Job summary
Are you enthusiastic and passionate about working with people in a fast-paced, acute care setting? Are you confident in your clinical skills, complex cases & discharge planning?
We are looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic inpatient therapy team at Watford General Hospital.
We are welcoming applications to our Band 7 post in the Orthopaedics and Surgery team for a fixed term contract of 12 months.
The working hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and forms part of a 7-day working rota, including a weekend shift approximately once every six weeks. Rest days will be allocated in the week following.
This post is based on acute hospital wards and NHS experience is essential.
The role would involve utilising evidenced based clinical skills to support patients as well as supporting junior members of the team with complex cases.
Main duties of the job
You will clinically manage a caseload, completing detailed assessment & treatments in Orthopaedic and Surgical specialities.
The clinical areas include:
1. Trauma & Orthopaedics - working with the MDT to facilitate an 'enablement approach' to rehabilitation and supported discharge of trauma orthopaedic patients. This can include # NOF patients, head injuries and spinal cord injuries.
2. Surgical - working across surgical wards in the acute hospital to provide assessment and intervention to patients following acute surgery, including new amputees.
3. Elective enhanced recovery care - providing OT support to the new Herts and West Essex Surgical Centre due to open in Spring 2025. This service is based at St Albans City Hospital, but it is envisioned that most of the input will be provided virtually from the Watford site to aid in pre-assessment of elective care patients. There may be occasions where travel to St Albans might be necessary for meetings.
Discharge planning skills are key to this post, and you will need to be able to make timely decisions regarding transfer to community services and managing referrals to specialist units.
You will be supported with your personal development by the Therapy Team Leads and we will have opportunities for peer-led learning and training.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us.
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.
At West Herts we offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly.
We kindly invite you to consider submitting an application.
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact .
If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for a full list of duties and details about the role.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications:
Essential
4. Member of Professional Body or equivalent recognised by Health Care Professionals Council.
5. Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent and NHS experience.
6. Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development of expanded and highly specialised knowledge and skills.
7. Attendance at a Clinical Educators Course.
8. Significant post registration experience.
9. Ability to assess patient conditions, including those of a highly complex nature, to establish diagnosis and formulate a highly specialised treatment plan.
10. To take a lead role in the evaluation of their specialist field and make recommendations or changes within and outside of the organisation.
Desirable
11. Attained or working towards a Post Graduate Degree/qualification.
12. Membership of a professional Special Interest Group or National or Regional Network.
Knowledge:
Essential
13. Understanding of organisational structure of the NHS and Social Care.
14. Demonstrate an ability to provide professional/clinical leadership.
15. Understanding of Standards - Health Care Professions Council/COT/BAOT/Local/National.
16. Understanding policies and procedures (local Health and Safety).
17. Demonstrate ability to search and review the evidence base.
18. Demonstrate evidence of written projects/audit.
19. Demonstrate understanding of clinical governance and the implications of the service.
Experience:
Essential
20. Teaching.
21. Patients, relatives, carers, individually and in groups.
22. Ability to teach and present to qualified/non-qualified staff and other disciplines, in groups or individually, using a variety of media.
23. Ability to lead clinical education of less experienced staff, students, or assistants.
24. Demonstrate presentation skills in a variety of media.
25. Clinical problem-solving ability.