professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.
• To manage own specialist caseload, demonstrating excellent skills in effective prioritisation in fast paced environment.
• Provide and develop the core components of the specialist therapy role including clinical practice, management and education.
• Act as a clinical role model ensuring best practice in all assessments.
• To support the Team Leader in the day to day running of the Acute Frailty service.
• To support and advise in the wider MDT,  on the delivery of excellent care of the frail patient.
• To participate in the assessment, planning, implementation of individualised treatment plans for frail older adults.
• To recognise the changes in patients’ conditions which require the intervention.
• To advocate for patients following holistic assessment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To effectively identify patients living with frailty.
• To identify and provide specialist therapy input to patients living with frailty.
• Complete Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment on patients presenting to CHFT. This must involve a truly holistic approach to assessments including aspects which may not traditionally fall in a therapist’s role.
• To assess, plan and implement specialist therapy interventions, ensuring that each patient has a coherent and comprehensive management plan. These plans will be developed with the patient and relatives/carer according to their needs and include referral to other disciplines and services, observing the principles of holistic care.
• Promotes and provide effective communication with other professionals, patients, carers and with other care settings.
• To maintain accurate, appropriate and concise patient records, involving documentation on electronic patient management systems.
• To promote and provide relevant and clear information, education and advice for patients, carers and families, according to their needs.
• Act as the patient’s advocate, supporting and promoting their involvement in decision making.
• To provide specialist advice and information to professional colleagues, patients, carers and the public.
• To take an active role in risk assessment, supporting implementation of strategies to minimise risk; ensuring incidents and near misses are reported, through promoting a no blame culture.
• To establish and maintain effective communication, both verbal and written.
• To be aware of team members’ skills / competency and be able to delegate tasks and skill share appropriately.
• Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model, providing leadership, guidance and advice to staff on operational and professional issues.
• Attend and participate in clinical meetings as required including providing feedback and disseminating information as appropriate
• To effectively manage a rapidly changing and complex caseload, demonstrating highly skilled prioritisation and autonomy.
• To act within the Acute frailty service as a specialist resource providing advice for colleagues within the MDT.
• To work collaboratively with health and social care community and acute colleagues
• To ensure effective care pathways and transfers of care.
• To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken. 
• To work across a 7day service, working a variable shift pattern including weekends and bank holidays. .