Rotational Occupational Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Camden Community Integrated Adult Service for a Band 6 Occupational Therapists to join our physical health community rotation.

This nine-monthly rotational post based within the diverse London Borough of Camden consists of five rotational posts consisting of inpatient rehabilitation – both multi-pathology wards and a Level 2 Neurology ward, community rehabilitation, Rapid Access Services and Reablement flats/supported transition. This post offers varied clinical experience and opportunities for development.

The post may soon expand to include the Whittington hospital. This is an exciting proposal which would offer experience in areas such as hand therapy, respiratory care and care of older adults.

We recognise the importance of cultivating clinical excellence and supporting career progression. You will receive excellent clinical and managerial supervision throughout your rotations.  You will have opportunities to supervise staff, educate and will have access to both internal/external training.

Main duties of the job

The inpatient rehabilitation posts are based at St Pancras Rehab Unit (SPRU) with one rotational post based on the multi-pathology wards and one on the Neurology wards – a Level 2 bed base.  The caseload offers a mix of complex rehabilitation and disability management. You will develop skills in key working and complex case management.  The reablement flats/supported transition post is linked to SPRU supporting seamless transfer of care and intensive rehabilitation immediately after discharge at home or at our reablement flats in Hampstead.

The community rehab post is based with East Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) and you will be working alongside physiotherapists, nurses and a range of AHPs providing home & community-based rehab programs with a strong emphasis on falls.

The Rapid Access Service is 7-day community extended hours service based at St Pancras Hospital comprising of three pathways (Rapid Response, Discharge to Assess and Virtual Ward) which work together alongside physiotherapists, highly skilled nurses and paramedics to prevent admission to hospital for acutely unwell patients or facilitate early discharge home using home first principles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Inpatient rehab - You will be part of a team where your proven ability to make high level clinical decisions will aid patient recovery. This will include having a direct link to the patient’s medical and therapy team for liaison and support where necessary and with the patient’s GP or other health care professional as required.  You will provide complex assessments and interventions and will make high impact clinical decisions. You will be work autonomously whilst drawing assistance from other colleagues in primary and secondary care.  You will promote, maintain and further develop a high quality, efficient and effective Neurological and Complex rehabilitation Physiotherapy Service, within a multi-disciplinary context and in accordance with the philosophy and operational policies for the Unit and Organisation

Rapid Access Services – working 7 days, sometimes up to 10pm, you will provide high impact therapeutic interventions for patients in a physical crisis point – either at immediate risk of admission to hospital on out Urgent Community Response pathway or immediately after discharge on either our Discharge to Assess or Virtual Ward pathways.  You will work closely with our nurses, paramedics, doctors, pharmacists and social workers to ensure patient remain at home, as safely as possible, often responding within two hours of referral including to patients who have fallen and needs supporting back to standing.

East INT – You will provide at home rehabilitation and complex case management to patients living within the boundaries of the East Neighbourhood in Camden working alongside the GPs, District Nurses, Complex Care Nurses, social workers and others.  There are also opportunities to be involved in community group work, local GP practice-based MDT meetings and developing integrated working with other community partners in our new Neighbourhood model – one of the first to go live in England following the Fuller Stocktake report.

Reablement flats/supported transition – the Reablement service is a Camden social work led pathway where the Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist provide in-reach therapy to support service users to work on reablement goals and support with discharge planning.  The team also service supports Camden patients who are at St Pancras Rehabilitation Unit and ready to leave the hospital setting but would benefit from daily (Mon-Fri) therapy and NHS Carelink support work intensity within the first week returning home. The therapists provide input for discharge planning and working on community-based goals within the first 5 days of returning home.

Your exceptional caseload management and communication skills will enable you to prioritise patient care. You will also work closely with senior nurses, social workers, therapists and other health care professionals to establish and maintain a whole systems approach for your patients.

You will be responsible for the supervision and monitoring of junior staff, including Band 5 OT’s, Rehabilitation Health Care Assistants and PT students.

The teams work a mixture of Monday to Friday 9-5pm and 7 day working hours, including out of hours until 10pm. Please contact the Therapy Lead for more information.