Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job overview

The Royal Surrey County Hospital are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the therapy team on the in-patient wards at Milford Hospital. We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who has completed their basic rotations and is looking to expand their knowledge, skills and experience within the sub-acute setting. You will be joining a dynamic, experienced and friendly team that include physiotherapists, nurses, doctors and support workers, providing rehabilitation to sub-acute ortho-geriatric and frailty patients. You may already be a senior therapist looking for a new challenge or a Band 5 ready to make the move into a senior role. As a Band 6 you will be expected to perform to a high clinical standard, supervise band 5s and/or assistants, and Occupational Therapy students on placement, as well as contribute to our service development. You will be supported by an experienced Team Lead Occupational Therapist. Our services cover 5 days per week and use of own car for business purpose is essential.

Main duties of the job

The post holder assists in the development, administration and provision of a specialist Occupational Therapy service; carries a caseload dealing with complex assessment, and planning discharge of patients with predominantly physical conditions and with regard to the physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual and social aspects of their care.

• Directly responsible for the management of own caseload of patients referred for Occupational Therapy assessment, rehabilitation and management within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Assists in the management of the specialist team providing, developing and planning an Occupational Therapy service to patients for this client group.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assists in the continuous development of the Occupational Therapy Service, and directly provides assessment and treatment of patients in Milford Hospital.
• Responsible for the clinical supervision of junior staff providing necessary professional guidance, support, and appropriate delegation of work.
• Participates/leads in relevant planning activities/projects to ensure that the Occupational Therapy service develops according to patients’ needs, in liaison with Team Leader, the Occupational Therapy Service Manager and in line with the College of Occupational Therapists’ guidelines.
• Directly supervises Occupational Therapy students on clinical placement.
• Assists in, and undertakes regular clinical audit/review to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the service and to improve outcomes for patients in line with the Trust’s commitment to promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Responsible for own continuous professional development, showing evidence of this through a personal development portfolio.
• Participates in appraisals and ensures that state registration is maintained.
• Undertakes any other duties as required by the Therapy Service Manager

Communication

• Understands and values the roles of the other members of the multidisciplinary team and establishes effective working relationships.
• Receives and imparts complex and sometimes sensitive information, communicating at all levels with other professionals, patients, relatives and carers, both internal and external to the Trust.
• Participates in, and is responsible for, in-service training sessions, as required.
• Occasionally participates in teaching multi-professional groups, giving formal presentations, as required.
• Completes all necessary records, reports and statistics in line with occupational therapy service policy.

Clinical

• Directly responsible for own caseload and deals with referrals in line with departmental policy.
• Responsible for timely occupational therapy assessments, planning, implementation and evaluation. Assesses on the ward, in the OT department, other hospital departments and in patients’ homes, as appropriate.
• Recommends specific levels of care/equipment required to facilitate patients’ safe and timely discharge, as appropriate.
• Keeps up to date of any schemes/care provision to facilitate timely discharge.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of patient groups associated with the specialist area of work.
• All staff members have personal and professional responsibility to promote safe standards of care and services. All staff members are expected to participate in clinical governance initiatives.

Risk assessment

• Uses therapeutic handling techniques to maximise the patients’ potential and minimise risk.
• Assesses working environment potential hazards to minimise risk to patients and other hospital users.
• Responsible for raising the awareness in junior staff members of risk within O.T. practice.
• Assesses the patients’ home environment, as appropriate, to reduce risk and increase safety on discharge.
• Assesses for and prescribes basic equipment and with further training, if required, complex equipment, i.e. hoists etc. training patient and carers in their use.

Financial

• Sells small aids and equipment to patients/carers processing these according to department policy
• Requisitions equipment to minimise risk and facilitate patient discharge, and with an awareness of the financial implications.

Human Resources

• Participates in the recruitment and retention process within the Occupational Therapy Department.
• Provides training/development of work shadow persons/OT students.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.