Specialist Occupational Therapist
Clinical To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults with a variety of complex and diverse neurological conditions as inpatients, outpatients/day hospital setting and in specialist clinics To carry out complex standardised and non-standardised assessments of functional ability, cognition, home situation and psychological issues liaising with senior staff as required for highly complex patients To respect clients dignity, privacy, culture and wishes during treatment with a commitment to equal access to Occupational therapy To use specialist clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidence-based practise to analyse and interpret clinical information to formulate occupational therapy treatment and appropriate outcome measures and to form an accurate diagnosis of patients conditions with guidance from Highly Specialist Occupational Therapists (OTs) as required To provide specialist evidenced based OT treatment using a wide range of treatment skills and options relevant to neurological rehabilitation To provide advanced recommendations/advice/instruction/teaching regarding OT management of each patient, according to the individual needs of each patient, to the IDT team, other relevant health and social care professionals, carers/relatives and other relevant non healthcare professionals To monitor, review and modify treatment plans /goals to measure progress and to ensure effective outcomes Prioritise and organise own patient caseload and develop individualised treatment interventions under the supervision of the Highly Specialist OTs To work as part of the interdisciplinary team providing specialist neurological rehabilitation individually and in groups To agree and set IDT rehabilitation goals, with the treating team within goal planning meetings To manage a complex caseload as an autonomous practitioner evidencing clinical reasoning skills, problem solving and independence of judgement To be able to identify own professional limitations and seek senior advice when appropriate To carry out discharge home visits in liaison with health and social care agencies to identify equipment and care needs for discharge and identify and refer to appropriate onward services To risk assess and undertake complex manual handling techniques involving patients and or equipment following appropriate training in line with organisational manual handling policies To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessment and interventions including manual handling and therapeutic techniques To act as keyworker for designated patients and chair goal planning/discharge meetings as required Plan and allocate work to assistant and technical staff Communication To liaise with all members of the inter-disciplinary team, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies, OCE and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery To communicate and negotiate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective.
This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive and contentious information such as discussing limitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges and providing appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills are required To be able to assess a patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers .
To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings. To promote understanding of the aims of Occupational therapy intervention within the IDT team and with external agencies involved in the patients care . To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in communicating relevant information efficiently and effectively to occupational therapy staff within the Oxford Centre for Enablement.Management 1. To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in the co-ordination and management of the neurological occupational therapy service provided to the Enablement Directorate. 2. To be actively involved in the development of new models of service delivery and care within the Enablement Directorate under the direction and supervision of the Head Occupational Therapist, Highly Specialist and Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapists To achieve and maintain a level of skill in information technology relevant to the post To be responsible for ensuring that all equipment in the occupational therapy department is stored safely and maintained in safe working order.
To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in the management of change and to ensure cost-effective use of available resources. To be responsible for the recording and collation of departmental statistics and other information as required by the Head of Therapy Services both written and on the IT system.To be aware of and assist the occupational therapy team to adhere to all OUH and NHS health and safety and personnel policies and procedures, including carrying out risk assessments. To be actively involved in the development of clinical audit and quality assurance strategies to ensure that a clinically effective occupational therapy service is delivered.
To be involved in the supervision and appraisal of junior occupational therapy staff and or assistant/technical instructor staff To assist the Lead OT and Highly specialist OTs in the recruitment and retention process Education, Training and Research To have an awareness of current trends in treatment techniques and professional issues and to participate in active learning, including participating in research or study in relevant areas To be responsible for acquiring the clinical and professional skills, with the support of the highly specialist OTs, required for the clinical area i.e. fabrication of specialised hand splints administering standardised cognitive assessments, implementation of specialised postural management strategies To be involved in the orientation and induction programmes of new Occupational Therapy staff and students .
To participate in regular supervision, the staff review process , in-service/IDT training, action learning and maintain a professional portfolio to ensure professional registration is maintained To assist in providing fieldwork placements for undergraduate Occupational Therapy students, including the maintenance of standards expected of an accredited fieldwork placement.To contribute and participate in educational programmes and courses organised within the occupational therapy service. To keep up to date with relevant research and issues relevant to the clinical area to provide evidence based care.