Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Senior Occupational Therapist - Band  6

The Intensive Support Team is a multi-disciplinary team at the forefront of Community Learning Disability service delivery and is a progressive and dynamic service.  Appropriate support will be provided to ensure that we are supporting people who have a learning disability and whose behaviour may challenge, to remain in the community and avoid an inappropriate hospital admission.

The OT's are an integral part of the team Carry out comprehensive specialist assessments for clients with complex presentations, including behaviours that challenge, sensory integration, engagement, Interpret clinical and non-clinical information, using clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans. Such clients may be in their own home, community, in hospital or attending clinics or other out-patient setting.

Main duties of the job

The senior OT will

Carry out comprehensive specialist assessments for clients with complex presentations, including behaviours that challenge, sensory integration, engagement, Interpret clinical and non-clinical information, using clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans. Such clients may be in their own home, community, in hospital or attending clinics or other out-patient setting.

provide specialist advice to other professionals and carers or single assessments to meet clients’ holistic care needs

Formulate and deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge, evidence-based practise, national and local guidelines using profession-specific clinical skills and techniques. (e.g. 1:1 interventions, group activities, carer education, patient education).

Use highly developed skills when assessing and treating clients (e.g. deployment of effective communication strategies, sensory integration therapeutic use of self and moving and handling equipment)

Negotiate with clients and carers to identify and formulate client-centred goals and demonstrate ongoing evaluation of client progress using agreed outcome measures.

Contribute to the clinical discharge planning process and onward referral as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including caseload management and direct clinical care. To work within the professional bodies code of conducts and scope of practise and within legal frameworks. Obtain and record informed consent from clients’ at each contact in accordance with Trust policy
• Carry out comprehensive specialist assessments for clients with complex presentations, including behaviours that challenge, in line with the Transforming Care for people with Learning Disabilities national agenda. Interpret clinical and non-clinical information, using clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans.  Such clients may be in their own home, community, in hospital or attending clinics or other out-patient setting.
• To provide specialist advice to other professionals and carers or single assessments to meet clients’ holistic care needs
• Formulate and deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge, evidence-based practise, national and local guidelines using profession-specific clinical skills and techniques. (e.g. 1:1 interventions,  group activities, carer education, patient education).
• Use highly developed skills when assessing and treating clients (e.g. deployment of effective communication strategies, therapeutic use of self and moving and handling equipment)
• Negotiate with clients and carers to identify and formulate client-centred goals and demonstrate ongoing evaluation of client progress using agreed outcome measures.
• Contribute to the clinical discharge planning process and onward referral as required.
• Carry out assessment of referrals to the Intensive Support Team, working in conjunction with other professions.
• Prioritise urgent or unexpected or planned referrals, adjusting caseloads and allocations to meet revised needs.
• Assess and record competency of less experienced staff, colleagues from other professions, unqualified staff, students, and carers to carry out any delegated tasks.
• Identify and manage clinical and other risks.  Record near misses and actual events through the incident reporting process.
• Develop own and others skills, knowledge, expertise, ensuring continuous professional development by various methods (e.g. in-service training, workshops, shadowing, 1:1, training courses, peer facilitation) when relevant and appropriate to the needs of the service and funding.
• Actively contribute to the staff appraisal process as an appraisee and appraiser as appropriate
• Undertake measurement, evaluation and audit of the service to improve quality, standards and contribute to the evidence base.  Promptly act on feedback from clients to improve their experience.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic and if required, paper records, of activity and contacts to support contractual requirements
• Undertake other duties when requested by professional or operational managers.