Job summary
We have a full time Occupational Therapy post available for a 3 year fixed term contract or secondment opportunity. Our neuro rotation covers an excellent range of clinical areas including neurosciences, acute stroke, stroke rehabilitation, acute in patient rehabilitation unit (Linden Lodge), Reablement team, Neuro Rehab out-patient and Traumatic Brain Injury teams.
NUH is on a journey to transform its rehabilitation services. Planning for the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) is in its advanced stages and we have agreement in principle to develop hyper-acute rehabilitation services linked to our Regional Neurosciences and Major Trauma Centre. This is a very exciting time to become part of Team NUH's rehabilitation services.
NUH will offer rotational opportunities through NRC and clinical staff from Linden Lodge, the current neuro-rehabilitation service, will transition to the NRC when it opens in June 2025.
The successful candidate will have excellent core occupational therapy clinical skills, previous experience in stroke/neuro, as well as a wide range of clinical experience through other specialities. You will demonstrate a high level of communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team.
Main duties of the job
In this role you will provide occupational therapy for a complex caseload working creatively and collaboratively with the MDT, patients and their families, as well as external agencies. You will work closely with community colleagues around the discharge and ongoing rehabilitation of patients. You will work with the occupational therapy and wider therapy teams to ensure effective service delivery, supporting staff and actively developing the service. The post holder would need to have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle due to the need to visit patients at home on some rotations.
You will receive support and training opportunities for you to develop in this role to reach your full potential. This will include peer and senior support, regular supervision, in-house and external training, as well as varied opportunities to engage in wider learning experiences.
The successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work flexibly to support the needs of the service as well as other services in the neuro pathway. There will be a requirement to contribute to the planned weekend rotas.
About us
We are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In addition to the summary below, please familiarise yourself with the full job description and person specification documents attached to this advert.
You will be required to:
Hold responsibility for your own caseload of patients requiring neurological rehabilitation, working without direct supervision.
Contribute to the supervision and education of rotational occupational therapists, student occupational therapists, occupational therapy support staff and generic rehabilitation assistants.
Be professional and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
Undertake specialist assessments of patients with diverse or complex presentations and multi-pathologies using specialist analysis, clinical reasoning skills, manual assessment techniques and listening skills to receive complex and sensitive details from patients to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
Formulate and deliver specialised occupational therapy treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, analysis and reasoning skills and knowledge of a range of treatment options eg. Splinting and orthotic techniques, compensatory strategies, assessment for and prescription of equipment.
Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change.
Communicate complex patient-related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with MDT colleagues across health and social care sectors to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service and assist in developing comprehensive discharge plans.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
1. Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
2. Health Professional Council registration as an Occupational Therapist
Desirable
3. Post graduate training/courses in field of neurology
Other requirements
Essential
4. Flexibility to work elsewhere in Therapies or as required across all campuses
5. Flexible working schedules including participation in weekend rosters where required
6. Full driving licence and access to own vehicle
Physical skills
Essential
7. Able to handle and move complex patients safely and in a way which promotes rehabilitation
Analytical/Judgement skills
Essential
8. Able to reflect and critically appraise own performance and the performance of junior OT staff and support staff
9. Risk assessment skills for the safe management and discharge of complex patients
10. Independently work through the OT process with complex patients.
11. Able to use evidenced based practice to inform own practice and that of others
Planning/organisation skills
Essential
12. Able to plan own clinical activity to meet clinical needs of patients when demand exceeds capacity
13. Able to make judgements about the prioritising of caseloads when demand exceeds capacity and to support junior and support staff in this process
Experience
Essential
14. Experience of delegating to and supervising OT or rehabilitation support staff
15. Experience of delegation and contributing to the operational management of the team
16. Experience of contributing to the clinical education of less experienced staff or undergraduate OT students
17. Clinical experience in neurology/stroke
18. Post graduate experience in wide range of clinical areas
19. Knowledge of national and local standards and RCOT guidelines
20. Experience of contributing to service development
Communication and relationship
Essential
21. Able to discuss treatment options and recommend best course of intervention to patients and carers using negotiating, persuasive, motivational and reassurance skills
22. Able to effectively use a range of written and verbal communication skills with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment
23. Able to communicate patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with MDT colleagues across health & social care sectors
24. Able to demonstrate a commitment to team working