Team Lead Occupational Therapist for Acute Medicine
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford, and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.
Our values
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) promise to our patients, as identified by our three values which will contribute to improving our patients’ experiences, is:
Patient at heart – Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts.
Everyday excellence – Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both.
Creative collaboration – Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care.
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist with previous experience in core areas of Occupational Therapy to lead our inpatient medical team.
You will be responsible for the provision of our service to the acute medical wards (including cardiology and respiratory), as well as having an oversight of the patients with new or ongoing neurological conditions across our acute site.
The team will include Occupational Therapy staff at all levels, and this post will provide an exciting opportunity for the development of inter-professional skills, working closely with other disciplines, especially our physiotherapy staff.
While previous senior experience in core areas of Occupational Therapy within an acute care setting is preferred, we will consider more junior applicants for a developmental role (Band 6 to 7 accelerated pathway). There will be a responsibility to take on deputy duties within this role to support the Therapies Manager in the day to day running of the department.
This is a part time position of 22.5 hours per week. Working pattern can be negotiated on appointment into the role.
Main duties of the job- To provide a high quality expert Occupational Therapy service to a specialist caseload of medical and neurology patients which consists of patients on our acute medical wards (including cardiology and respiratory) as well as having oversight of patients within the hospital with a neurological diagnosis.
- To manage a complex caseload within critical care & neurology services using advanced clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection and analysis to support assessments.
- To be responsible for a designated team of occupational therapists providing leadership for junior staff, technical instructors and occupational therapy assistants through supervision and performance management.
- To assist junior staff in the management of complex cases requiring advanced clinical reasoning.
- To lead and advise on clinical occupational therapy developments within occupational therapy and critical care and related Trust wide projects.
- To be responsible for the maintenance and development of own continuing professional development identifying and contributing to the evidence base of occupational therapy.
- To educate occupational therapy students on practice placements.
- To apply a client centred approach and current evidence base to assess, treat patients and implement, evaluate and document occupational therapy interventions.
- To support the management of the occupational therapy service as required by the deputy therapy manager and therapy manager
Working for our organisation
Our Organisation
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford, and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.
We employ 3,500 staff and serve a local population of around 350,000 people living in west Essex and east Hertfordshire, centred on the M11 corridor and the towns of Harlow, Bishop’s Stortford and Epping. Our extended catchment area incorporates a population of up to 500,000 and includes the areas of Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.
Our Values
The Princess Alexandra Promise to our patients as identified by our 3 values which will contribute to improving our patient experiences:
Patient at heart – Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts
Everyday excellence – Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both
Creative collaboration – Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care
The Trust believes in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.
It’s never been a better time to join us.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job description and person specification for the full job details. This is available to download at any time.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree / Diploma Occupational Therapy
- Registration with HCPC as Occupational Therapist
- Evidence of relevant CPD at postgraduate level education.
- Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy. Current HCPC registration
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience as a Band 6 in a broad range of specialities including respiratory, neurological, Community working, oncology, Older people/elderly rehab, Medicine & general surgery, Orthopaedics, Falls, Pain and posture management, Neurology, Dementia, and respiratory conditions
- Experience of working in an acute hospital as part of an Occupational Therapy team and/or MDT
- Experience in supervision, mentorship and appraisal of students and junior staff
- Relevant clinical experience managing difficult conversations.
What we can offer you:
- Full induction and onboarding process in our organisation
- Free car parking for our staff
- Structured pay scheme, including additional living supplement to your basic salary
- Minimum 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time staff)
- Access to our Alex Lounge, our staff only rest area with free tea and coffee
- Access to NHS Pension scheme
- Flexible working options available, in line with our flexible working policy
- Onsite creche facilities
- Annual appraisals with career pathways
- In-house training courses
- Discounted hospital restaurant
- Staff health and wellbeing health services and complimentary health provision
- Our Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all its employees. We welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability
- All new colleagues joining PAHT will be subject to a probationary period of six months
- The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment
- Our Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and vulnerable adults. Offers of employment are subject to pre-employment NHS screening checks
- Providing false or misleading information or unsatisfactory pre-employment checks may result in the offer of a post being withdrawn