Specialist Neurological Occupational Therapist - ref. f3047703
Praising NCH&C’s “compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels”, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing.The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the team at the Colman Centre for Specialist Rehabilitation Services within Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust, based at Caroline House.
The post holder will be joining well-integrated and established multi-disciplinary teams providing Level 1 rehabilitation to a varied and challenging caseload of patients aged 16 years old and upwards. This will involve providing specialist Occupational Therapy to the inpatient unit and will include visits to community locations.
The post holder will require a BSc /Diploma in Occupational Therapy and be HCPC registered. They will possess excellent interpersonal and time management skills, be a good communicator, able to prioritise and work well as a member of a team. They will be responsible for carrying out assessments, planning and delivering interventions (both with individuals, their relatives and carers), within groups to facilitate recovery, restoration of function acquired brain injury, and supporting timely discharge from hospital.
They will be clinically confident working with patients with neurological deficits and rehabilitation needs. They should have a collaborative and enthusiastic style, as well as a passion and commitment to develop and promote evidence-based practice.
The post-holder will be required to work 30 hours per week.
Main duties of the job- To assess and prescribe care packages for patients with complex rehabilitation needs.
- To work within the MDT to facilitate timely discharge from in-patient or outpatient service
- To work within the MDT to support patients in the community and prevent unnecessary admission to hospital
- To work with all health care professionals, and statutory and voluntary agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.
- As required provide support to other services across the Neurological Services pathway.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Professional / Clinical Responsibilities
Working within a multi-disciplinary team the role includes;
Assessing, prescribing and developing Specialist Occupational Therapy for patients with complex neurological rehabilitation needs, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills to inform the development of a differential diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.
Providing specialist occupational therapy assessments and advice, to facilitate timely discharge from our in-patient or out-patient care.
Developing and maintaining effective working relationships and communication with other healthcare professionals and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated pathway and service to our patient where their needs are well met.Provide clinical expertise and advice to others, including Community therapy teams, Social Services, GPs and other agencies.
Demonstrating the knowledge and ability to carry out a range of highly specialist treatment skills including vocational rehabilitation, assessment of prolonged disorders of consciousness, Environmental Controls, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, spasticity and postural management and splinting relevant to the area of practice.
Maintain up to date knowledge of available assistive technology, bespoke environmental controls equipment and following assessment of patients with highly complex physical disabilities make referrals for this as required or refer to the appropriate team to support this.
Communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan.
Working frequently with patients and families in complex situations which are emotionally distressing and may cause hostility. This may include completing suicide risk assessments and providing and receiving contentious information.
Making suitable adjustments to explanations to gain understanding, consent and concordance where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating assessment and interventions.
Using tact and persuasive skills to gain the patient’s co-operation in their treatment plan including negotiation and agreement of realistic and achievable goals.
Acting as key worker for individual patients, taking responsibility for organising and chairing Multidisciplinary /multi agency meetings (including continuing health care assessments, leading case discussions and being key contact for family members.
Providing teaching and training of colleagues, carers, family members and other professionals, as relevant to the needs of individual patients and patient groups, as supported by the Occupational therapy lead.
Working with others to inform and implement an appropriate management plan for patients with challenging behaviour.
Providing occupational therapy input to specialist clinics including the Spasticity, Neuro-muscular and multi-disciplinary assessment clinics.
Contributing to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems. Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this.
Pro-actively taking part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
Remaining accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional body.
Providing occupational therapy which is evidence based practice, using research methodology.
Will be able to drive to patients’ homes, in patient units, clinics, base and meetings as required.
Being responsible for ensuring own workload is planned and prioritised according to service targets and needs.
As required provide support to other services across the pathway.
Management and Leadership
Be required to undertake risk assessments and act upon them appropriately.
Contribute to the planning of leave to ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained across the service.
Participate in recruitment processes, using the opportunity to skill mix to meet the demands of the service.
Effectively delegate tasks and appropriate projects to more junior staff members.
Support all team members within the multi-disciplinary team, respecting them, their roles and contributions.
Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration courses.
Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence.
Be accountable for work delegated to others.
Undertake Personal Development Reviews for more junior staff members.
Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Trust Policy.
Actively contribute to team meetings.
Financial Responsibilities
Support the effective use of financial and human resources by all members of the team to work within budgetary boundaries.
Education and professional development
To identify and address the professional development and training needs for junior colleagues within the service in negotiation with the lead Occupational therapist and MDT colleagues.
Provide advice and training to less experienced staff, supervise and support band 2-5 staff, apprentices and students. Contribute to the induction process for new therapy staff and students, evaluating the current education programme and up-dating as required alongside the lead occupational therapist.
Attend in-house training as required to maintain and develop clinical and professional skills appropriate to the role.
To provide specialist teaching and training for appropriate multi-disciplinary team members including outside agencies/carers in relation to highly specialist areas including posture management splinting and environmental controls for example in negotiation with the lead occupational therapist.
