Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Leadership:

• To contribute to service development and audits.
• To provide supervision (if relevant to post) and mentoring to junior occupational therapy staff, occupational therapy apprentices, activity coordinators and support workers.
• To represent occupational therapy within the multi-disciplinary team and locality/sector/wider divisional meetings.
• To advocate and promote occupational therapy within the Trust.
• To support the delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities within services and divisions.
• To provide clinical placements for occupational therapy students.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of appropriate policies, protocols and care
• To lead on project work relevant to the team/service, with support from the Lead Occupational Therapist.
• To assist in appropriate staff recruitment and induction and contribute to the wider strategic plans regarding occupational therapy

 Clinical:

• To demonstrate expertise and specialist occupational therapy skills in areas such as occupational identity and competency, occupational engagement, environmental adaptation, volition, development and maintenance of occupational skills.
• To provide high quality occupational therapy assessments for people who access the service, adapting the approach as and when needed.
• To provide evidence based and outcome measured occupational therapy interventions (individual and group), as outlined in the occupational therapy pathway.
• To use effective clinical reasoning and formulation skills to devise person-centred occupational therapy care plans, alongside people who access services and their carers/supporters/family members (where appropriate).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions.
• To complete comprehensive risk assessment and management plans, raising safeguarding concerns in line with Trust policy.
• To keep up to date with current evidence-based practice, research and National guidelines within your clinical area.
• To act as the lead professional or care coordinator for people who access services for the duration of their occupational therapy assessment and/or intervention.
• To utilise therapeutic use of self skills when providing occupational therapy interventions.
• To understand group theory and system dynamics and how these impact on delivering services.
• To communicate complex and challenging issues in an effective and compassionate way with people who access services, carers/family members/supporters, other clinicians and agencies/services.
• To effectively manage a caseload with people who have complex needs.
• To be compassionate, inclusive and understanding of the needs of people who access services, carers/supporter/family members.
• To work in partnership with other community services and providers.
• To have excellent time management skills and be able to independently manage occupational therapy referrals, triages and own caseload.
• To complete New Patient Assessments for people referred to the service and participate in team wide tasks.
• To be the lead professional when delivering generic work, such as risk management, specialist supportive clinical management, referring to specialist services, stabilisation, low intensity interventions, to people who access services with have complex needs.

Professional:

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work and To maintain high standards of care in all areas of practice in accordance with the HCPC Code of Conduct, professional guidelines and Trust Policies and Procedures.
• To act within the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• To be aware of and implement Safeguarding Adult and Child Protection Policies, Procedures and
• To engage in your own CPD to ensure that you have the knowledge and skills to deliver high quality occupational therapy assessments and interventions.
• To document assessments, interventions, evaluations and progress notes in a clear, timely and professional manner, in line with Trust policy.
• To actively engage in your own supervision and appraisal.
• To ensure confidentially in line with the Trust’s policies and procedures
• To contribute to a healthy and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety regulations and Trust policies.