Job summary
Are you a newly qualified Band 5 Occupational Therapist or about to graduate?
Or are you wanting Band 5 experience in a busy acute hospital in a joint therapy team.
We have the job for you.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, well-motivated Occupational Therapist to join our bank service in the Therapy department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire group. The post will involve working as part of the joint therapy team (OTs, Physios and Support Staff) with rotations including Acute Medicine, Elderly Care, Urgent Care and Frailty, Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Stroke, Respiratory and Hand Therapy. The successful candidate would be invited to workas part of our 7-day service where weekend working is available.
As a Band 5 clinician within the team you will be required to take part in delivering a quality Occupational Therapy Service working closely with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team including Physiotherapy, Technical Instructors, Nurses, Medics and the Hospital Complex case discharge Team.
All staff grades are given further opportunities to learn about governance and join departmental groups which will help you gain more insight in the workings of a hospital and what goes on behind the scenes.
We welcome pre application visits, for further details / informal visits contact: Jakki Gilson on 01604545657/ 07525387624
Main duties of the job
To provide a professional Occupational Therapy service to patients on own caseload, under the supervision of senior colleagues.
Rotations include: Surgery, Acute Medicine, Elderly Care, Stroke, Hand therapy, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Urgent Care and Frailty and Respiratory.
To actively contribute to the discharge planning process by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions to address the needs of patients including those with an acute illness, following injury or surgery and those with chronic disease, palliative illness or undergoing a period of acute re enablement.
Work closely with physiotherapy colleges and the wider MDT
Support the team in the day to day running of the therapy service
Provide effective input into the work of the Trust, to support the achievement of our vision and values.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Clinical and Patient excellence
Under the regular supervision of senior Therapy colleagues, select, plan and implement assessments and treatment interventions for patients either in the hospital or in their own home or community setting.
Use clinical reasoning to balance risk, safety, patient choice and eligibility for services
Manage a caseload on designated ward/s, seeking guidance from Therapy colleagues as required
Assess patients function for safe discharge, referring on to appropriate community services
Assess and prescribe equipment, adaptations, ongoing rehabilitation and care provision as appropriate and necessary for a safe discharge from the service.
Carry out assessments within patients homes as appropriate within departmental guidelines
Communicate effectively with patients, family members, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, Therapy colleagues and other agencies
Provide support to patients and carers, sharing information to enable them to make informed decisions regarding Occupational Therapy recommendations and discharge arrangements
Advise patients and carers, through demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patients functional ability, safety and independence
Liaise with health and social care professionals and other related statutory, private and voluntary organisations, providing verbal and written reports and referrals where appropriate, in accordance with data protection principles
Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
Submit accurate timesheets within set department timescales for additional hours worked
In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy service both within the specific clinical areas and across all service areas
Work to identified guidelines and eligibility criteria relating to the provision of home adaptations, equipment and wheelchairs to ensure equity of service to all patients
Give guidance and training to Therapy Support Workers and Administrative Support staff where required
Assist Therapy colleagues in the induction, training and education of other staff and students within the Therapy services
Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements
Provide formal clinical reports for the multi-disciplinary team as required
Collect, record and submit accurate clinical and personal statistical data in line with departmental requirements and guidelines
Participate in the Therapy in-service training programme, taking the lead in designated sessions as appropriate
Regularly attend and participate in Therapy service staff meetings
Identify own learning and development needs with support from senior Therapy colleagues, contributing to the production of a Personal Development Plan
Build an ongoing Continuing Professional Development portfolio, reflecting on and recording learning outcomes of development opportunities
Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current Occupational Therapy research and apply this to practice in conjunction with the Therapy team
Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate
Review and reflect on own practice and actively participates in regular supervision and annual appraisal
Corporate responsibilities
Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide safe patient care and participate in maintenance and training.
People/Management Excellence
Contribute to the Therapy Service governance arrangements and to the work of selected departmental groups (eg Risk Management, Health & Safety)
Delegate work tasks appropriately to Therapy Support Workers and Administrative Support staff
Supporting Financial Excellence
To make the best use of the NSH resources
Professional Responsibilities, Quality Assurance and Monitoring
Contribute towards service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions
Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within the Therapy Service to improve effectiveness and efficiency
Comply with departmental guidelines for the safe use, care and maintenance of equipment and stock
Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate
Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills to ensure fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist, in line with competencies detailed in the Knowledge & Skills Framework Outline for this post
Comply with the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Health Professional Council Standards of Conduct, Performance & Ethics, national and Trust policy, protocols and guidelines
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
1. Occupational Therapy qualification at degree level (or equivalent)
2. Health Care Professions Council Registration (or registration pending)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
3. Experience of assessment, goal setting, planning, implementation and review of Occupational Therapy interventions with patients in a physical setting
4. Experience of managing a clinical caseload and prioritising work
5. Team working experience
6. Awareness of the role of an Occupational Therapist within an acute inpatient NHS hospital
7. Evidence of recent continuing professional development activity
Desirable
8. Experience of conducting cognitive assessments and developing treatment/discharge plans that reflect the cognitive needs of the patient
9. Knowledge of the discharge planning process
10. Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
11. Experience of assessment and provision of equipment, wheelchairs and minor adaptations
12. Experience of supporting patients with mental health problems
13. Experience of delegating tasks to support staff
14. Experience of involvement in discharge planning from acute wards
15. Experience of assessing patients in their own home
16. Experience working in the NHS
Skills
Essential
17. Skills to communicate effectively with patients, carers, team members, Occupational Therapy colleagues and other agencies
18. Self-management skills
19. Skills to produce clear and concise verbal and written clinical reports
20. Effective team working skills
21. Ability to review and reflect on own practice
22. Interest in contributing towards staff and service development
Desirable
23. Ability to drive Trust vehicles for assessments in patient's homes
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
24. Ability to manage work pressures to enable management of a caseload
25. Flexible and confident manner with a positive approach and high levels of motivation
26. Awareness of own competency levels and when to seek help
27. Appreciation of the dynamics of working within a team
28. Ability to work under own initiative
29. Personal mobility to move across the hospital site between wards/office/assessment areas and to patients home
30. Interest in own personal and professional development
31. Ability to manage work pressures within a fast-paced environment and conflicting priorities
32. Personal resources to cope when dealing with patients with complex conditions, acute or terminal illnesses, traumatic injuries, mental impairment and challenging behaviours on a daily basis
Desirable
33. Physical ability to undertake manual handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis in a variety of environments