Part time Band 6 Falls Occupational Therapist (one year)

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated Occupational Therapist to join Lewisham Community Falls Service. This is a therapist led, multidisciplinary team who provide community falls interventions to older adults that live both at home and in care homes; as well as community-based strength and balance classes and falls prevention training to the local community.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with partners in health and social care and contribute to the services public health and education agenda including supporting falls awareness training and health promotion events.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post

Main duties of the job

We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who would like to take part in projects and development work to further develop the service.

Lewisham Community Falls Service is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary therapy led falls prevention service whose innovative work has led to recognition from the Health Innovation Network; Royal College of Occupational Therapists; Health Service Journal; and British Geriatrics Society.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To manage a designated case load with complex needs using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate
• Maintain records which fulfil legal requirements
• To regularly supervise O.T. students on practice placements
• To provide leadership for junior/support staff, through supervision and appraisal
• Contribute to health promotion and education responsibilities of Community Falls Service

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1 To assess and treat a specific caseload of patients of older adults with falls
2. 2 To demonstrate a broad level of knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions.
3. 3 To undertake multifactorial falls assessments and home hazard assessments to identify falls risk factors with a specific focus on falls linked to environment risks, ADL’s, cognition and sensory impairment.
4. 4 To design / plan individual patient treatment programmes to implement oneself, or to delegate as appropriate
5. 5 To assess and provide treatment for the functional level of patients with regard to personal and domestic activities of daily living, to maximise independence.
6. 6 To select and conduct standardised cognitive and perceptual testing with further assessment when needed.
7. 7 To carry out an initial risk assessment where necessary and to monitor ongoing risk
8. 8 To advise, recommend, make provision for the installation of appropriate aids and adaptations to the patient’s social and physical environment.
9. 9 To identify and set client centred goals to promote activity and exercise and reduce falls risks
10. 10 To monitor and evaluate treatment, including the use of outcome measures, in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention
11. 11 To work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior Therapist, if required.
12. 12 To refer on to appropriate agencies for the continuation of treatment, reassessment, monitoring and provision of further adaptations.
13. 13 To participate in the weekend service if introduced.

• 2.1 To communicate effectively with patients and carers, O.T colleagues, multidisciplinary team members and other agencies

1. 2 To participate in the multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences/ MDT meetings
2. 3 To advise and educate patients and carers regarding aids / equipment and falls safety in the home and community
3. 4 To participate in staff meetings and other meetings as directed by senior staff and the Lead O.T.
4. 5. To cover shifts the falls helpline or a rota system; triaging referrals and giving specialist advice

1. 1 To maintain up to date activity data and activity records in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
2. 2 To provide specific reports to other agencies as appropriate

1. 1 To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and all other relevant policies and procedures. These include maintaining confidentiality and respecting the patient’s dignity, privacy culture and wishes.

1. 1 To participate in the individual performance review programme
2. 2 To effectively use supervision and appraisal to reflect on own practice and performance.
3. 3 To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior/support staff as delegated by a senior member of staff
4. 4 To delegate tasks to support staff as appropriate
5. 5 To provide advice to junior/support staff on a day to day basis as required.
6. 6 To deputise for the Band 7 in his/her absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

1. 1 To participate in the planning and implementing of the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.
2. 2 To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of O.T. students on practice placement on a regular basis
3. 3 To give presentations on specific chosen topics.
4. 4 Responsibility for organising specific aspects of training within the department.
5. 5. Contribute to Falls service health and education agenda

1. 1 To work with other staff within the department to ensure that equipment is maintained and stock monitored.
2. 2 To manage the caseload efficiently in order to achieve timely and safe discharges of patients from hospital.
3. 3 To assist senior staff and lead in implementing new policies within the department.
4. 4 To undertake specific departmental duties
5. 5 To work constructively with other therapists and assistants to support development issues, adapting practice and/or making recommendations for change as indicated.

1. 1 To participate in internal and external training opportunities, including mandatory and statutory training, to meet identified objectives and demonstrate ongoing development.
2. 2 To demonstrate an increasingly complex skills and knowledge base to establish competence and fitness to practise as a senior O.T.
3. 3 To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD.

1. 1 To comply with all Trust Policies and procedures (including Infection Control), the Health & Safety at Work Act, and the Data Protection Act.
2. 2 To be familiar with and comply with local fire procedures
3. 3 To be familiar with all Trust and Therapy emergency procedures on and off site and to respond as necessary e.g. emergency resuscitation
4. 4 To report on complaints, accidents and any deficits in equipment as soon as possible.
5. 5 To assess for and advise on risk factors in given situations.
6. 6 To contribute to the Therapy clinical governance and quality agenda.
7. 7 To participate in the evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the clinical area as required.
8. 8 To demonstrate knowledge and application of national guidelines and legislation relating to health care.

1. 1 To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply to practice and disseminate findings at local level.
2. 2 To develop research and audit skills through participation in local projects.
3. 3 To participate in groups facilitating good practice.

• The post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall with the grade of the job, in discussion with the Clinical /lead
• This job description will be reviewed in the light of changing service requirements. Any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• • Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
• • HCPC registration

• Post graduate training relevant to post

Experience

• • At least 12 months Band 6 experience
• • Broad based experience of Occupational Therapy including working with older adults
• • Knowledge and experience of equipment provision and prescription.
• • Experience of presenting information to different groups
• Experience of working as part of an MDT

• • Experience in working in the community
• Experience of working with elderly fallers

Knowledge & Skills

• • Ability to communicate clearly with other disciplines
• • Ability to keep clear, precise records which meet legal requirements
• • A clear understanding of clinical governance and its implications on OT
• • Ability to plan, prioritise and manage a caseload
• • Able to work autonomously and to manage time effectively
• Ability to travel to patients home using own car or bike
• Ability to use IT including patient record systems, word and excel

• • Knowledge of Support services in community
• Car owner/driver

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women’s staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note, not all roles will meet the criteria for a skilled worker visa.