Job summary
An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen within the Suffolk Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team, for the role of Fixed Term Specialist Occupational Therapist [Band 6] to join our Team in the East of the County.
The Suffolk Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team provides specialist individualised stroke rehabilitation, in order to support stroke patients and their carer's in the first 6 weeks of discharge from hospital to home.
We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist with a specific interest and clinical experience in stroke rehabilitation. The post is for 30 hours per week on a 12 months fixed-term position until December 2025 [Maternity cover]. We work as an interdisciplinary team of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Assistant Practitioners and Rehabilitation Assistants.
You will be a highly motivated individual, who is passionate about helping patients to improve their quality of life and recover following their stroke. You will work in a variety of settings including patient's homes and the community providing specialist therapy assessments and interventions, whilst outlining rehabilitation care plans for the Rehabilitation Assistants to carry out with supervision, in order to enable patients to achieve their optimal level of independence.
Main duties of the job
1. To work within a stroke interdisciplinary early supported discharge team to provide high quality specialist rehabilitation to patients following a stroke in their own home/communities, in order to allow patients to achieve their optimal level of independence and maximum rehabilitation potential.
2. To work collaboratively across the Suffolk Stroke Pathway to ensure a seamless provision of stroke services from the acute hospital into the Early Supported Discharge Team.
3. To work autonomously, carrying out the assessment, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based specialist treatment programs for patients following a stroke, who may have a range of impairments and complex health needs.
4. To supervise and support junior staff and students.
5. Contribute to service development and data collection within Suffolk Integrated Stroke Services.
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work closely with patients and their families and carers in the planning and implementation of their rehabilitation care plans. You will be expected to work collaboratively across the Suffolk Stroke Pathway to ensure a seamless provision of stroke services, from the acute hospital through the early supported discharge team service, including as required referral to GPs, community therapy and nursing teams, and signposting to appropriate voluntary agencies.
Within your role you will contribute to service developments, data collection and development of evidenced based protocols and policies. You will also have the opportunity to supervise and support junior staff, rehabilitation assistants and students on placement.
You will need to demonstrate
6. Comprehensive clinical knowledge of stroke rehabilitation
7. Thorough clinical reasoning and an awareness of stroke specific guidelines.
8. A holistic patient centred approach.
9. Ability to work autonomously and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
10. Good communication and organisational skills.
11. IT knowledge and ability to maintain appropriate patient and clinical records in line with the Trusts policies and procedures.
There will be opportunities for professional development and supervision. You will have access to both the Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich offices and will be expected to travel across the whole of the county of Suffolk.
Please review the job description and person specification document for full details.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
12. oBSc /Diploma in Occupational Therapy (3yr) or MSc Occupational Therapy (2Yr)
13. oHCPC registration
Desirable
14. oEvidence of post registration education.
15. oClinical fieldwork Educator's Course.
16. oEvidence of attendance at specialist stroke courses.
Experience
Essential
17. oPostgraduate experience working within neurology/stroke care.
18. oExperience in the supervision of junior staff or rehab assistants (or equivalent).
19. oPrevious experience of working in and with multi-disciplinary teams.
Desirable
20. oPrevious postgraduate clinical experience in stroke care in a community setting.
21. oMember of specialist interest group.
Knowledge
Essential
22. oKnowledge and application of national guidelines for stoke and relevant standards and outcome measures.
23. oCompetency in physical skills of assessment and treatment of patients with stroke.
Communication
Essential
24. oGood communication, organisational and time management skills.
Other
Essential
25. oHave access to a car for work purposes and able to make own travel arrangements to meet the demands of the service as a community based service.