Actively participate in the Personal Development Review process.
Undertake Personal Development Plans for Band 1-5 staff members.
Maintain own continued professional development.
Contribute to the promotion of a healthy and safe continuous learning environment for all staff.
Provide supervision for students on clinical placements.
Provide advice/training and /or supervision to less experienced staff including the mentoring of existing staff.
To participate in Clinical Governance, Research and Development and Audit activities as required by the lead Occupational Therapist.
Operational Delivery
To work closely with the Lead Occupational Therapist within the service, supporting with operational tasks and project as required.
To inform the lead Occupational Therapist of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact to the provision of service.
Be able to interpret organisational data for use within patient, staff and system management whilst adhering to contractual arrangements, local and national, ensuring targets are met.
To work with the lead occupational therapist, and other multi-disciplinary team members, in the development of clinical standards, care protocols, policies and procedures for specific clinical issues.
Risk and Governance Management
Be responsible for the safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
Carry out risk assessments. Take an active role in implementing control measures to reduce the risks, supporting other staff to maintain the measures. Be able to escalate risks as required.
Actively participate in Root Cause Analysis investigations and feedback to the wider team as required.
Support a culture where staff feel they have the Freedom to Speak Up.
Complete and/or create Datix risk assessments as required.
Support others to create and or maintain risk assessments, escalate risks as required.
Understand and support the Trusts Safe, Caring, Responsive Effective and Well-led Governance agenda and contribute as required
Service Development
To actively review current specialist equipment available.
To assist in the development of team objectives and service development projects in liaison with the lead Occupational Therapist.
Take an active role in reviewing up-to-date guidelines and research to support the development of Occupational Therapy, informing lead Occupational therapist of potential changes to evidence/working practice.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- Current HCPC registration
- Clinical educators course
Experience
Essential criteria- Evidence of working at a minimum of band 5 level with a variety of post registration experience in inpatient, rehabilitation and discharge planning.
- Post registration clinical experience of patients with neurological conditions
- Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in-house training & short courses
- Awareness of alternative communication strategies for patients with neurological conditions
- Previous clinical experience in a neurological rehabilitation setting
- Training/clinical experience in: postural management, splinting for abnormal tone, cognitive rehabilitation, wheelchair prescribers course.
- Experience of managing challenging behaviours
- Experience of working with patients with tracheostomy
- Experience with running groups
- Experience in delivering specialist bespoke equipment to highly complex patients
Skills
Essential criteria- Highly motivated
- Empathy & sensitivity
- Ability to use own initiative
- Good observational & reporting skills
- Good interpersonal skills including tact and diplomacy
- Ability to manage stressful situations
- Evidence of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs
- Demonstrate good IT and standard keyboard skills
- Demonstrate excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of standardised assessments
Communication
Essential criteria- Ability to use verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Ability to communicate with range of professionals at all levels
- Ability to communicate to patients/carers and relatives with sensitivity and compassion
- Experience of using alternative communication strategies for patients with neurological conditions
Personal and People Development
Essential criteria- Maintain competency within role
- Encouraging and developing self and others using a range of techniques and skills to share knowledge
- Attend training relevant to role to maintain knowledge and skills
- Experience of leadership skills in the workplace
Personal Attributes & Behaviours
Essential criteria- Able to identify with the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults.
- Be reliable, honest and resilient
- Possess drive and enthusiasm
Other
Essential criteria- Professional appearance in accordance with Trust policy
- Be able to: kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments
- Manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6 kg
- Manoeuvre patients using moving and handling aids
- Must hold full and valid driving licence
- Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language
All sites are Smoke Free.
Immigration Status - Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against Skilled Worker visas.If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before making an application.
Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.
Redeployment - Please note that in the first instance priority for this vacancy will be given to NCH&C staff who are on the Trusts Redeployment Register.
DBS - If this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and you are not a current employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust or being recruited as an Apprentice then the cost of the DBS check will be automatically removed from your first month’s salary.However if you are registered with the update service this may not be required.
Closing and Interview Dates -This vacancy may close early if sufficient applicants are received.
Data Protection - A privacy notice detailing how we will handle your data is attached to this advert as a document. Your application will be transferred to our recruitment management system (Trac) once the advert has closed and you will receive notification then detailing how Trac will handle your data.
On April 1st 2025, the Boards of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust will come together to deliver services as a group, with a singular board operating across both organisations. Both trusts are high performing specialist community health and care providers working in the East of England.Both have a strong track record, with the highest ratings from the Care Quality Commission, best in class NHS staff survey outcomes, and a decade of experience in innovation and clinical development.
The group model provides health and care services to a population of 3.2 million in their homes and neighbourhoods. We provide care that supports people from the very beginning to the very end of their lives.
We will remain two separate employers until further notice, and this role being advertised will be employed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.