Occupational Therapy Team Lead - Emergency Care Team
To perform a Team Lead Occupational Therapist role to lead and contribute to the continuing development of a comprehensive occupational therapy service to Emergency Care (including the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Unit, Medical Receiving Unit, Frailty SDEC, Short Stay Unit and Outreach Service).
The post holder is jointly responsible (with Band 7 colleague) for leading the Team, providing day-to-day management, support, supervision and organization of workload of staff within the Team.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
Main Duties of the Job
This Team currently consists of 2 x Band 7 Occupational Therapists (Post holder), 10 x Band 6 OTs, 2 x Band 5 OTs (both rotational posts), 4 x Band 4 OTAP posts and 1 x Band 2 Therapy Support Worker. The OTs work collaboratively with the physiotherapists across emergency care and form the Emergency Care Therapy Team (ECTT). ECTT are integrated with the Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) and work closely with all Urgent Care Services across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall to provide an alternative to admission service.
The post holder is jointly responsible for driving service development and ensuring effective and efficient processes are employed to support the interventions and optimise outcomes for the trust.
The post holder provides a comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients referred from the Emergency Care areas.
The post holder is professionally and legally accountable for their own actions and works with no supervision.
About Us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.
We recognise that work-life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.
We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job Responsibilities
Clinical:
1. Ensure the patients, relatives and those you come into contact with are aware of the role of the Occupational Therapist (OT) and components of the Occupational Therapy treatment programme.
2. Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any treatment.
3. Select from a wide range of standardised and non-standardised assessments to assess function and aid diagnosis. Address areas such as disease management, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, behavioural, motor, psychosocial needs and functional abilities.
4. Clinically reason and interpret the outcome of assessments conducted to guide the Occupational Therapy treatment plan. Support other professionals in the diagnosis and management of the patients. Support and lead recommendations for rehab and discharge planning.
5. To have the knowledge base to be able to clinically describe the functional impact of disease/injury to patients and other professionals.
6. Carry out home assessments or follow-up visits, where appropriate.
7. Assess for and provide aids and adaptive equipment to increase/enabled or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
8. Sign-off/authorise OT equipment and minor adaptations requests for the OT Department, UHP.
9. Assess for wheelchairs, specialist seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate, referring on to wheelchair/seating clinic if required.
10. Assess for and identify the appropriate type of mechanical lifting device/hoist to be used in a patient's home for discharge.
11. Assess disability access and safety ensuring access to community resources and assessment and training of carers needs.
12. Advise the medical team on the appropriate discharge options for patients referred, to facilitate prompt and appropriate discharge.
13. Review, record and report regularly on patients' progress and treatment to the multi-disciplinary team in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas.
14. Impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers, demonstrating a broad level of understanding on the impact of hospitalisation, de-compensation, and disability.
15. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients, including those who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating due to a physical and/or mental health condition or learning disability.
16. Utilizing interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and involving patients in their treatment.
17. Plan, deliver and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and family in accordance with any consent given.
18. Provide appropriate advice and support to patients following palliative diagnosis in liaison with the MDT and specialist services.
19. Maintain up to date records of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports, ensuring confidentiality at all times.
20. Attend and participate in case conferences and ward meetings appropriate to the clinical setting.
21. Responsible to maintain competence in the use of moving and handling techniques and equipment, required for the management of dependent patients.
22. Complex discharge planning, identifying patients and carers needs, and coordinating services in the community.
23. Refer patients to relevant follow-up services to ensure continued treatment programmes are in place.
24. Actively participate, liaise and ensure good communication with the MDT, carers, statutory and voluntary community bodies to establish a comprehensive discharge package.
25. Clinical risk assess and provide suitable solutions in a timely manner for patients across Emergency Care.
26. Liaise effectively with other hospitals and rehabilitation centres when patients are transferred.
27. Take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service and report the defects to the OT Manager.
28. Contribute to the evaluation and introduction of assessment/treatment media/equipment/tools being used within the team.
29. Prioritise day-to-day management of own caseload, allocating/delegating where appropriate.
30. Responsible for the authorisation and management of staff leave to ensure continuity in service provision.
31. Adopt a flexible approach in the provision of clinical cover.
32. Ensure OT representation at case conferences and MDT meetings held across emergency care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* To hold a degree, or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
* Hold current HCPC Registration.
* To have undertaken postgraduate training relevant to the area of practice.
Knowledge & Experience
* Demonstrable extensive specialist experience as an Occupational Therapist in an Emergency Department Setting.
* Demonstrable specialist knowledge & experience of a wide range of OT assessments and interventions relevant to these patient groups.
* Good verbal and written English skills.
* Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of OT equipment and minor adaptations.
* Demonstrable experience in liaising with community services.
* Demonstrable experience in caseload management.
* Demonstrable skills and experience in the supervision & appraisal of staff.
* Demonstrable experience of allocating and assessing the work of a Team.
* Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development.
* Demonstrate knowledge of the wider issues surrounding the NHS.
* Demonstrable clinical supervisor training.
* Demonstrable experience in conducting audits and research & development.
* Demonstrable experience in the physical field and have experience of pressure on wards.
* Demonstrable experience in leading a team of Occupational Therapy staff.
* Demonstrable experience of supervising student occupational therapists.
* Demonstrable experience in the recruitment & selection process of new staff.
* Demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team in both internal and external settings.
* Demonstrable leadership training.
* Skilled in handling traumatized or anxious patients and families.
* Interested in promoting independence.
* Skilled in persuading, teaching and managing people of all age groups.
* Skilled in helping people to problem-solve.
* Attention to detail.
* Good time management skills.
* Computer literate.
* Understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
* Co-operative nature and able to work as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team.
* Self-starter and able to work without supervision.
* Independent and able to accept responsibility.
* Steady and dependable, able to persist in difficult situations without being distracted.
* Recognise own limitations.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr