Intermediate Care & Community Therapies Occupational Therapist
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated care organisation which aims to provide high quality, safe and effective health and social care. Our vision is a community where we are all supported and empowered to be as well and as independent as possible, able to manage our own health and wellbeing, and in our own homes.
We have a great opportunity available within our Intermediate Care and Community Therapy Team. We are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist with experience or a Band 5 Occupational Therapist looking for career progression.
You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team contributing to joint decisions regarding the management of patients, including acutely ill patients referred by their GP or A&E/ED and triage and prioritise work according to urgency and establishing presenting risks. Working with a patient centred approach, taking responsibility for assessment and making autonomous decisions/recommendations regarding packages of care, equipment provision and ongoing treatment to maintain patients at home, thereby preventing hospital admission.
Main duties of the job
* The Intermediate Care Service facilitates crisis management in the community, prevention of hospital admissions, quicker discharge from hospital and supports people to remain as independent as possible at home. Patients are seen within the most appropriate setting; at home and in intermediate care placements in residential care homes. The team works in a truly integrated way, with nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dieticians and a paramedic.
* The Community Therapy service enables therapists to work autonomously, managing their own caseload. Types of referrals vary, with a chance to practice or develop skills in moving & handling or complex seating assessments, as well as stair lift referrals and other access & environmental solutions.
* You will be well supported by senior staff, as well as by the wider multi-disciplinary team, which will include medical support. There will be opportunities to supervise band 5 Occupational Therapists, support workers, and students. There are excellent CPD training opportunities, including OT peer support groups, training from the South Devon Health Services training and development team, Clinical Interest Groups and peer support.
Job responsibilities
* To assess patients' understanding of interventions, gain valid formal consent and jointly agree goals. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
* Communication will include imparting sensitive and comprehensive information relating to diagnosis, prognosis, physical and functional recovery, and potential lifestyle adjustments, to patients and their relatives. This may involve informing patients that they may be unable to return home or return to their previous level of activity/work/leisure.
* To use, regularly and spontaneously, verbal and non-verbal communication tools to discuss complex information about underlying influences, prognosis, and progression of rehabilitation and treatment programmes with patients and/or carers. This will include patients who may have difficulties with regard to complex emotional/psychological/physical conditions relating to the presenting complaint.
* To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal, departmental and RCOT standards of practice, and to monitor that of less experienced staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
* Valid state registration with Health Professions Council
* CPD portfolio and evidence of recent post-graduate learning relevant to area of clinical practice
* Experience within NHS including experience working in a variety of roles, for example orthopaedics, elderly care and musculoskeletal conditions
* Experience in the NHS working in a community setting
Specific Skills
* Knowledge of vulnerable adults' protocols and procedures
* Moving and handling protocols and procedures to include provision of hoists and specialist slings
* Wheelchair accreditation
* Pressure care knowledge and prescription of suitable equipment
* Evidence of ability to make decisions under pressure
* Evidence of excellent interpersonal and communication skills
* Proven ability to work autonomously
* Knowledge of specialised disability equipment
* Detailed understanding of roles of the MDT, health and social care agencies
* Understanding of clinical governance issues
* Relevant professional and clinical experience
* Experience of supervision of junior staff and/or OT students
* Crisis intervention/acute medicine/vital signs/taking baseline observations.
* Experience of initiating change in the workplace
* Appraisals and supervision training
* Experience of clinical audit
* Experience of seating and postural management
* Experience of Disabled Facilities Grants
* Experience of using standardised assessments, including specialist cognitive assessments
* Experience of work involving discharge to assess (D2A).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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