Senior Occupational Therapist

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, proactive and skilled Occupational Therapist to join us in the Integrated Acute Medicine Therapy Team working on the Acute Medicine wards. Specialities include respiratory, oncology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and haematology. The team provides a 7-day service and bank holiday cover on a rota basis.

This is a really exciting opportunity to join a friendly, dynamic team that is keen to develop and move services forward for the benefit of our patients. You will be part of a large supportive team, and provide quality assessment and intervention working closely with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team including Physiotherapy, nursing teams, medics and the discharge team.

If you have less than 18 months qualified experience we are willing to consider a band 5 development post for the suitable candidate. Please make this clear on your application.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is an autonomous practitioner, responsible for provision of highly specialised assessment, treatment, intervention and discharge planning of clients referred to the service.

Has responsibility for managing a caseload of inpatients with a variety of complex conditions including chronic, disabling and life limiting illnesses.

Carry out assessment and prescription of equipment and adaptations.

Assist the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating of the Occupational Therapy Service provided.

The post holder will act as a source of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge, skill and experience in their role.

Educate other health care professionals, multi-agency professionals and occupational therapy students in acute medicine.

Working for our organisation

We are based at BVH in a department with other acute OT and PT teams. We have robust processes for support and supervision, in addition to an individualised job plan.

You will receive regular supervision with the clinical lead and be provided opportunities to support your clinical and leadership development.

There is a band 6 competency schedule and a peer-support forum.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Professional knowledge/skills acquired through degree or diploma and extended through experience and continuing professional development.
• Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to Occupational Therapy colleagues, other members of the multi disciplinary team and multi-agency team (education, social services, voluntary sector), regarding the management of patients with complex Occupational Therapy needs and specialist equipment/adaptation requirements.
• Keep up to date with current evidence based practice underpinning area of work and be able to utilise a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate specialised programmes for clients/carers and other professionals involved.
• Undertake post registration training at an advanced level in relation to specific duties
• Involvement with in-service training by attending and delivering presentations, training sessions at staff meetings and tutorials.
• Attend mandatory training, including Moving and Handling, Basic Life Support, Consent, Fire, Equality & Diversity, Child Protection Awareness etc.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, eligibility criteria, policies & procedures relating to provision of Occupational Therapy Service.
• Undertake evaluation of work and current practices through use of audit, reflective practice and outcome measures and make and implement recommendations for change.
• Actively involved in research activities including literature searching.
• Facilitate/participate in working parties developing policy changes which will impact on all service users.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a varied and complex caseload effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• Use clinical reasoning to prioritise, allocate and delegate cases to other occupational therapy staff on a daily basis.
• Use analytical skills and specialist assessment tools to undertake comprehensive assessment of patients with complex needs.
• Formulate individualised treatment plans using advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment mediums.
• Implement treatment plans, moving, handling and positioning of patients to enable them to participate in treatment episodes and carry out activities of daily living.
• Develop and demonstrate specialist skills related to acute medicine which are underpinned by theory and practical experience.
• Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts and be able to administer standardised assessments in order to assist the multidisciplinary team with diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions and recommend appropriate intervention.
• Provide guidance and support on highly complex and complex cases to same grade staff, junior Occupational Therapy staff, support staff and other professionals (Health, Education, Social Services).
• Provide planned advice, teaching and instructions to relatives and carers to enable understanding of the aims of the prescribed Occupational Therapy treatment, ensuring that there is a consistent approach to patient care.
• Assess and prescribe standard and specialist equipment for use in a variety of hospital and community settings. To advise, instruct and educate carers and other professionals on the use of specialist equipment and moving and handling techniques.
• Has responsibility for the delivery of the occupational therapy service within acute medicine at Blackpool Victoria Hospital ensuring its effectiveness.
• Responsible for autonomous assessment, clinical decision making, treatment selection, evaluation of treatment and outcomes and arranging reviews as required. Guided by agreed protocols/procedures, with the ability to vary treatment without gaining consent from the Clinical Lead OT.
• Maximise therapy potential and intervention, through effective communication to patients, carers and other professionals.
• Work as a lone practitioner in a variety of community settings where there is a requirement to make decisions spontaneously, within Primary Care Trust policies and guidelines.
• Use technical and creative skills to assist in the provision of therapeutic activities for individual and groups of patient.

ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, therapy, education and social services staff in order to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary and multi-agency service, to facilitate and maintain good working relationships.
• As a senior member of the team will establish and maintain effective communication networks with the wider multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams.
• Work across multi-agency boundaries and has a working knowledge and understanding of their systemsg. Care and Repair Agency, Social Services.
• Liaise/co-ordinate and facilitate multidisciplinary and multi-agency referrals for patients with complex conditions and their families/carers.
• Communicate highly complex and/or sensitive information, in an empathetic and reassuring manner, to patients, families/carers, and other multi agency professionals in a language understandable to them.
• Facilitate the communication of sensitive and/or distressing information to patients/families/carers, regarding the patient's complex condition, diagnosis/prognosis and the intervention required.
• Communicate effectively with patients with complex communication difficulties and/or cognitive problems by utilising a variety of communication mediums.
• Maintain two way communication with the Head Occupational Therapist to ensure appropriate development of Service wide policies, procedures and standards.
• Responsible for documenting and maintaining records for episodes of care within the designated caseload.
• Write complex Occupational Therapy reports which involve clinical reasoning/calculating risk and safety issues.
• Produce and present detailed Occupational Therapy reports which are vital to other agencies to assist in decision making e.g. Adaptation Priority Panel, Hospital Discharge Team, Education Statements.
• Responsible for collecting clinical statistics.
• Have basic IT skills, including internet and e-mail.
• Undertake service reviews and audit in accordance with clinical governance.
• Maintain the ability to communicate effectively when faced with situations of conflict or high emotion from patients/carers/family and other staff members.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HUMAN RESOURCES

• Responsible for the supervision and support of Occupational Therapy staff as outlined in the Occupational Therapy supervision policy and assist with the day-to-day caseload management of junior and support staff.
• Participate in the departmental appraisal system as both appraiser and appraisee.
• Utilise supervision sessions offered by Clinical Lead OT.
• Oversee and implement induction of new staff members.
• Support the Clinical Lead OT in the recruitment and selection of less senior staff.
• Responsible for the education of junior occupational therapy staff in developing competencies and occupational therapy students in gaining professional qualification.
• Offer opportunities for learning to other disciplines through tutorials, presentations, shadowing e.g. student nurses, work experience students.
• Provide fieldwork education on placements for Occupational Therapy students, taking responsibility for their teaching, supervision and written assessment.

Person specification

Qualifications/ Attainments

Essential criteria

• Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• HCPC Registered
• Minimum 18 months postgraduate experience
• Relevant acute experience

Desirable criteria

• Member of the College of Occupational Therapy

Experience and Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent Interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Willing to supervise Occupational Therapy Technical Instructors / Assistants

Desirable criteria

• Computer literate
• Experience working within the acute medical setting.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria

• Approachable.
• Maintain confidentiality
• Adhere to OT code of conduct
• Able to work well as part of a team

Other Factors

Essential criteria

• Able to work contracted hours but be flexible to meet the needs of the service.

Desirable criteria

• Hold an up to date UK driving licence.

Please click here to view our Care and Compassion Day video

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £22.00, Standard DBS check £22.00 and Enhanced DBS check £42.00.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £13. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 624.5KB)
• Person Specification (PDF, 416.4KB)
• Guidance on Pre-Employment Checks (PDF, 64.2KB)
• Statement on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 43.2KB)
• Application Guide Booklet (PDF, 511.1KB)