Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic and dynamic Occupational Therapist looking for a new opportunity? Come and work for us in a modern, purpose-built unit within the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside!

The Discharge to Assess (D2A) Team has recently merged with our Bed Based teams across our 3 Community Hospitals. This is a hybrid role working as part of the D2A team but embedded within the team at Danesbury Neurological Centre.  You would be joining a supportive team of qualified therapists and therapy support workers to provide senior clinical leadership to deliver quality care to our D2A patients within care homes as well as the inpatients at Danesbury Neurological Centre.

You will be based at Danesbury in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. However, when providing the D2A service, the post holder will be required to travel between care homes within East & North Hertfordshire including, Stevenage, Hatfield & Broxbourne.

Danesbury is a modern in-patient Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, with a large gym and specialist rehabilitation facilities and equipment. We offer 6 weeks of goal orientated rehabilitation to those who have experienced an acute stroke, brain injury or other neurological condition.

For a full-time member of staff, 3-4 days will be spent with the Danesbury inpatient team and 1-2 days will be spent delivering the D2A service.

Main duties of the job

• To provide specialised assessment and treatment packages of high quality for patients with complex conditions including neurology and frailty.
• To provide expert advice, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, carers and relatives and other non- professionals.
• To contribute to the training, development and supervision of junior staff, rehabilitation assistants and students.
• To take a lead in the rehabilitation and discharge planning of patients as part of the "lead therapist" role. This involves the chairing of patient/ family meetings and making onward referrals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis.

To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service, working without direct supervision.  Supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences and reflective practice.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical practice and work.

To be responsible for providing advanced occupational therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with stroke and other complex neurological conditions.

To assess and manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.

Represent D2A/ occupational therapy service and/or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate occupational therapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of individualised patient care and treatment packages, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning from the D2A service or bed bases.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment used within the role. This will include walking aids, manual handling equipment, exercise equipment, electrotherapy equipment, splinting and orthotic devices and other patient appliances and aids. Check all equipment prior to use and report any faults to the relevant authority.

To be responsible for organising and planning your own caseload to meet service and patient priorities.

To be adaptable and readjust plans as situations change/ arise.