Band 6 Occupational Therapist - Stroke and Neurology

Job summary
Anexciting opportunityhas arisenfora22.5hourband 6post instroke and neurology.The post holder willrequireexperience in the speciality ofStroke & Neurology.We are looking foraflexible,enthusiasticand motivated individualwho will be based on the Acute Stroke Unit/Neurology ward.

The applicant will require excellent communication,time managementskillsand a flexible approach. You must have good inter-personal skills, work well in a multidisciplinary team environment, and be willing to support the Team Lead to deliver a specialist occupational therapy service.

As atherapy servicewe are committed to providing regular clinical and non-clinical support and supervision; conduct yearly appraisal;allocatetime for Continued Professional Development (CPD) and involve allgrades of staff intheIn-Service Training programmes.

This post is part of anestablished7-day workingservice;applicantsmust be able to take an active part on the 7-day working rota.

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
Perform a Specialist Occupational Therapist role to provide a comprehensive Occupational Therapy Serviceto the patients referred, including stroke and neurology on the acute ward. This includes carrying out a rangeof functional and cognitive assessments while working as part of the MDT.

Post holderassiststhe Team Leader in the day-to-day management of the wider Team, providing support,supervisionand allocationof work to the Band 5 OTs,and Technical Instructors. The post holder will also undertake appraisal and clinical supervision of specified staff within the team.The post holder willberequiredtodeputise for the Team leader when necessary.

The Post holder will have a delegated remit of Clinical Governance and teaching activities to undertake and develop within the team.

Post holder is professionally and legally accountable for his/her own action, workingwith minimal supervision.The post holder is professionally and legally accountable for work delegated to assistant staff and students.

Patients seen present with a wide range ofcomplex andhighly complexstroke and neurological deficits with potentially long-term needs and disabilities.

Post holder is professionally and legally accountable for his/her ownaction andworks with minimal supervision.

Will berequiredto work on a 7-day working rota andbe flexible to cover along the pathwayin different work locationsdepending on patient needs.

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. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. 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

• Ensure the patients,relativesand those the therapistcomes into contact withare aware of the role of the Occupational Therapist and components of the Occupational Therapy treatment programme.
• Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent, prior tocommencingany treatment.
• Select from a wide range of standardised and non-standardised assessments to assess and aid diagnosis of cognitive, perceptual, behavioural,physicaland social functioning of the patients referred.This includes, but is not limited to social environmental interview, cognitive & perceptual tests (MoCA,OCS,ACE III& MET),mood screens,personal care assessments, kitchen assessments, feedingassessmentsand group therapy sessions.
• Make reliable interpretations of the assessment results,in order toinform other professionals in the diagnosis and management of the patients. Also to guide the Occupational Therapy treatment plan, and for the recommendation of the discharge destination/placement.
• Plan, deliver and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients,carersand familyin accordance withany consent given. Addressing areas such as disease management, sensory, motor, splinting, psychosocialneedsand functional abilities.
• Carry out environmental home assessments, pre-discharge home assessments, discharge homeassessmentsand follow-up visits, as required.Assess the patient carrying out functional skills to maximise independent living, arranging equipment provision, adaptations and support services as required.Assess for disability access and safety, also ensuring access to community resources and assessing carer needs.
• Assess for and provide aids and adaptive equipment to increase / enable independent function, teaching compensatory techniques asrequired. These include but are not limited to feeding, dressing, leisureactivitiesand employment. Responsible for providing information and instruction for the safe use of the items provided.
• Rise requisitions for minor adaptation on behalf of Social Services; and OT equipment on behalf of the OT Department,DerrifordHospital, per referral.
• Assess for wheelchairs, specialist seating and positioning needs treating asappropriate, referring on to wheelchair and seating clinics as required.
• Responsible to plan, deliver and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients,carersand familyin accordance withany consent given.

Please refer to job description attached for further details.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• To be registered as required with HCPC.
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses.

Desirable

• Wheelchair accredited.
• Membership of appropriate clinical interest groups.
• Accredited Fieldwork Educator.
• Post-graduate training relevant to clinical area.
• Current valid UK driving license and Car driver.

Knowledge
Essential

• To have extensive demonstrable experience as an Occupational Therapist in the physical fields.
• To have specific demonstrable experience in the field of Stroke/Neurology.
• To have specialist proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of OT assessments and treatments in this specialty.
• To have proven knowledge of a wide range of OT equipment and minor adaptations.
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a Therapy team and the wider MDT.
• To have good verbal and written English skills.
• To have training, supervisory and /or teaching demonstrable experience.

Desirable

• To have demonstrable experience of supervising student occupational therapists and staff at all grades.
• To have demonstrable experience of staff appraisals.
• To have demonstrable experience in teaching other members of the MDT team both internal and external settings.
• To have demonstrable experience in delivering patient education.

Aptitude & Abilities
Essential

• Professional manner.
• To have demonstrable experience to be able to prioritise complex caseload and allocate workload to the team.
• To have good time management skills.
• Leadership qualities.

Disposition / Attitude / Motivation
Essential

• To have a co-operative nature and be able to get on well with others, work as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Be steady and dependable and able to persist in difficult situations without being distracted
• Recognise own limitation.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).