Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

Provide a quality service by practicing as a highly specialist autonomous 
practitioner across the Pain and Fatigue and Weight Management Pathways.

Undertake comprehensive complex assessment, diagnosis, and intervention, using investigative, analytical and advanced clinical reasoning skills to formulate individualised management plans with the individual themselves. This will include identifying and advising medical colleagues on the need for further intervention.

Request and act upon the results of investigations e.g. medical imaging and 
refer to other services as required e.g. Pain Management Consultant, Bariatric surgery.

Formulate and present accurate client-based reports to others. This will include discharge summaries to referring agent including advice on future 
management.

Undertake specialist treatment interventions utilising highly developed manual skills, in depth knowledge of pain & psychological sciences, and the physiology of exercise and advanced Occupational therapy skills. 

Provide effective high-level communication. This will include complex and 
sensitive clinical and managerial information and may include advising otherprofessionals.

Involve service users, relatives, and carers in the planning of treatment 
programmes including overcoming barriers to communication, gaining consent for assessment and interventions, and providing advice and education. 

Undertake evidence-based audits to assist with service delivery and own clinical practice.

Participate in the critical analysis of research outcomes and or relevant 
literature to maintain expert levels of clinical knowledge and practice. 
Where required and in line with Health Board policies deliver treatment 
programmes which may include prescribing medication.

Communicate complex information with other health and social care 
professionals and/or the Third Sector to support pathway of care. 
Provide an expert resource as required, including, reviewing and 
implementation of new clinical service models.

Participate with the multi-disciplinary/agency team to provide a coordinated approach to management of patient’s care.

Manage clinical risk within own caseload and working with colleagues manage risk within specific area e.g. primary care.

Practice within the All-Wales network for their specialty. 

Fulfil the regulatory requirements for practice as set out by the Health and Care Professions Council.

Maintain personal and team standards with regard to clinical documentation ensuring this is in line with Health and Care Professions Council and the organisation Standards of Practice.

Management and Leadership 

Contribute to the development of standards and implementation for 
occupational therapy practitioners in the Health Board. This will include contribution to the development of guidance, protocols, and pathways of care that span primary, community and secondary care. 
Participate in the work of clinical/professional practice groups in line with the needs of the service.

Demonstrate leadership skills that can span different pathway areas e.g. 
working as part of a primary care team in a GP practice, an MDT team such as Pain and Fatigue Management, secondary care consultant outpatient clinics, level 3 weight management team. 

Support department and pathways meetings and lead assigned work plans.
Work collaboratively with Occupational Therapy Practitioners both within Health Board and external agencies in all fields of practice including undertaking delegated operational responsibility duties where required.

Provide expert advice regarding specialist field both inside and outside the 
organisation. 

Provide expert opinion and support to staff in the management of complex 
patient presentations.
Influence the care provided by other Health and Social Care professions 
through provision of specialist guidance and involvement in formal teaching.

Take a proactive role in the clinical leadership and supervision of staff within specialist area. This may include supervising/mentoring MDT staff members and will include participating as a supervisee.

Network/benchmark externally (locally, regionally, and nationally) regarding specialist service.

Manage the administrative functions relating to the referral, treatment, and discharge processes for the referral. This includes statistical data from own 
caseload and wider service to produce performance measurement and 
monitoring. 

Manage working patterns in line with requirements and agreements reached regarding performance management, in their area.

Assist in the recruitment process for the wider MSK service. 
Contribute to multidisciplinary team building within the GP practice and policy development where appropriate, including the negotiation of collaborative working arrangements.

Represent the occupational therapy service in service planning as required.
Ensure co-ordination of clinical area including clinical prioritisation based on clinical risk. 

Working with colleagues to identify clinical priorities and service development needs.

Advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfalls, service pressures, working environment and equipment requirements.
In conjunction with colleagues, ensure the effective use of all resources.

Take the delegated lead on the development of a particular team objective or project.

Demonstrate negotiation skills and management of conflict including 
investigating concerns and ensuring when appropriate lessons are learnt.
Demonstrate awareness and adherence to service objectives / plan.
Support the development, implementation, and analysis of outcome measures within the specialty. 

Research and Development 

Initiate and undertake audit and research projects into specific areas of clinical practice using a range of methodologies to enhance service delivery.

Develop and implement clinical policies, protocols, and guidelines within 
specialty within the framework of clinical governance, evidence-based medicine and best practice.

Contribute to the development of musculoskeletal protocols and care pathways, referring to local, national, professional guidance and strategy.
Support the development, implementation and analysis of outcome and 
experience measures for the service and ensure dissemination of findings 
through a variety of methods such as publishing articles and presentation at conferences.

Education

Responsible for own continuous professional development through the use of appropriate learning opportunities and maintain portfolio. This includes self-education and reflective practice at appropriate learning events, which may include in-service training post graduate training, peer review to maintain or update knowledge as agreed in the post holder’s personal development plan.

Participate in the appraisal system as both Appraiser/Appraisee and be 
responsible for fulfilling agreed objectives and personal development plan.
Responsible for completion of mandatory training as required by the Health Board and job role.

Participate in MDT training, both providing training and receiving training to develop own skills and those of the MDT in providing patient centred prudent care.

Take a key role in educating, teaching, supervising, and assessing performance of delegated staff. This includes work-based learning and presentations.

Actively participate in in-service training through the development and delivery of presentations and teaching.

Ensure maintenance of training records, according to Health Board 
requirements.