Specialty Acute Neurosciences Inpatient Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

 1. To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.

2. To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.

3. To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by neurological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.

4. To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.

5. To be able to motivate and positively influence others through effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

6. Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients’ clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

 Clinical

 1. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.

2. To carry out comprehensive assessments following hospital admission, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.

3. To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate occupational therapy diagnoses in neurological care; drawing on guidance from senior occupational therapists when required.

4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.

5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.

6. To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.

7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.

8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.

9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.

10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessments and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling

11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients

12. To represent occupational therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.

13. To be an integral part of the team’s seven-day service provision.

 Leadership and management

 1. To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.

2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.

3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.

4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.

5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

 Education and training

 1. To organise and contribute to teams’ training programmes.

2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.

3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational therapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.

4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the occupational therapy profession.

5. To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.

6. To maintain contemporary knowledge to apply and maintain best practice in older adult care and rehabilitation.

 Research and development

 1. To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects

2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based occupational therapy practice through continuing professional development

3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards

 Effort

 1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.

2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.

3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.

4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.

 INFECTION CONTROL

 Infection control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of Infection Control at all times, thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.

All staff employed by the OUH Trust have the following key responsibilities.

• Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and/ or between each patient contact.
• Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust.

Staff members who develop an infection (other than common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health

RISK MANAGEMENT

The management of risk is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.

Staff will be provided with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.

Staff should be familiar with the following:

• Major Incident Policy
• Fire Policy

and should make themselves familiar with the ‘local response’ plan and their role with that response.

 RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTH & SAFETY

The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures.  This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required.

 FURTHER INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

This post is subject to obtaining satisfactory clearance in respect of Disclosure of Criminal Convictions. A Disclosure Application Form will be sent to all new appointees with their appointment letter and the completed form must be submitted for verification on the first day of employment.

All occupational therapists must be registered with the Health Professions Council prior to commencing work, and produce the registration document on their first day of employment. Staff must then ensure their registration is maintained according to Trust Policy.

This post is one of continual development. The job description is intended as a guide to the duties and responsibilities of the post. Responsibilities will be reviewed periodically in line with service priorities, and may change, or new duties be introduced after consultation with the post holder.