Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist to work as part of the Community Therapy Services, providing rehabilitation to the patients of Gateshead which includes working into immediate care facilities and patient homes.

The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support admission avoidance, hospital discharge and contribute to urgent community response (UCR) adopting home first principles.

You will need to be able to demonstrate effective communication, problem solving skills and be resilient in challenging situations.

You will be supported within the clinical team which is part of the wider Occupational Therapy structure, with clinical supervision, peer support and access to CPD opportunities. There will also be opportunity for service improvement and development in the role.

You will be required to work a shift pattern across 7 days (including bank holidays and weekends). As a community-based role, the post holder will be required to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes.

Main duties of the job

• To act as an experienced autonomous practitioner, providing specialised occupational therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with complex acute and/or chronic medical conditions which require intervention to prevent hospital admission/ support discharge.
• To independently manage a caseload, using evidence based and holistic principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
• To work as a key member of the MDT.
• To deliver care  within a variety of clinical settings  (virtual wards,  wards, PIC) and within the patient's own home ( community settings).
• To support and supervise qualified and non-qualified staff within the department.
• To contribute to service development and the learning culture within the department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To work within a variety of clinical settings  (virtual wards,  wards)  and within the patient's own home ( community settings). This will involve loan working.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
• Reporting  to a Band 7 Occupational Therapy Team Lead.
• To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver a holistic patient-centered approach to care. To regularly liaise with MDT members including those from heath, social services and voluntary agencies to ensure an integrated and comprehensive service is provided.
• To ensure that patients are identified for prompt discharge from the service  and handover to community services as required.
• To provide leadership for more junior staff, as agreed with senior staff.
• To support the Band 7 Team Lead Occupational Therapist in planning, coordinating, and delivering the service provided to patients and to assist in the development, planning and progression of service provision.
• To deputise for the Band 7 Team Lead Occupational Therapist in their absence as required.
• To supervise other qualified and non-qualified staff within the team
• To supervise Occupational Therapy students on clinical placements.
• To participate in CPD and develop skills and knowledge through participation in in-service training.
• Maintaining Records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To be an active participant in the weekend working rota