Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient Care

·       To work under the direction of the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.

·       To understand the basic aims of treatment for individual patients carrying out pre set activity, set out by the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.

·       To deliver a range of multi-site onsite, in clinic and virtual assessments and treatments including exercises, group work, education -  as delegated by an Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.

·       To run the equipment loan service and trial service for ergonomic chairs.

·       Demonstrate an awareness of the potential for key patient harms i.e. red flags (training can be provided)

·       To organise and monitor an effective system for reviewing and allocating patient equipment, ensuring it is clean, in good condition and of a safe standard.

·       To communicate effectively with patients, family/carers and key stakeholders to maximise rehabilitation potential. To recognise barriers to understanding and employ alternative communication systems or seek advice. 

·      To report changes in patients’ conditions immediately to the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists responsible and to report to the nurse in charge where appropriate.

·       To show sensitivity to the cultural and social diversity of patients, families and staff and act appropriately.

·       To keep accurate up-to-date clinical records in line with the College of Occupational Therapy/Chartered Society of Physiotherapists/Health Care Professions Council, local and national policies and guidelines.

·       To actively foster equality, diversity and rights of patients throughout their care and the rehabilitation process and have an understanding of the skills and knowledge required to support good practice

·       To contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse, including monitoring those patients who may be considered at risk of abuse. To report any incidents involving potential or actual abuse using the Trust Incident Reporting Procedure. To have an understanding of the skills and knowledge required to support good practice and apply as necessary.

·       To take responsibility, with direction/support from seniors, for a supervised caseload of patients, including those with highly complex and diverse conditions, and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities.

·       To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload. With support from senior clinicians, to have up to date knowledge of indications, contraindications and precautions for any treatment skills and techniques selected and applied throughout an individual course of treatment.

·       To provide Therapy sessions to patients individually, or as a group.

·       To provide individual patient equipment (under guidance from senior clinicians), such as aids, splints and supports.  To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.

Professional

·       To work in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of Practice as set out by College of Occupational Therapy/Chartered Society of Physiotherapists/Health Care Professions Council.

·       To be responsible for CPD by developing and maintaining skills, through mandatory training, experiential learning, in-service training and courses and to record the evidence of Lifelong Learning.

·       To actively participate in Clinical supervision.

·       To maintain high quality services to our patients, every member of staff should establish good working relationships and clear communication with colleagues, other departments, external organisations and the public.

Organisational

§ To organise and prioritise caseload as allocated and delegated by the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.

§ To order equipment at the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists request, maintain stock levels and check and follow up delayed or incorrect deliveries.

§ To collect and input statistical data, as required by the Therapy Clinical Leads, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to retrieve information for the purpose of audit and research by others.

§ To provide cover when other team members are on leave.

§ To make and receive telephone calls, as necessary.

§ To promote the role of Therapy Assistants.

 Communication

• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to motivate and progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.
• To respond appropriately to the patient’s level of communication and understanding, facilitating the best possible communication outcomes. For example, patients may be deaf, blind, or unable to communicate in English
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress.  This may include the sharing and receiving of complex and/or sensitive information.
• To consult when necessary with appropriate senior specialist staff regarding patients with particular problems (including Occupational Health multidisciplinary team).
• To ensure that discharge information is communicated to referrers in a timely and appropriate manner, both as an individual, and from within the team.
• To attend multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences and site visits to the main hospital. Ensure that the Therapy management of a patient is integrated into the multidisciplinary management and treatment plan and discharge planning.

Documentation

• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards, local standards, using departmental IT software systems as required.

Information Management

•  To maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with department policy, and to ensure safekeeping and confidentiality of those records.
•  To book appointments for patients in the absence of reception support.
•  To use computer skills to support role, including COHORT, EPR, PIMs, Cohort, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail

Human Resource Management

•  To participate in the King’s College Hospital Employee Performance Assessment Programme as appraise, and fulfil its requirements.

Physical Resources

•  To ensure that the treatment and working areas are kept safe and tidy, and to ensure that any faulty or unsafe equipment reported to the Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist OH

Service Development

• To demonstrate knowledge of Clinical Governance and have an active role in clinical effectiveness and audit programmes in order to develop and improve services.

 TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

•  To support outcome measure (and similar) usage and recording to support quality service development
•  To keep abreast of new developments generally within Therapy & Occupational Health and in collaboration with senior staff, to embed these into clinical practice.

• To contribute to in-service training programme for staff and students.

• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio that reflects personal development

• To undertake an evidence-based project every 3 months to further the clinical practice of self and the team, and to enhance patient care e.g. undertaking audits. Projects will be presented to the team.

    GENERAL

•  To attend Therapy and departmental meetings and other meetings as required, taking on responsibility to support the functioning of the department.

• To undertake any other duties commensurate with grade as requested by the Senior Specialist Therapists. 

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountability associated with this post.
•  To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

Infection Control Statement

•  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.