Band 6 Senior Neuro Rotational Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To identify, prioritise and manage patients presenting with neurological impairments, who require occupational therapy input. Including education of the MDT to promote appropriate referrals for both discharge planning and rehabilitation.

2. To assess and treat patients with neurological disabilities and complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.

3. To be competent in the administration of specific neurological occupational therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual deficits, psychosocial needs and occupational performance.

4. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial, compensatory and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and occupational areas.

5. To provide specialist occupational therapy input to neurological wards, critical care units, acute services, rehabilitation services, outpatients and clinics.

6. To support patients and carers in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.

7. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.

8. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.

9. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of Therapeutic Manual Handling techniques and the Lone Working Policy and document this accurately.

10. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.

11. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.

12. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.

13. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.

14. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.

15. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.

16. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services detailing functional status, discharge recommendations and recommendations regarding ongoing occupational therapy interventions. To contribute to multidisciplinary functional and discharge reports detailing occupational therapy interventions and recommendations as required.

17. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.

18. To assist with planning and prioritisation of the team and departments’ workload in the event of staff absence to ensure the occupational therapy priority services are maintained.

19. To comply with all relevant trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to equal opportunities, health and safety and confidentiality of information.

COMMUNICATION

1. To communicate complex information to patients and family/ carers who may have barriers to understanding.

2. To actively participate in team meetings within occupational therapy and with the MDT, including weekly MDT meetings, case conferences and best interest meetings and to delegate for specialist or team lead occupational therapist as required.

3. To be skilled in communicating reasoning and motivating patients to participate in sessions.

4. To communicate professionally in person and by telephone with families/ carers and other professionals.

5. To manage differences of opinions and difficult conversations within the team, MDT and with patients, families/ carers.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

1. To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.

2. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.

3. To contribute to the hospital’s clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.

4. To assist in developing services and standards according to the Occupational Therapy objectives.

5. To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the neurological occupational therapy services with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.

6. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.

7. To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.

8. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

1. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

2. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.

3. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.

4. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.

5. To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.

6. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.

7. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in Occupational Therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an Occupational Therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.

8. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.

9. To participate in and present on the neurology in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.

10. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns 
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training.  These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.