Bank Occupational Therapist (Acute In Patients)

Job overview

Bank Band 6 Occupational Therapist (Acute in-patient)

We are looking for Bank Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to support our ED & Acute Medicine Therapy Team and Acute Frailty Service. The role will require working across both hospital sites over a 7 day week. This will involve supporting the multi-disciplinary team across our Emergency Department, Acute Medical assessment areas and Acute Frailty Unit, providing early and proactive assessment and interventions to prevent admission to hospital, facilitate early discharge and contribute to the comprehensive geriatric assessment. The role will require some commitment to weekend and shift work.

Whether you are a new Band 6 looking for a new challenge, or a Band 5 considering the next steps in your career, this is an ideal opportunity. Even if you feel you are not quite ready, we would look to support you and develop you to being a confident band 6 therapist. You will ideally have a broad range of clinical experience at Band 5 level or equivalent junior level.

Please note, this role is currently based at West Middlesex University Hospital with cross-site working expected at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to support the service needs. Within Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we have vacancies across both Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital. Depending on service needs, you may be offered a role at either site, with cross-site support working expected.

Main duties of the job

Job Summary

The post holder will be based with the inpatient respiratory medicine team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital covering inpatient medical and surgical wards across the hospital.

The post holder will develop advanced assessment and intervention skills, support multi-disciplinary working, provide leadership to the therapy team and clinical areas, and supervise junior members of staff and student.

The post holder will be involved in service development, audit and research activities, and teaching and education.

The post holder will actively participate in the weekend rotas. The post holder will be required to work a minimum of one weekend shift in every four weekends. Some teams are now also providing extended hours working that will include evening working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To carry out appropriate assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills for clients with multiple/complex needs
• To work with clients to identify and agree treatment goals based on assessment outcomes, which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, client choice, independence, areas of conflict and eligibility for services
• To use communication, reasoning and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship in complex cases, managing basic barriers to communication
• To plan and implement individual/group interventions using graded activities to address therapeutic goals and optimise clients’ functional independence
• To address all areas of risk associated with individual client’s ability to function independently and minimise the effects of disability within their chosen environment, including planning and carrying out home assessments and discharge to assess visits and being responsible for the clients health and safety during this assessment
• To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions in order to measure client progress and treatment effectiveness
• To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effects of disability to own caseload management and to inform others practice
• To supervise the caseload management of Band 5 OT plus supervise day to day activity of therapy assistants and students as designated
• To represent the OT Department within the multi-disciplinary team and participate in relevant team/network meetings and ward rounds to contribute to the discussion and planning of client care. To use these forums to seek opinion from the team to inform own caseload analysis and reasoning as appropriate
• To liaise with families/carers and statutory and voluntary agencies to contribute to the discussion and planning of client care and seeking opinion from others to inform own caseload analysis and reasoning as appropriate
• To assess for, facilitate provision and education in use of equipment for independence with authorisation rights of equipment spend up to £500 per client
• To ensure that all documentation and activity recording is maintained according to Trust and College of Occupational Therapists Guidelines
• To comply with College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and all other relevant national and local policies and procedures
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues and provide guidance to junior staff as necessary
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to provision of a service sensitive to these needs
• To progress the client intervention to a satisfactory closure as MDT member. This may include evaluating outcomes, setting up reviews and/or arranging appropriate transfer of care as appropriate
• To provide moving and handling advice for other therapy team members as required
• To participate in the 7 day rota of flexible working within the designated therapy team.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• To review and reflect on practice and identify areas for self-development through participation in the annual appraisal system and regular clinical and professional supervision.
• To plan, actively participate in and contribute to the in-service education programme.
• To undertake supervision and appraisals of junior staff as delegated by a senior member of staff.
• To regularly take responsibility for the supervision and education of OT students on clinical placement within the Trust.
• To demonstrate a basic level of leadership skills through management of designated projects.
• To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD, recording learning outcomes and reflections through daily practice, internal and external development opportunities.
• To attend post-graduate lectures and courses to enable achievement of appraisal objectives and to share this knowledge with peers on return.
• To plan and implement induction and education programmes for new staff, OT students and work experience students.
• To attend and actively participate in the OT Clinical Governance Group and other relevant meetings.
• To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply to practice and disseminate findings to local colleagues.
• To deputise for the Band 7 OT in their absence.

ORGANISATIONAL DUTIES:

• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To broaden research and development skills through participation in the planning, evaluation and audit/research of practice, clinical pathways and protocols.
• To participate in the planning and delivery of the service business and clinical governance plans and delivery of the Trust business and clinical governance plans.
• To demonstrate an understanding and application of national guidelines and health legislation (e.g. National Clinical Guidelines, NSFs).
• Undertake any other relevant duties as required by the Band 7 Occupational Therapist, Clinical Services Manager.

This job involves regular exposure to unpleasant working conditions eg body fluids including urine, faeces and sputum and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

This job involves regular weekend working.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.