Occupational Therapist Respiratory and Critical Care

Job overview

Are you looking for a new challenge to develop your skills and knowledge? Interested in Respiratory and Critical Care?

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with a passion for respiratory care to come and join our dynamic Respiratory and Critical Care Team here at NGH for a 12 months to cover maternity leave.  We are looking to recruit a hardworking, motivated and dedicated B6 OT into our Respiratory Team where you will be supported and encouraged to develop your knowledge and skills. You will have the opportunity to rotate through our Respiratory Ward, Head and Neck Ward, Level 1 Respiratory Support Unit and get the opportunity to work on Critical Care.

You will work within our joint therapy team as a valued member of the MDT to drive change, deliver excellent patient care and innovative practice. We are doing lots of work to develop our rehab pathway for patients with a high acuity both on our Respiratory & Critical Care wards. This role has a varied caseload with a perfect balance between fast paced assessments for discharge and rehab with our long stay respiratory/critical care patients with multifactorial rehabilitation needs. There will be plenty of opportunity for service development and to demonstrate leadership skills.

You will be supported in this role by a dedicated group of senior colleagues.

Main duties of the job

• To perform more advanced and detailed assessments of patients presenting with a wide range of complex conditions and comorbidities; providing a diagnosis, plan and goals to develop, and to deliver an individualised treatment programme to our patients on Critical Care and the respiratory wards.
• Be able to interpret clinical observations and provide supportive treatments of critical care/ respiratory patients and have an understanding of the implications of therapy interventions
• Provide care to clinically unwell patients and post operative patients
• To provide more advanced Occupational Therapy assessments and treatments for trauma patients, often with diverse, complex or multiple pathologies and presentations.
• To assess patients with cognitive impairments using appropriate screening tools and assessments. This will include supporting the wider MDT in the delivery of treatment plans.
• To work closely with MDT colleagues to provide joint therapies assessments and treatment plans enabling efficient use of Therapies Team resources. (This includes Physiotherapists, Technical Instructors, Speech/Language Therapists / Dieticians)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

• Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide safe patient care and participate in maintenance and training

Supporting Clinical and Patient Excellence

• To work autonomously within the clinical respiratory team to provide excellent Occupational therapy care to a diverse client group
• To increase and expand knowledge base and experience, clinically and non-clinically in Respiratory conditions and surgeries.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation/multiple pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition including cognitive and neurological assessments.
• Formulate and deliver a complete specialised Occupational Therapy programme based on sound knowledge of evidence-based practise and treatment options
• Ensure that all patients have a documented problem list and goals that the patient has been involved in creating
• Work to identified guidelines and eligibility criteria relating to the provision of home adaptations, equipment and wheelchairs to ensure equity of service to all patients
• Carry out assessments within patient’s homes as appropriate within departmental guidelines
• To represent the Therapy service and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team meetings.  This will include discussion of patient care, progress and involvement in discharge planning
• Support junior members of staff to develop the skills required affectively attend and contribute to MDT meetings and board rounds
• Use clinical reasoning to balance risk, safety, patient choice and eligibility for services
• Communicate effectively with patients, their families, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, Therapy colleagues and other agencies
• Advise patients and carers, through demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patient’s functional ability, safety and independence
• Liaise with health and social care professionals and other related statutory, private and voluntary organisations, providing verbal and written reports and referrals where appropriate, in accordance with data protection principles
• Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
• Lead on appropriate service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions
• Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within the Therapy Service to improve effectiveness and efficiency
• Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
• Submit accurate timesheets within set department timescales for additional hours worked
• In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy service both within the specific clinical areas and across all service areas
• Comply with departmental guidelines for the safe use, care and maintenance of equipment and stock
• Delegate work tasks appropriately to junior Therapy staff and Administrative Support staff
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to colleagues, relatives and carers when appropriate to promote understanding of the aims of therapy
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements
• Provide formal clinical reports for the multi-disciplinary team as required
• Collect, record and submit accurate clinical and personal statistical data in line with departmental requirements and guidelines
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills to ensure fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist, in line with HCPC standards
• When required, take the lead in delivering of Inservice training
• Regularly attend and participate in Therapy service staff meetings
• Identify own learning and development needs which will contribute to the production of a Personal Development Plan
• Build an ongoing Continuing Professional Development portfolio, reflecting on and recording learning outcomes of development opportunities
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current Occupational Therapy research and apply this to practice in conjunction with the Therapy team
• Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate
• Comply with the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Health Professional Council Standards of Conduct, Performance & Ethics, national and Trust policy, protocols and guidelines
• Advanced skills in discharge planning and carrying out access/home visits
• Have a detailed knowledge and assessment of complex equipment needs for clients in hospital and in the Community setting.
• To be able to competently assess for wheelchair users including amputee clients.

People / Management Excellence

• To deputise for band 7 as necessary to ensure smooth running of service. Work alongside team leader to co-ordinate annual leave cover
• To be involved in band 5 and support workers training appraisals and reviews
• To develop and demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects
• To support the probation process for new starters
• To conduct return to work sickness absence meetings in line with Trust policy in the absence of a Band 7

Supporting Financial Excellence

• To make best use of NHS resources

Professional Responsibilities, Quality Assurance and Monitoring

• To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives (Knowledge and Skills Framework based RCOT guidelines, HCPC standards and code of conduct and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and policies
• Complete all work necessary to maintain registration and encourage others to do so
• Monitor own and others’ quality and standard of practice by appraisal and review
• Maintain and monitor standards on health and safety, consent, note keeping, clinical governance, continuous professional development on both a personal, professional and departmental level
• Responsible for planning and managing own caseload on a day to day basis to meet service and patient priorities, including responding to urgent emails and referrals, prioritising clinical work and balancing other patient-related and professional activities in accordance with professional standards.
• Undertakes all necessary verbal and written communication required for patient care and within the scope of professional standards and Trust requirements.
• Responsible to the Respiratory band 7 Leads, and supervises and appraises members of staff and students as allocated.
• Responsible for acquiring clinical and professional skills and support, seeking supervision from supervisor when required.
• Complies with the service’s clinical procedures and protocols.

Policy and Service Development, Research and Development Responsibilities

• To use information such as Clinical governance, NICE, and other clinical specific guidelines and evidence of best practice to assist in producing working guidelines, competencies and objectives to develop the service
• Clear understanding of SSNAP guidelines and support with management of this data.