Highly Specialist Outpatients Occupational Therapist

Job summary
Band 7 Outpatients Occupational Therapist, working across both the Sutton and Chelsea sites37.5 hours per week.

Award-Winning Patient CareWe're world-renowned for our research and treatment of cancer and we have been awarded the Charter Mark for our commitment to excellence in patient care.

What can we provide for you?The opportunity to work within the largest cancer centre in Europe and to build on your existing skills and experience. You should have evidence of experience in oncology and palliative care. The hospital encourages professional and personal development through an in-service education programme and support for study leave.

How do we work?We take a genuinely multiprofessional approach to the rehabilitation of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

This is post is dedicated to the running and ongoing development of the outpatient occupational therapy service. The post holder will be pivotal in the development of the service as well as the key professional in providing Occupational Therapy input for outpatients with deficits resulting from cancer and its treatment.

The Royal Marsden Foundation NHS Trust is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe with an international reputation for high quality patient care, research & development and education. We are one of the first Foundation Trusts in the UK.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Lauren Blackburn, Operational Lead OT, on View phone number on meeveem.com

Main duties of the job

• Cancer care is a rapidly developing area of expertise within Occupational Therapy.
• This Band 7 Occupational Therapist will develop and lead the Occupational Therapy Outpatient service across both sites of the Trust.
• They will develop a structure for the outpatient service, including, but not limited to: establishing prioritisation criteria, defining and implementing assessments and outcome measures applicable to each referral reason, standardising evidence-based practice across both sites, defining pathways for delivery of Occupational Therapy input, reporting on activity and collecting relevant data for the service, and developing patient resources for self-management.
• They will be the primary point of contact for co-ordinating appointments, treating, managing and prioritising outpatient referrals, assessing patients, providing occupational therapy input, including the use of supported self-management strategies and onward referrals.

About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

Undertake and oversee all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

2.1. The Band 7 Occupational Therapist is responsible for the provision of a high quality and evidence-based service. The post holder is a skilled practitioner, who will act as a source of knowledge and expertise for patients, families and other members of the health care team. The post holder takes a lead role in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the occupational therapy service within areas of advanced clinical practice.

2.2. Provide a holistic assessment of patients with cancer. These patients may present with complex physical, emotional and psychological needs as a result of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, protons and systemic anti-cancer therapy.

2.3. Provide a holistic therapeutic assessment of patients with cancer symptoms as a result of tumour activity, metastatic disease or treatment. These patients may present with complex physical, emotional and psychological needs as a result of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, protons and systemic anti-cancer therapy.

2.4. Work with the multidisciplinary team to provide Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment of patients with complex rehabilitation needs. Act as a source of knowledge and give support and guidance where necessary to progress patients and plan timely onward referral.

2.5. Develop and deliver individualised treatment programmes and make appropriate referrals to other disciplines.

2.6. Provide advice, support and supervision for designated junior Occupational Therapists. Supervision with junior members of staff takes the form of formal training, reflective practice and clinical reasoning.

2.7. To be a source of knowledge and expertise for patients, relatives and colleagues of all disciplines both within the Trust, locally and nationally. The post holder works closely with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to provide specialist input to a planned programme of co-ordinated care.

2.8. The band 7 Occupational Therapist has developed an advanced area of clinical practise within Occupational Therapy and oncology and palliative care. The post holder has a responsibility to share best practise, answer queries and provide education within this specialist area.

2.9. Undertake evidence-based audit and research projects in conjunction with colleagues to further clinical practice and service development.

2.10. Contribute to service development by identifying and/or implementing specific changes to practice, in conjunction with the rehabilitation team.

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• State Registration with Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) for Occupational Therapy.
• Evidence of experience in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Evidence of experience in leadership, project management, audit, outcome measurement and clinical governance.
• Evidence of experience in presentation and teaching skills.
• Post-grad study days/courses in oncology/palliative care.

Desirable

• Approved fieldwork supervisor course.
• Membership of a clinical interest group in occupational therapy
• Accredited wheelchair course.
• Accredited splinting and hand therapy course.

Experience
Essential

• Significant post graduate clinical experience with a minimum of two years' experience in oncology and palliative care.
• Evidence of experience in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Evidence of experience in leadership, project management, audit, outcomes measurement and clinical governance.
• Evidence of experience in presentation and teaching skills.

Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential

• Advanced knowledge of functional assessment and treatment techniques for oncology and palliative care patients, including physical, cognitive, psychosocial functional assessments and treatment, as well as specific symptom and lifestyle management techniques (e.g. relaxation, anxiety, breathlessness and fatigue management).
• Risk assessment: Ability to carry out risk assessments concerning patients and staff safety, including Manual Handling.
• Ability to assess risks associated with lone working, take responsibility for reporting to colleagues and ensuring self and patient are safe at all times.
• Ability to assess potential risks with regard to patients' discharge from hospital.
• Expertise in group dynamics, planning, facilitating, running and evaluating therapeutic groups.
• Advanced clinical reasoning as well as analytical and creative problems solving skills.
• Communication skills: Advanced communication skills with particular ability to work with complex/sensitive situations with patients, carers, OT colleagues and the wider MDT; Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills as required in an oncology and palliative care setting; Ability to deal with imparting bad news.
• Written and documentation skills: Ability to produce professional and accurate notes and records including management reports, service development proposals, multi-professional care plans, letters, assessments for hospital and external agencies.
• Reflective Skills: Ability to reflect on and make positive changes to own and departmental clinical practices.
• Team skills: Ability to facilitate supportive team working to maintain efficacy, efficiency and morale.
• Autonomous working: Ability to work in a highly motivated self-directed manner on clinical and departmental activities.
• Organisational skills: Ability to prioritise workload and organise time effectively to manage multiple priorities.
• Supervisory skills: Ability to fulfil supervisory and mentor role for junior staff and undergraduate students
• Educational skills: Ability to teach both patients and carers in areas relating to rehabilitation; Proven ability to prepare and deliver presentations and education sessions to health care colleagues and members of public.
• IT skills: Ability to enter data, prepare reports, formal written documentation and multi-media presentations. Confident in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Power Point and Excel.
• NHS/Trust: Sound understanding of current NHS and the Trust's issues

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.

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

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