Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be professionally and legally accountable for a designated case load of clients with a variety of physical and social needs. 

To undertake a comprehensive assessment of clients with a wide variety of complex conditions using investigative and analytical skills of clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis.

To formulate individualised therapy programmes, using sound clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based treatment to provide rehabilitation, which is client led and goal orientated.

To assess competency for and delegate appropriate tasks to other team members, carers and their families.

To have clinical responsibility for a designated caseload and at times dealing with unplanned and unpredictable urgent referrals for clients living in the community.

To demonstrate ongoing evaluation of therapeutic interventions with the client and respond accordingly.

To carry out treatment plans for other professionals in their absence under delegation and within your competency.

To work innovatively to address the challenges posed by providing rehabilitation in a variety of community settings.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, coordination therapeutic handling skills for assessment and manual treatment of a predominantly older caseload.

To demonstrate highly developed knowledge and skills in the use and application of relevant specialist physiotherapy equipment.

To demonstrate highly developed knowledge and skills in the assessment and provision of mobility equipment.

To take an active lead in the advising and teaching of therapeutic handling of clients, to other professionals, families and carers.

To assess for and provide equipment in accordance with ICES (Integrated Community Equipment Store) guidelines.

To regularly work unsupervised and alone in clients’ homes.

To fulfil the duties of the ‘key worker’ role. This involves being the named clinician who is available for consultation for designated clients. This includes detailed discussion with the clients, families or career’s and other agencies to recommend the best course of intervention using client led goals, and developing comprehensive discharge plans.

Alongside regular caseload, to act as ‘duty’ clinician when needed with other professionals within the team. The duty clinician will triage all referrals to the service and where indicated, allocate an appropriate service response or alternatively signpost the referrer utilising knowledge of local service providers.

To immediately report to the professional lead any variance to the clients care pathway and document in accordance with the agreed procedure.  

To identify urgent need for, and initiate an emergency response, giving appropriate first aid as necessary within own capabilities.

To work at all times strictly within the Trust’s Infection Control Guidelines. To ensure that therapy / treatment / care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the health professional, the patient / client or to visitors, and to report any situation that compromises the safety of staff, clients / patients or visitors with regard to risk of infection.

To communicate effectively with clients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential, using a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

To gain valid consent to intervention where possible in accordance with the legal framework and consent policy. To identify and report concerns where clients may lack capacity.

To liaise and effectively communicate assessment and rehabilitation outcomes with other multi- disciplinary teams, voluntary agencies and health and social care professionals in accordance with the Trust’s information sharing guidelines. This communication will include verbal, report or letter format and include case conferences and multidisciplinary team meetings.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive, contemporaneous documentation and maintain confidentiality in accordance with local intermediate care protocols, the Trust’s records policy and national professional standards.

To undertake and promote efficient use of available resources.

To maintain accurate and timely input into EMIS information systems.

Under the direction of the Integrated Health team Professional Team Leader participate in the training/clinical education for staff and students, including: peer clinical supervision, interdisciplinary reflection, the training and support of NVQ candidates including writing expert witness statements.

To attend external courses were identified as part of individual appraisal.

To attend professional meetings and study days appropriate to the needs of the service. Thereafter, to provide written evidence of learning and feedback to the Integrated Health team.

All employees will have an organisational and individual responsibility towards safeguarding vulnerable adults, young people and children. Where employees are working with children, young people and families they have a responsibility to cooperate in national safeguarding policy around early intervention activities appropriate to improving health outcomes. This section details the main duties and areas of responsibility attached to the post. It should be comprehensive enough to give a good understanding of what the normal activity and demands of the job include but it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the tasks.

These should be measurable where possible, describing the role and level of responsibility and accountability in broad terms, and link with annual objectives and performance review.