Occupational Therapist - Elmhurst

Job overview

The specialist Occupational Therapist will work in Elmhurst - Discharge to assess unit based in Winsford. Elmhurst is a 30 bedded unit providing round the clock nursing support to adult patients who are in transition from hospital to community.   They will be working closely with the MDT and provide supervision to the less experienced therapy staff and assistants.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and flexible Occupational Therapist to join our friendly, supportive, dynamic team in Winsford Care Community/ Elmhurst.

To be responsible for providing Specialist assessment and treatment to patients with diverse health needs in discharge to assess unit. Promote safe and timely discharge of patient to their home after a period of therapy. Ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communications via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.

There is a varied caseload and you will need to demonstrate knowledge, experience and relevant clinical skills with patients with complex / long term conditions, falls, orthopaedics, general mobility problems and neurological conditions.

The successful candidate will work as a member of our integrated multidisciplinary team alongside District Nurses, Advance Nurse Practitioners, Complex Case Practitioners, MacMillan Nurses  and will be responsible for supervising junior members of staff and students.

There will be associated administrative duties and you will need to be computer literate with a good knowledge of Microsoft packages and have accurate keyboard skills. Our team utilises digital technology to support remote working and accommodate a flexible working approach where possible and is supported to do this with access to a laptop and mobile phone.

You are required to be a car driver and have access to your own vehicle.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

Health and care professionals working at the level of specialist should be able to:

• Manage a clinical caseload with autonomy, work without direct supervision
• Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment, provide a therapeutic diagnosis (using investigative and advanced analytical skills, specialist listening, physical and observational skills, interpret clinical findings and documentation) and implement agreed treatment plans if appropriate, including the treatment of complex service users with multiple pathologies in a manner that respects people’s privacy dignity and individuality
• Provide individual or group therapy as appropriate to setting
• Implement monitoring and evaluation of treatment in order to measure progress and outcomes to ensure effectiveness of interventions and service delivery
• Develop programmes of care to support discharge from service
• Be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice
• Record, maintain and store accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements. Communicate outcomes of assessments/intervention to appropriate disciplines in form of letters/reports/discharge summaries
• Arrange appointments (as applicable), work closely with MDT, attend case reviews/case conferences/variety of MDT internal and external meetings/forums
• Contribute to the safeguarding of our Service users/families as appropriate
• Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with service users including those service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment, within your organisation’s policies.
• Be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of Service users under your care
• Maintain professional registration with HCPC
• Work within organisation, HCPC and CSP guidelines
• Have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these
• Work as part of a team to ensure effective communication and delivery of care
• Provide and receive, with care and integrity, sensitive information about service users from the service user, carer and other professionals and to manage sensitive or contentious information appropriately
• Work in an empathic manner in partnership with service users, carers and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the service user communicates e.g. sign language. To alter approaches to a relevant level for the service user to be as actively involved in their own care.
• Communicate effectively with service users and carers/relatives to progress specific rehabilitation and treatment programme. Providing and receiving complex information using a range of verbal/non-verbal communication skills, persuading/influencing
• Use appropriate communication skills to overcome significant barriers to acceptance of sensitive information.