Senior Hand Therapist- Surrey Downs Health & Care
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and motivated Hand Therapist to join our wonderful MSK Hand Therapy Team. Experience of working within a Hand Therapy Service is essential, preferably within the NHS and with experience of managing patients from Acute Elective, Acute Trauma, Plastics and Rheumatology.
We have an active In-Service training programme and excellent links with our Consultant Surgical colleagues who also provide training for the team.
The caseload is varied with the majority being acute trauma or post-elective surgery but also includes community referrals from local GPs and FCPs.
The Hand Therapy unit is very busy but the team are very cohesive and supportive of one another. The Hand Therapy Service is also part of the wider Surrey Downs Health & Care MSK Service.
Main duties of the job
* To provide specialist hand assessments and treatment for clients who have had trauma/surgery to their upper limb and/or have chronic conditions. Provide and/or fabricate static and dynamic splints for individual patients, in order to prevent impairment and/or improve function, independence and quality of life.
* Applying specialist knowledge and skills across the total range of impairments, procedures and practices gained through practical experience, underpinned by theoretical knowledge.
* To assess and implement specialist treatment programmes as an autonomous practitioner, maintaining associated clinical records.
* To work unsupervised reporting back and receiving guidance and teaching from the senior hand therapist / team leader on a regular basis.
* To participate in the day-to-day management of the specialist service provision undertaking tasks as delegated by the Team Leader, supporting less experienced therapists, and non-registered staff members on a daily basis.
* To provide formal supervision to nominated staff members and students.
* Where required this role may include cross site working with St Helier Hospital and/or provision of Hand Therapy within Consultant Led Clinics at Epsom General Hospital or at St Helier and the post holder must be able to make the necessary travel arrangements.
About us
Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.
Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual.
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To carry and prioritise own patient caseload and other ongoing tasks, allocating appropriate work to technical instructors and students.
2. To perform specialist therapy assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning skills to analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex facts or situations, to provide specialised packages of care, treatment and advice to patients, based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and the range of treatment options and/or adaptive techniques and/or equipment provision, and/or care services.
3. To attend consultant outpatients clinics and to assess and treat patients as necessary. This may include cross site working.
4. To incorporate the appropriate standard assessment tools with patients, and apply additional relevant skills in specialised splint making.
5. To communicate sensitively and reassuringly complex condition and functional risk/limitation related information to patients/carers, to gain consent to and co-operation in assessment and treatment, and in giving specialist advice to patients/carers regarding their options for ongoing care needs.
6. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings as the hand therapist representative for individual patients, to inform complex discussions, gain a full range of information prior to planning patient centred goals, analyse options for meeting goals and participate in the clinical decision making process and development of comprehensive MDT plans for discharge.
7. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
8. To manage clinical risk in relation to your own caseload, seeking guidance and help from senior therapist, as appropriate.
9. To maintain accurate, legible and complete clinical records of all patient related interventions, in line with the hand therapy Documentation Guidelines.
10. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own professional and clinical work.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
* Registration with Health Professions Council e.g. HCPC
* Evidence of CPD including relevant post graduate specialist training courses in appropriate clinical fields
* BAHT Member
* Completion of BAHT Level 1 course
Experience
* Relevant and significant post graduate experience with a variety of client groups and service settings to include: an acute hospital environment or a physical community service working with orthopaedic patients
* Completed a previous rotation (or equivalent) in a Hand Therapy Dept.
* Working knowledge of a broad range of conditions and client groups
* Experience with acute elective, acute trauma patients as well as plastics and rheumatology.
* Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
* Knowledge of the workings of other interlinking services eg intermediate care, social care, other therapies in the UK
* Involvement in audit, research and understanding quality issue
* Experience of hand conditions /splinting.
Knowledge and Skills
* Able to provide bespoke splints for patients.
* Able to manage wounds and remove stitches where necessary
* Able to provide personalised recovery and rehabilitation plans to a broad range of Hand/wrist related pathologies.
* Awareness of College of Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy standards
* Good written and verbal communication skills in providing and receiving complex information, and able to use skills of persuasion, negotiation and motivation
* Ability to analyse, evaluate and make rapid accurate clinical decisions in a fast paced clinical environment
* Prioritisation of workload, good time management and ability to work to protocols and deadlines
* Ability to delegate appropriately to others to maximise use of skill mix, whilst remaining responsible for outcome and completion of task
Personal Qualities
* Commitment to personal, professional and service development
* Professional approach and appearance
* Flexible, reliable, team worker
* Initiative and problem solving skills
* Physical fitness to undertake manual activities
* Ability to work under pressure
* Self directed learner
* Good sense of humour
* Willingness to occasionally attend out of work hours learning/development opportunities.
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.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
£39,205 to £47,084 a year Pro Rata Per Annum inc Fringe HCAS
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