Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to work within Intermediate Care Services in the delivery of Occupational Therapy interventions that will promote real improvements in patient safety, patient experience and clinical effectiveness.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in working in the community setting and develop an exciting career within Intermediate Care in Walsall.

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who has a keen interest in developing a career in a community setting. The successful candidate will support the need for an efficient, proactive service in order to support patients who require rehabilitation following discharge from hospital, or support with hospital avoidance.

We are a multi disciplinary team working closely with our social care colleagues. We provide opportunity for professional development and are proud to have won Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust AHP Team of the Year in 2024.

Please note this advert will close early should a high number of applications be received.

Main duties of the job

To provide an accomplished and high quality Occupational Therapy service for patients within the clinical speciality of Intermediate Care Services (ICS). This involves working with patients on various ICS pathways, supporting hospital discharges, preventing hospital admission and providing rehabilitation in patient’s homes. ICS is an integrated health and social care model, therefore, you will be working with a variety of health and social care professionals. To perform Occupational Therapy assessment of patients with a variety of presentations, and to provide delivery of individualised treatment programmes to maximise their quality of life.

To be responsible for a defined patient caseload, working at times without direct supervision. Supervision takes the form of advice and support from senior clinicians within the service, training, review of cases and peer review. To undertake, with guidance, all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

Participation in weekend working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

To obtain consent as outlined in Royal College of Occupational Therapy and Trust policies.

To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise.

To undertake a proficient assessment of patients, including those with diverse and complex presentations by using clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques.

To formulate and deliver an individual Occupational Therapy treatment programme based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills, knowledge and skills of treatment techniques, e.g. patient education and other alternative options.

To be assigned a defined area of responsibility. To be responsible for providing Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients within this remit.

To formulate realistic goals and participate in discharge planning as appropriate within the multi-disciplinary team.

To effectively communicate with patients, family/carers who may have barriers to understanding or communicating, e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, or who do not have English as their first language.

To evaluate patient progress, reassess and change treatment programmes if required.

To be responsible for maintaining accurate, confidential and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with the COT Standards of Practice, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and to follow Trust documentation policies.

To actively participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings. This may include discussion of patient care, patient progress, ongoing management and involvement in discharge planning as appropriate.

To ensure that your own practice meets the level of competency required by professional standards of Occupational Therapy practice.

To discuss with mentor / supervisor during regular supervision the organising and planning of own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise and where appropriate delegate tasks to appropriate Therapy staff.