Community Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for a experienced Occupational Therapist to join our established and friendly Norwich Community Therapy team, based at Norwich Community Hospital.

If you have a positive “can do” attitude that reflect the Trust values of compassion, creativity and community, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

The role requires a flexible individual who is able to work independently to ensure the delivery of a quality service.

You will work with the Community Therapy teams based across Norwich Place and carry a varied caseload including neurology, falls, orthopaedic, long-term conditions, palliative care and also supporting with triage.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility To assess and prescribe care packages for patients with long term conditions, the frail & elderly, palliative care and rehabilitation needs for example, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.

• To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital.
• To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
• To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

Responsibilities Clinical The post holder will: 1. Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and formulate a graded treatment plan. 2. Formulate and execute individualised occupational therapy treatment plans of patients including those with complex presentation, in collaboration with the integrated team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a wide range of treatment skills. 3. To provide assessment of functional ability and safety of patients in the community, to identify care, equipment, adaptation and therapy needs. 4. Assess & plan treatment including teaching patients to utilise techniques & equipment to maximise their functional ability. 5. Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required. 6. Assess patients’ holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. 7. To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation and treatment potential, and to aid motivation and understanding throughout the treatment process. 8. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance. 9. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patient’s cooperation in their treatment plan. 10. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately 11. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework. 12. Be responsible for ensuring workload for self and others is planned and prioritised according to service targets ands needs. 13. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis. 14. Plan and organise specialist services within the integrated team. 15. Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilising skills. 16. Order equipment and supplies via electronic ordering systems for use within the team. 17. Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this. 18. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions. 19. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

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.