Occupational Therapist- Therapy Falls Service Pilot

Job overview

• This is a 12 month pilot of the initiative of the Central Bedfordshire Therapy Falls Service, working alongside the Central Bedfordshire Local Authority Reablement Service.
• The post holder will be accountable to the Senior Physiotherapist within the Therapy Falls Service, providing support to clients for a variety of therapeutic and clinical interventions centrered around falls and frailty. This may include clients with diverse presentation, physical and psychological conditions.
• To work as part of a multi professional service, within the community setting and teams, working with clients towards rehabilitation through taking an active role in the assessment, planning, implementation and individualised therapeutic interventions.
• To assess, demonstrate and provide appropriate adaptive equipment to meet specific client needs and facilitate safety in their chosen environment.
• To hold responsibility for own caseload and work as an autonomous professional according to the Health and Care Professionals Council regulations.
• To develop good communication links with clients, carers and joint working with other services across professional and organisational boundaries in order to provide a client-centred, holistic and seamless service.
• To work a variety of shift patterns including weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis
• Undertake lone working in the community.

Main duties of the job

• To support the Central Bedfordshire Population with the prevention of unnecessary falls as well as the reduction of hospital admissions.
• To provide therapeutic assessments, interventions, advise, support and education to reduce the risk of falls/prevention of further falls by increasing the individual's physical health, knowledge and  understanding of their condition or symptoms.
• To promote self management and independence.
• To signpost onto appropriate services.
• To attend Consultant led and multi-disciplinary meeting.
• To support with the set up of and facilitation of a weekly 12 week Strength and Balance class.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To involve clients and carers in the planning of their care program and to encourage self-management of health where appropriate.
• To ensure all clients and their relatives cultural wishes are respected and their specific mental and physical needs are met.
• To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote the understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure a constant approach to patient care.
• To hold own caseload of clients referred. Taking responsibility for accepting and discharging these patients, undertaking all aspects of clinical duties required within the pathway as an autonomous practitioner.
• To support falls training within the local Care Homes.