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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful applicant will:

• Manage and priorities a clinical caseload of patients with complex needs.
• Apply evidence-based client-centered principles to assess, plan, implement treatment/discharge plans.
• Work closely with the multi-professional team in order to facilitate timely assessment and treatment.
• Develop strong links with the case managers, Flow team and MAID team to assist with the facilitation of information sharing, assessing and identifying patients’ needs as well as discharge planning.
• Ensure that therapies are represented at community meetings.
• Support therapy teams to develop clear discharge plans for patients from Rehab beds, identifying and escalating any barriers
• Develop strong communication links with other local statutory services and voluntary organisations
• To be a proactive member of the therapy team in respect of communication, team administration, quality of service, service development and evaluation
• To be involved in providing training, supervision and support to others as required
• To provide good quality practice placement education

In pursuing these duties the post holder will ensure compliance with the NHS Constitution and the Trust’s Right Care strategy

          Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Clinical

• Provide timely and efficient  occupational therapy to patients according to clinical protocols and service priorities.
• Support our Duty  service
• Ensure patients receive a high standard of clinical care and that you meet the standards expected from The Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Use investigative and analytical skills to undertake a comprehensive, specialist Occupational therapy assessment of the patient.
• Reflect on complex facts gathered or situations presented and use analysis  and judgment skills to consider options for interventions, and outcomes.
• Formulate individual management and treatment plans, using advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills.
• Plan and implement specialist occupational therapy interventions /care packages in partnership with the service user, with the carer as necessary and in consultation with colleagues.
• Plan and organise to carry out assessment and interventions in the most appropriate setting.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcome of specialist interventions in partnership with the service user if possible, with the carer if necessary and in consultation with colleagues.
• Collaborate with the MDT to develop and improve patient pathways.
• Respond to unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
• Provide advice, teaching and instruction for relatives, carers, and other health professionals to promote understanding of the aims of therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Provide specialist advice to therapy and dietetic colleagues working within other clinical areas across the Trust and with other health, social care and voluntary  organisations
• Train and supervise junior therapists, assistants and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
• Use highly developed communication skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, service users and carers.
• Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and sensitivity with patients, relatives and carers to overcome barriers to communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, anxiety, tracheotomy, problems with cognition.
• Deal effectively with complex, sensitive or contentious communications

2. Leadership and Management

2.1   Follow supervision guidelines and consult with clinical lead to ensure optimum outcome for complex patients with clear presentation of complex facts and analysis to enable effective decision making

• Recognise and respond to changing team priorities and unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
• Contribute to the planning and development of discharge and flow therapy service in partnership with team members, team lead and operational managers across community services,
• Take responsibility and lead on delegated tasks and service development activities.
• Communicate effectively within the immediate team, MDT and with other internal and external organisations such as Acute  Therapy Teams, Collaborative Care teams, Social services and voluntary sectors
• Plan, deliver and evaluate appropriate clinical training to students ensuring all clinical protocols are accurately followed
• Ensure equipment is stored in adherence with to relevant policies and that you are up to date with competencies to use equipment within the Community Therapy service.
• Contribute to the development of discharge and flow team protocols policies and procedures designed to improve patient care and experience
• Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures
• Raise incidents and near misses using the incident reporting systems.
• Ensure all team members you supervise participate in supervision and annual development review processes.
• Have an awareness the need for cost efficiencies being aware of the need for judicious use of resources and maintaining stock control
• Deputise for team leader in their absence
• Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs.

3. Personal and Professional Development

3.1   Adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Occupational Therapy and maintain current professional registration.

• Maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of new trends and developments, use of reflective practice and incorporating learning into working practice.
• Attend and present in-service training sessions at designated times and at staff meetings sharing existing knowledge and skills and feeding back from external courses.
• Be a role model for professional behaviours in all aspect of practice.
• Ensure compliance with supervision and appraisals standards and maintain a professional portfolio both as a supervisor and supervisee.
• Support team to participate in relevant internal and external research and quality improvement projects.
• Establish links with other clinicians specialising in Frailty through regional and national groups to promote sharing of good practice and evidence-based research.
• Facilitate and engage in practice placement education (PPE) and ensure that PPE standards are upheld by all staff.

4. Service Improvement and Governance

• Evaluate individual and group interventions through the use of outcome measures and audit, and implement necessary service improvements.
• Where there is an identified need for a new or updated policy or procedure in own work area as a result of an evaluation ensure that this is implemented.
• Undertake research and audit of the Community Therapy Service presenting the results to the team and wider MDT.
• Keep abreast of new research and clinical developments
• Respond to requests for information and actions in a timely manner.
• Participate in the development of risk assessment strategies for the community therapy service.
• Attend the clinical governance meetings for flow and discharge and contribute to the operational planning and monitoring of the service.
• Assist with the development and implementation of Trust and therapy wide service quality improvements strategies
• Ensure maintenance of accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation in line with professional, legal and service requirements.
• Communicate clinical and personal information confidentially and in an appropriate format
• Follow Trust and departmental policies and guideline